AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I shot him a look, well aware that Louise was out in the hall with Finn still.
Ears pricked to see if I could hear their conversation, I murmured, “Do the minimal of all our base products, but I’m hoping there’ll be a clear winner by which of these run out of stock first.”
“You sure that’s wise?” Finn asked, moving into the kitchen, his lips firmed with his displeasure. At, I assumed, the fact I hadn’t gone to bed yet.
“Why not? I’d like to know what customers want. Most of the influx are new so they’re not used to the staple items anyway, and then the old clients can buy their favorites.”
He considered that before he nodded. “You’re right.”
“Funny, isn’t it?” I rasped. “Me, knowing my own business.”
Finn conceded that with a grimace. “Sorry.”
Mutinously, I raised my chin even as I started unfolding the packing crates so Billy could stack the Tupperware in them. We had these crates for this explicit purpose.
While my set up wasn’t industrial in size, it was in layout. I had a double oven as well, commercial grade, and it was surprising how much I could output in a short space of time.
“How are the new guys working out?” I asked Billy. Louise said they were slackers, but I liked to get Billy’s take on things too because she was more front of house and he worked in the bakery itself.
“They’re great. One of them made some homemade puff pastry the other day. It was delicious.”
Before I could answer, Louise wandered in a second later, and annoyed, I asked, “Where’ve you been?”
“I had to use the bathroom,” she said with surprise.
I frowned but shook it off as being irrational, and in silence, we packed up the boxes and the crates.
Finn wouldn’t let me carry anything, so he and Billy took everything to the elevator.
“Thanks for coming, Billy,” I told him once we were finished. “Are you going to be able to manage getting all this into the truck?” We had one for deliveries.
“Yeah, sure. It’ll only take a few minutes. We’re parked right outside.”
Finn muttered disgruntledly, “Let me grab my coat and I’ll help.”
Louise grabbed his arm and said, “That’s so kind of you, Finn.”
“We can manage,” Billy countered, shooting her a frown.
“You know I hurt my wrist yesterday,” Louise complained.
“Did you file a claim for it?” I questioned, my voice sharp.
“It wasn’t at work,” Louise said, hesitating long enough that I knew she was lying and that she hadn’t filed it.
Gritting my teeth, I watched as Finn retreated to the closet beside the door. He shrugged into a hoody, then an outer coat, and shoved some sneakers onto his feet.
When Louise looked up at him like he was Chris Hemsworth, settling into the elevator at his side, too close for my liking, I pursed my lips and watched as the doors closed, leaving me behind.
I stood there for a couple minutes, trying to understand my agitation, but it warred with the memories of sweeping up the glass and the porcelain from the vases and the photo frames I’d thrown at Lena.
Cringing, I retreated to my safe place, the kitchen, but as I did, I found myself looking at the part of the floor where I’d collapsed.
I’d never asked who cleared it up, but I knew there’d been blood. Jen had told me that earlier.
Why did this place feel haunted?
This was my home.
