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Just as she was rolling out the dough, Michael walked through the front door, his brown curls tousled from sleep.
"Morning, Eva," he yawned.
"Morning," Eva said cheerfully. "Would you like a coffee?"
"I'll get it." Michael poured himself a large cup of the freshly brewed coffee.
She smiled at him, glad for his help.
Chapter Eleven
Claire awoke the next morning feeling restless, her thoughts still swirling from the previous day's conversations. As she made breakfast, Claire contemplated Peter's suggestion of trying Arnold's for a change of scenery. However, the thought of Sweet Delights - the cozy wooden interior, the pastry case filled with treats, and most of all Eva's smiling face - drew her back like a magnet. Though Claire had a car, the bakery was only a few minutes walk away, making it hard to resist their allure.
After rinsing her dishes, Claire grabbed her worn sketchbook and a handful of pencils from the old pine bookshelf David had built years ago. She sighed as memories of him flooded her mind, before calling out a cheery "Goodbye, sweet girl!" to Daisy and stepping onto the front porch. The early morning sunlight was bright, causing Claire to squint as she made her way down the gravel pathway flanked by rose bushes heavy with red blooms. The air was already warm and humid, promising another hot late summer day. The weather app said it was supposed to storm later, but she was sure she would be back home well before then.
As Claire walked, her heels clicking softly against the sidewalk, she inhaled the smell of cut grass wafting over from neighboring yards. She watched as a mockingbird hopped along the branches of an old oak tree, singing its cheerful song.
The aroma of freshly baked pastries and brewing coffee from Sweet Delights wafted up to greet her, drawing her down into the bustling bakery. As she pushed open the door, the warmth and chatter enveloping her like a comforting embrace.
"Morning, Claire!" Eva greeted her with a beaming smile, already placing a steaming cup of coffee and a croissant on the counter. "I thought you might like to try our special today."
"Good morning, Eva," Claire replied, her cheeks flushing slightly at the unexpected attention. "Thank you. It looks delicious." She quickly paid for her treats then got out of the way so that Eva and Michael could continue helping their customers. She was in earlier than she had been the previous morning, and the bakery was quite a bit busier.
As she settled into a cozy corner table by the window, Claire couldn't help but notice the steady stream of customers that flowed in and out of the bakery. They came from all walks of life – old, young, couples, friends – each greeted warmly by Eva and Michael, their orders remembered and prepared with care. Claire knew she would need to start coming up with her own regular order soon, possibly after she'd tried everything in the bakery though. It all looked so tempting.
"Excuse me, is this seat taken?" a sweet voice asked, snapping Claire out of her reverie. She looked up to see a woman around her age, a toddler balanced on her hip and a stroller laden with grocery bags parked beside her.
"Of course not, please join me," Claire said, gesturing to the vacant chair opposite her. She briefly looked around, there were no other empty spots in the quickly filling bakery.
"Thanks! I'm Lily, by the way. This little one is Max," the woman introduced herself, smiling gratefully as Claire helped her maneuver the stroller next to the table.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Claire," she responded, finding herself instinctively drawn to the small boy's infectious giggles.
"Are you new in town? I haven't seen you around before," Lily inquired, expertly juggling her iced coffee and muffin while entertaining Max with a stuffed elephant.
Claire was sure that she stuck out in the small town. "I am. I just moved in really. But I'm loving the town, and my sister is only about twenty minutes away so it's not like I don't have anyone nearby."
Lily giggled, it made her sound so young, maybe in her early twenties. "I grew up here, but Max's father was from further up the coast in Maine. We had a summer fling, as people like to call it." She rolled her eyes, but didn't seem upset about it.
Claire was sure she shouldn't pry, but she was curious. "Is it just you then?"
Nodding, Lily sipped her coffee. "It is. My parents help when they can, but we had a bit of a falling out when I got pregnant, especially because he wasn't in the picture as soon as I told him. It was a bit of a mess, honestly, for a while there. And Max and I were alone but we made it. And my parents are coming back around. I don't love what happened, but I absolutely love him. Does that make sense?"
"Yes, I think it does," Claire replied, smiling at her. "This may seem odd, but I am an artist, may I draw your portrait?"
Lily's eyes grew wide and she blushed. "Right now? I'm a mess. I just came from the grocery store and..." She shrugged. "You know what? Sure. Go for it."
"Thank you." Claire gently laid out her art supplies, taking in every detail of the young woman and her son. Though Claire didn't typically draw strangers, something about this woman's shy smile and story resonated with Claire, and she wanted to capture their genuine spirit, even if it was just for a fleeting few minutes.
She was almost done with the sketch when Michael came over. He had two water glasses for them. "Can I get you ladies anything else?" He leaned closer and Claire tilted the sketch so he could see it better. It only needed the finishing details. "Claire, that's amazing. You've really managed to capture the two of them in your work. Eva talked about having a mural painted on one of the walls a few years ago, but nothing ever came of it. It’s good to have an artist in town.”
Lily glanced at her half-finished muffin and shook her head. "I'm good for now, thank you."
"I am too," Claire said brightly, '"but I appreciate the water."
Michael nodded. "It's going to be a hot one. If either of you need anything, please let us know. The morning rush is starting to slow down now so I'll be all yours."
Lily blushed at his words. "Thank you, Michael." As soon as he was gone Lily said, "He's so cute, I wish he wasn't gay."
