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“Small town living has its perks, but you said you lived in something like this once before.”
“I have, but this place feels different somehow. Busier and more full of life. Unfortunately, it isn’t like I can just pack up and leave, either. I have a lease I just renewed and start school in the fall.”
“Oh? What’s your major?”
“Art. Sculpting. A bit of everything. My mom thinks I need to be more focused, but the way I see it, the more skilled I am, the better.”
“You didn’t want to go for culinary?”
“Baking is my passion. I love art as well, but I get to eat what I make, which makes baking even better.”
She’d get no arguments from me. “Who says your passion can’t be your work?”
“My mom. According to her, passion can only get me so far.”
“But then you see Nora and what she’s done and–”
“Yeah, that’s the same point I’ve tried to make as well, but my mom won’t budge. She’s afraid I’ll either lose my passion somehow or the market will change.”
“If the market changes in any way, folks are still going to want their fill. Trust me. If the markets collapse, your doors are the first ones we’d go for.”
“We?”
“Me. My brother. Probably the entire town, because there’s no better way to improve our mood when sugar’s involved.”
“I’d love to try it someday, but I let my mom get to me. It isn’t her fault. She’s a single mom and only wants what’s best, you know?”
“I know how that is. My folks run their own business, so I got pulled in as soon as I was old enough to help.”
“If you could choose, what do you think you’d do?”
“For my career? I’ve never thought about it before. I mean, I did when I was a pu… when I was a kid, but everyone has dreams like that.”
“Which were?”
“I wanted to be a firefighter. Dustin did as well.”
“Firefighters are important.”
“It’s also dangerous work, which is why my folks didn’t approve.” Even with my rapid healing, there were some things wolves simply weren’t supposed to do.
“So what do you do?” A tendril slipped from her ponytail, which she quickly tucked behind her ear.
“Construction, mostly. We’ll haul junk away for folks as well, but that’s about it.”
“So your folks are okay with you climbing on top of a roof but they won’t let you run into a fire?”
“The ladders and supports we put up are secure, whereas anything you step on during a fire could go out from under you.”
“I don’t think I could ever do that. Climbing onto a roof, I mean. I’m deathly afraid of heights. I honestly don’t know how I managed to spend my summers playing inside a treehouse.”
“Kids are stupid. We don’t realize how mortal we are until much later.”
“That’s true. So, what will it be today?” She met my gaze, then gestured at what she had under the counter. “Or are you planning to wait until later?”
“I have room for both,” I told her. “I think I’ll go for the apple tart for now. And tea. Green if you have it.”
“Go on and have a seat. I’ll bring it over when it’s done.”
