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She felt disappointed when Tate left this morning. Something had happened when Spencer and Aidyn walked in. His jaw tightened, and he left as soon as he could. He also laid money on the counter, and she was concerned about the payment of the security system. It had to be expensive. It was super nice, and she loved sitting on her phone at home and looking at the cameras to make sure everything was fine.
The morning was busy, not as much as the day before, but busier than the norm, and many of the townsfolk offered their commiseration for her troubles and happiness that she was back up and running again.
She had a brief break in the action at eleven and ran back to the kitchen to put a tray of cookies in the oven and knead her bread dough for baking tomorrow morning. She’d knead it once more before she left and it would rise overnight. It made the bakery smell so good.
Shianne stopped in a few minutes later. “Hey. I brought you some lunch. The diner has homemade potato soup today. I know how much you love it.”
“Thank you.”
Shianne set the container of soup on the corner of her baking table and pulled spoons from the drawer. She opened the refrigerator and found a soda.
“Are we eating in here or out there?”
“Why don’t we eat out there today?”
“Sure thing.” Shianne picked up their soups, spoons, and napkins and Lara grabbed their sodas.
Shianne picked the lime green table in the middle of the large window. It was her favorite table. Likely because she’d painted it, but it also sat in the middle of the window and they had a view of the road both ways, so she didn’t mind it at all.
“So, don’t be mad at me, but I saved a dress for you today.”
“Shianne... I don’t...”
“Shh. You have to join me. You can be my date. Unless you’ve decided you’ll go with Tate with the fine ass.”
She laughed. “Oh, my God. You are something.” She sipped in a spoonful of soup. “He hasn’t asked, and actually, this morning he went all cold on me. I don’t know what happened there, but it was weird today.”
Shianne tossed her dark blonde hair over her shoulder. “Men! They’re so fickle.”
She laughed, and it felt good. The dark weight that had fallen this morning lifted.
“You’re funny Shi. Thank you. I needed to laugh about it.”
“Okay, so after work, I’ll bring your dress by, and you can try it on. It’s perfect for you. It’s blue, the same color as your eyes, and it fades to white at the bottom and it’s covered with gold applique. It’s perfect. You’ll look stunning in it. It flows like a princess gown.”
“Shi...I’ve had a ton of expenses and no insurance checks yet. I simply don’t...”
“Stop it. I’ll sell it at cost, and I don’t have to send the money to the supplier for thirty days. It’s all good and you’ll absolutely knock Tate off his feet with it.”
“I didn’t say I was going with him. I said he acted weird today. And...”
“They’ll have to go if they want to meet the townsfolk. The one place everyone will be is the ball. Maybe one of those other guys would be my date. That way, we don’t have to go alone like we can’t find dates. And, we’ll be the envy of all the younger ladies in town because we got to spend time with the new guys.”
Lara laughed at her friend. “You’re too much.”
Shianne smiled at her. “I knew I could get you to laugh. I’ll bring the dress by tonight after work and you can at least look at it.”
“I’ll look. You’ve got my curiosity piqued now, anyway. I have to see this amazing dress.”
“Gawd. You’ll be the envy of the whole town.”
“I doubt that.”
A car pulled into the parking lot, and Lara stood. “Sorry, I have to go back to work. Thank you for thinking of me.” She leaned down and kissed Shianne’s temple, then made her way behind the counter and washed her hands.
An older lady and a little boy entered the bakery, and the little guy ran right to the glass case and ogled the baked goods.
“Hello. How can I help you?”
