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One of my favorite things about baking is how amazing it smells in the bakery. I wish I could bottle it up and save it for a rainy day. Sunlight peeks through the two large windows, and I unlock the door, knowing my early morning customers will be here before I officially open, and I don’t have time to stop.
Timers begin going off, and as I take all the pans out of the oversized ovens, I replace them with others. After arranging the freshly baked cookies and breads in the glass case, I start boxing up my orders. When I turn around, I notice the bakery is a damn mess and know I need to start cleaning while I bake. It’s official; I’m going to post an ad in the local paper for an assistant.
Just as I’m pulling a batch of cupcakes from the oven, customers begin to enter. Right on time.
“Good morning,” I call out, washing my hands and then drying them as I greet several older women. I’m surprised to see my grandma with two of her friends in the bakery, and I go around the counter and give her a big hug.
“Honey, we’re gonna take everything you’ve made,” Gigi says with a mysterious smirk.
My mouth falls open. “Everything, Gigi?”
“That’s right, honey,” Mrs. Cartwright says.
I’ve baked for four and a half hours straight, enough goodies to last the rest of the day. I even had some items left over from yesterday.
“We’ll take all that stuff over there too.” Gigi points at the items cooling.
“Gigi,” I whisper. “That’s everything in the store.”
Mrs. Scotts giggles. “Guess you’ll need to close early then.”
I turn around and look at the clock on the wall. It’s not even nine yet.
“What’s our total?” Gigi asks sweetly.
I narrow my eyes at her. “What are you up to?”
She smiles. “I think you need a day off. There’s a small party over at the Bishop ranch, and I don’t want you working all day and missing the festivities.”
I let out a laugh. “Of course. That’s why she wanted so many cupcakes.”
“Better get to icing them then. You know how she doesn’t like tardiness,” Gigi reminds me, handing over her credit card.
“Gigi, this is well over seven hundred dollars’ worth of baked goods.”
The ladies behind her continue to smile. “Good. You deserve it, honey. And trust me when I say they won’t go to waste.”
I suck in a deep breath, swipe her card, then begin bagging and boxing up every last item in the store, other than the custom orders. Mrs. Cartwright and Mrs. Scotts continue to make trips out to their car until every item is gone.
“Thanks, sweetie,” Gigi says. I go and give her another hug.
“You didn’t have to do this,” I tell her.
“Oh I know.” She gives me a wink, then she’s out the door.
Once the cupcakes finish cooling, I carefully place them in their carrying trays and ice them. I grab the extra loaves and macaroons for my custom orders, then call and let them know I’ll drop them off before heading to the Bishop ranch. When I’ve loaded everything in the car, I lock up for the day, then make my way across town. After I drop off the orders, I go to the ranch.
I slowly take the dirt road, not wanting the cupcakes to bounce around too much in my trunk. I pull up to the main house and see a ton of cars parked on the grass.
“What the hell?” I whisper. There are so many people here. No wonder she wanted one hundred and forty-four cupcakes. Carefully, I stack several boxes on top of one another and carry them up the steps. Instead of knocking, I walk right in.
“Kat!” Mama Bishop says, coming over and taking the cupcakes from my hands. “You’re early.”
I snort. “Yeah, Gigi went and bought every dang pastry I had and told me to take the day off.”
Mama B shakes her head and smiles. “That woman. Want to stay for lunch?”
“Sure. I’m starved. Let me grab the other cupcakes from the car real quick.”
Mrs. Bishop lays her hand on my shoulder. “Okay, sweetie. Meet you in the back. I think everyone’s here.” She picks up the boxes and walks out the patio door. “Hurry up, now,” she tells me with a grin.
I grab the last three boxes of cupcakes then walk around the house to where the party is. My eyes go wide when I see every person I love and adore here. My face scrunches, and I’m confused as to why Braxton didn’t tell me more about this get-together in the first place.
Picnic tables are set up around the oak tree, and I see a table with food and my cupcakes. I set the boxes down by the others, and when I turn around, I see Braxton walking toward me wearing slacks and a nice button-up shirt. My mouth falls open, and I tilt my head at him. I’m confused because this morning when we left, he was wearing his regular ranch hand getup. People surround us, and he gives me the biggest grin before cupping my face and pressing a deep kiss on my lips. Once we pull apart, he grabs my hands in his, then drops to one knee.
