I piped the icing on my cakes just as I always did each day, paying close attention to my craft which I adored. Something felt strange today like a feeling deep in my being. Yes something was coming but what?
Sliding the cakes in the display case I thought about my simple life each day in the pizza place. A pizza place that makes fine cakes odd I know. Al was my boss who had opened the place 40 years ago and as a kid I frequented his joint with my mother every Friday for a slice. When we stopped coming Al was concerned and decided to investigate. At the time I was only 12 and my mother had died unexpectedly. Al couldn't see me in the system so he took me in as one of his own. In exchange for his kindness I started working in the shop and when Al saw my talents with cakes he insisted I sell them here.
"What!, sell my cakes here but mr towmar", I said shocked by the idea.
"Call me Al son, we are family after all it's what your mother would have wanted", he said placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder.
"But mr..er Al, I can't take money from your business you've worked your whole life for", I said pleading with the man who had already been so generous to me.
"Okay son let's strike a deal, you sell those beautiful cakes here and hone your craft" he paused then before I could speak continued "in return I will use the cakes to draw in new customers, but I insist you keep all the money made from them to save for your future".
I paused I didn't feel I should keep the money but I knew Al was not going to budge anymore, for a caring man he was incredibly stubborn. He once watched a lawn gnome for 2 days straight because was convinced a squirrel was moving it at night. It wasn't it turned out he kept putting it on top the sprinkler head which launched it when they came on.
I agreed shaking Als hand like man which Al chuckled about saying one day I'll be a man but this a good start.
Remembering when I was a boy and started working here was a sweet memory but always came with a tang of pain. I missed my mother even all these years later. Turning 19 this month I thought about my future and what my plans should be. I knew Al would never ask me to leave and he told me himself that I can stay with him for as long as I wanted, he saw me as his own son who he loved dearly and only wanted me to go when I was ready. So what would I do i always thought about going to Paris to work on my craft but leaving my home in this small town was a terrifying idea, could I really make it out there in the big world.
Lost in thought I rested on the counter eyes unfocused and my hand propping up my chin. The shop at this time of the day was always quite, Al thought about opening later than the afternoon but I told him I'd work that time for him to get him the most income I could. It's the least I could do after all.
My hazy focus was interrupted as the bell above the door rang alerting me of a customer arriving. I stood up straight quickly my eyes still not completely focused. I looked toward the open door and I was hit by yellow shining brightly and warming my face to a smile. I always loved yellow i use to see sunflowers every week when my mother would bring them home from the florist.
My eyes finally focused there in the doorway she was something else. I was transfixed on her and my heart almost stopped, I couldn't breathe. The first thing my eyes were drawn to was her auburn hair flowing gentry in the breeze like shiny silk dancing delicately. My eyes fixed on a hair clip placed in her locks. A dragonfly blue and gold complimented the auburn hair perfectly.
Suddenly my eyes drifted to her face, her eyes met mine and I was frozen in place. Those eyes shone like emeralds, glistening and I couldn't look away as I sunk in to them more deeply.
Oh god how long have been staring, my eyes flicked down to the counter frantically searching for something to look at to hide my embarrassment. Screaming in my own head I forced my head up to look back to her to not be rude. Don't stare at pretty girls it weird, urg why am I so weird. Am I trying to chase away business what was I thinking I should just say hello and break the tension.
My eyes turn back to the door she was gone, had she left? I had let her leave and just stared what's wrong with me? How could I act so weird in front of her? I heard a gentle sigh and surprised I looked over the counter, there she was crouching at the display case looking at my cakes. I felt a well of relief she was still here I hadn't scared her away. Why did I care so much about her maybe it was her yellow sundress which made me smile or the way she smiled as she gazed at the cakes.
"Welcome to Als, what can I get you?", I said smiling trying to keep composed from the embarrassment of staring earlier. She jumped a little her eyes darted up from the cakes. She blushed and stood up as if she didn't realise I was watching her.
"Oh hi, ... I'm sorry I just got distracted by the cakes they all look so pretty" she smiled her eyes sparkled as she spoke of my cakes. My heart melted a little she was excited about my work. My face burned, I tried not to blush but I think I failed.
"You like them I'm so pleased, I made these extra special this morning" I paused trying to remember why I did that, "but thinking now I can't remember why". I put my hand on the back of my head feeling a little silly.
"You made these?", her eyes looking at me in surprise. "Oh I didn't mean anything by that", she looked down with a embarrassed expression.
"Oh it's okay I know how strange a pizza place that makes cakes, but I have a passion for creating them and I'm so glad you find them interesting", I said smiling widely with a pride I couldn't explain.
"I think a place that sells pizza and beautiful cakes is wonderfully unique", she beamed with delight. "You have a gift", she whispered leaning across the counter. I found her words were warm and soothing. I felt myself turning as red as a chilli pepper as she leaned close to me.
She moved back again to take another peak at the cakes then with a determined look she placed her order.
"Can have one of the lemon cakes please", she seemed certain then glancing at the case she seemed to change her mind.
"Oh wait ... maybe ..." she sighed "oh I can't choose they all look so good I don't know which one, which one is your favourite?", she leaned on the counter looking a little defeated.
"Me I er ...", feeling caught of guard I stumbled to answer. I took a deep breathe then could speak again. "My favourite, I'm sorry my favourite is never in the case", I explained pointing at the case.
"Really why is that? A special cake sounds so amazing?", she questioned with delighted intrigue. I leaned on the counter, to speak in a quieter voice. She was so beautiful I felt nervous being this close to her.
"My favourite cake is a honey cake, my mother loved honey and I only make that cake on her birthday", I felt a sting of sadness and she must have seen in my eyes as replied with a sad expression in hers. "But I bet your favourite cake is much more exciting then mine", I smiled with a large grin which made her smile brightly.
"Your mother has great taste", she paused thoughtfully, "I like ... many cakes choosing one is so hard to do", she sighed. "Maybe chocolate, or maybe orange, or maybe caramel or ... oh I can't choose I'm so indecisive", she franticly explained. Realising how close we were talking she blushed and quickly pulled herself off the counter. I laughed a little as she told me how many cakes she liked and pulled myself away from the counter. She made me smile so easily I couldn't help but hang on her words as she spoke. What was wrong with me today I never had a problem talking to a customer yet I found myself telling her all my secrets.
"How about I get you something special that's not in the case yet", I smiled thinking about the orange and chocolate cake that I had been working on this morning that I wasn't sure about selling. Her eyes lit up at hearing this.
"A special cake! Wow really you'd let me try something like that?" She said leaning over the counter with glee. Her energy about cake was intoxicating and seeing her smile made me grin harder.
"Take a seat over in the booth I'll bring it over to you" I explained whilst pointing to a booth by the window. She looked at me with a confused look and held up her bag.
"But wait I haven't paid yet", she explained quickly before I turned to walk away. I smiled she was so honest I looked at her for moment just smiling then chuckled. She only looked more confused.
"Well since it's not in the case I'm not selling this one yet so let's call it a taste test", I said winking pretending to speak in hushed tones. She giggled and smiled with a cute wink in return.
"Okay it will be our little secret", she whispered holder her bag as if to cover what she was saying to not make other customer jealous. I couldn't tell if she knew we were the only ones here but this made me laugh out loud and she started to laugh just as hard. The laughter settled and I looked at her smiling so wide I couldn't remember when I smiled this much.
"I will be back shortly with your cake please take a seat", I said quickly and turned toward the back room still smiling wildly. I got in to the back room in a hurry and as soon as I was out of sight I rested my back against a counter and placed a hand on my chest, with a smile stuck in place. She was so cute her laugh, her eyes, her adorable smile. I had never felt this way before how could she have made such an impression so quickly I felt like I was floating. Snapping back to reality I saw Al in the doorway at the kitchen entrance, jumping I tried to stifle my smile. Al walked over with a curious expression on his face I had never seen before.
"Someone special in the shop today?" He said with a smile creeping into his face as he finished his sentence.
I fumbled out my words, "what ... no .. er.. special?no no not at all". I took a deep breathe as he patted my back and he chuckled to himself.
"I hope you give her something extra special, since she's clearly something else", he grinned pointing at the chocolate orange cake I had made and handed me a small note card. I Looked at the card confused, I looked back to him with a puzzled look.
"Write a note, don't over think it son", he winked and quickly left the room before I could protest the idea. A note what would I even say?, ideas swam in my head but nothing sounded right. Wait! Yellow! That's it I wrote the note places it gently in the icing atop the cake and I became flushed with nerves. It was too late though I hadn't realised I was walking and had already reached her table. I set down the cake and said enjoy as a look of awe and excitement enveloped her.
I think she had stolen my heart.