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“I’m okay with walking.”
“Let’s get to it then.”
Hand in hand, we waded through the crowd. About ten minutes later, we came upon a bakery called Ms. Carol’s.
“Is this the lady who made those cookies you inhaled at the farmers’ market?” I asked, remembering the logo on the front.
He laughed. “First of all, don’t come for me like that. Second, yes, this is her. She’ll be closing soon, but I told her we were stopping by.”
He pulled the door open and guided me inside. The bakery was small, but it was cute. It gave Grandma’s Sweets vibes, and when Ms. Carol walked out to greet us, I understood why. She smiled wide as Callum pulled her in for a hug.
“There’s my favorite customer,” she said, patting his back.
“Hey, Ms. Carol. Thank you for staying open for us.”
“Of course.” She pulled back and cupped his face. “When you told me you were bringing a lady friend, I just had to meet her.” She turned to me and reached for my hands. “Let me get a look at you... Ooooh, she’s just as beautiful as you said she was, Callum.”
I smiled. “Thank you, ma’am.”
“And she has manners! I love her for you already. What’s your name, baby?”
“Pasha.”
“Pasha? Oh, that’s pretty!” She patted my hand. “Come on, sugar. I’ve got something special just for y’all. Callum, lock that door.”
He did as she requested as she led me to a table with three different desserts for us to sample. The first was a strawberry crunch cookie, then an Oreo cheesecake parfait, followed by what she called a cinnamon roll cake. The portions were big enough for us to share, but the way Callum was eyeballing that cake, I wasn’t sure about that. Everything looked so good and smelled even better.
“You spoil me, Ms. Carol,” Callum declared.
Ms. Carol grabbed two bottles of water and brought them to us. “Oh, hush. You know I love you.” She kissed his cheek.
“You know I love you back.”
“Has he shown you how hardheaded he is yet?” she asked me. “He has stopped in here faithfully twice a week for the last five years. Every time he comes to the farmers’ market, I try to give him something on the house, and every time I turn my back, he slips me money anyway.”
I giggled. “I think that’s sweet.”
She looked at him lovingly. “It is. He always says he won’t take advantage of my kindness. He will make some woman a very lucky, happy spouse one day.” She looked between the two of us. “You two make a beautiful pair. Are you from around here, honey?”
“Yes, ma’am. Born and raised.”
“Who are your people?”
“Oh... Well, my parents were Virginia and Soloman Brooks. They passed away a few years ago.”
“I’m so sorry! Please forgive me.”
“It’s okay,” I assured her. “It’s overwhelming at times, but I know that when I’m no longer here, I get to be with them again.”
“To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. They are in good hands.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
We sat in the bakery chatting with Ms. Carol for a good hour. Once we finished with those delectable desserts, Callum offered to help her wipe down the front. It turned into him wiping down while she and I talked. He didn’t complain. He simply smiled and went about his business. I thought the way she spoke about him was so sweet, and I could tell she cared for him.
“I have to ask,” she said when he went to the back to grab a mop, “You really like my boy?”
I blushed. “Yes, ma’am. I wasn’t expecting to, but he makes it hard not to like him with him being the person he is.”
