Standing in the kitchen I studied the peach cake looking intently for any imperfections. I squinted at it moving closer and further away and slowly rotated the plate. It's perfect! I grinned to myself she will love this cake I'm sure of it. I stepped back with a proud look and then sighed. But what if she doesn't come back today? I suppose I could give it to someone else. I shook my head quickly. No no this is her cake it wouldn't feel right to give it to someone else. I gave myself a gentle slap on each cheek, and shook off any ideas she wouldn't come back and began prepping for lunch time.
It was a Friday so customers in the afternoon was quite common. By 11 I had completed all my prep and just had to wait for customers to arrive. I made my way to the front counter and with no one around I did the same as yesterday, I propped my arm on the counter supporting my head as I daydreamed. My other hand reached inside my apron pocket and found sunny's note. I brought the note up to my eyes as I smiled dreamily. Oh sunny please come back again today, your cake is waiting and so am i. Hmm I thought for a moment I didn't know her name I wondered if I could guess it. Maybe Jessica? No that doesn't sound right, hmm perhaps Harriet? No no that didn't fit either, I felt like I almost knew it but couldn't find it.
The bell above the door chimed, I stood up straight as fast as I could eyes fixated on the door. Sunny is it you have you come back? Then my heart sank it wasn't her. It was the burns family coming in for their usually family lunch. I must have looked disappointed because mrs burns came over to the counter with a confused expression.
"Oh no are you okay you look so sad today?", she asked looking to her husband for support. I realised I was frowning and shook it away in to a smile. What am I doing? I need to stay focused at work!
"I'm so sorry, yes I'm totally fine what can I get you today?", I said with a cheerful bounce. They seemed relieved by my reaction, I shouldn't keep watching the door I'm going to push customers away If I look down.
"Alright then if your sure?", she asked now looking much less concerned.
"Absolutely, we actually have a new special today, it's a pizza of your choice with one of the toppings in the crust", a grinned attempting to be the best salesman I could, Als ideas were odd but he always knew what the customers wanted.
"Wow that sounds amazing!", she beamed with excitement, "I'll take a slice of chicken and onion for me, Bob will have his usual of bacon and olives", she's paused and crouched to floor. "Tommy, Zoe what would you like?", she asked with a warm smile. Tommy answered first.
"Can I please have pepperoni and cheese mommy?" He looked up at her with pleading eyes. "Mommy can I have turkey and cheese please?", they both heard their breathes in anticipation of their mother's answer. She smiled widely at them placing a hand on each of their heads.
"Oh course you can, I'll tell the nice man for you" she assured them then standing back up she added the children's orders to hers.
"Alright these come with a drink that you can fill up whilst you wait and your total is, 12.75", I explained whilst handing them a stack of 4 empty cups. Mrs burns paid for the order and then they made their way to the drinks machine. I went off to the kitchen, the burns were regulars so I had already prepped some slices only one I hadn't prepped was Zoe's. She liked to pick something different every time so I always prepped a plain cheese for her, then added her toppings once they had ordered. I slid the pizza slices in to the oven and set the timer. Gosh I hadn't realised how disappointed I'd be if sunny didn't come by today. I walked around the kitchen attempting to manage my expectations listing all the reasons she might not come back today and as reasonable as they were I still didn't want to accept they could happen.
Ding the timer sounds and at the same time the bell above the door did. Oh no I needed to take out the pizza but I couldn't leave the front unattended. Just as I became frazzled with oven gloves in one hand and my feet facing the the direction of the shop front Al patted my back.
"Don't worry son you take care of those slices and I'll serve whoever has come in", he reassured me strolling past me in hurried steps. Phew now I could focus, or at least I thought I could. Just as I reached in to the oven to pull out the tray I heard her voice. I couldn't hear what she said but I heard her giggle to Al and my heart jumped. I looked down quickly realising I was in front of the oven and pulled out the tray. I set the tray down and quickly slid the slices on to the plates, if I hurried maybe I could get to see her before she left. Placing all the plates on to my serving tray I carried then out the side door of the kitchen in to the dining room. Walking along the booths I saw her she was sitting in the same booth as yesterday and looked even more beautiful today. I almost stopped walking then quickly realised I had pizzas to serve. I looked at her as I went by her table and all I could do was grin widely at her, she replied with a smile just as wide and looked up at me with those stunning green eyes. Not looking away from her I almost collided with a table, I bumped it slightly. Feeling embarrassed I heard her giggle quietly as I turn always and walked over to the burns table.
"Sorry about the wait folks, hope everything is to your liking", I said still a little flustered and placing the plates on the table in front of them.
"Oh yes these look delicious, our compliments to Al", mrs burns said joyfully before instructing her family to start digging in. I suddenly felt nervous to turn around. She was here again like I wanted but now I didn't know what to say. I hiked up my courage and turned around quickly, and looked at her immediately. She was looking at me and then her eyes quickly darted away in an adorably shy way. I walked back over to her booth holding my breath, and finally as I reached her I let myself take a breath. My mind went blank all I could think was yellow, she was wearing yellow again and she looked more beautiful today with a butterfly her clip in her hair. She flicked her eyes up towards me and I was nervous again.
"Hi ... I er I'm sorry it took some time to be served", I stumbled over my words feeling even more embarrassed then before. She looked a little shocked and quickly started to mouth words but didn't speak straight away.
"Oh no no don't worry Al told me to take a seat and you had my order for me already", she started to explain looking a little nervous, "maybe he thought I made a pre order yesterday, I tried to explain but he said it was all taken care of and before I could say anything he had already taken me to this booth", she sighed exacerbated. She took a long deep breath and then concluded her story, "so you see it's just a big misunderstanding", her shoulders dropped she must have wanted to say all that the whole time she's been sat here waiting.
"But I do I have your order sunny, it's in the kitchen", her eyes lit up with excitement and she blushed slightly. Oh I called her sunny I blushed a little in return as I realised what I had said. I melted where I stood as she smiled at me with her captivating emerald eyes. I let out an audible sigh and then quickly stiffened, that was too much now she will think I'm too forward. She let out a small sigh it sounded so delicate and my heart pounded.
"How did you know what I was going to order?" She looked at me confused bringing one finger to her lips in contemplation. I was so entangled in my mind now looking at her lips dusty pink like soft rose petals. I needed to answer the question but I was not myself I felt like I was under her spell. Collecting some thoughts I leaned in close to her whilst my heart pounded in my ears. I stopped when my face was inches from hers and she blushed so deeply her cheeks flushed completely. I brought my hand to the side of my mouth to hide my words, she leaned in closer turning her ear toward me.
"Sunny, you're special so you only get special cakes here", she dropped back slightly with a look of confusion but smiling shyly as I spoke, as I continued she leans back in, "these cakes are only for you so this has to be our little secret", my mind raced as I spoke where did all this even come from. The look of delight and the small laugh she gave made me smile harder and I let out a small laugh as she turned her eyes to face me once again.
"Are you sure that's okay, please let at least pay this time", she whispered so gently as she placed her hand on mine I had rested on the table. My mind went crazy full of thoughts and I couldn't think straight. She is touching my hand could I hold hers? I wanted to hold hers, she made me feel joy I couldn't explain. Pull yourself together! I let out a quiet sound of contemplation as if I was considering her proposition. When in honesty I had already decided my answer.
"You wore yellow again, so this cake is a gift", my hand slowly turned over as if by itself I had no control and was gently holding her fingers in my hand. He eyes flicked to her hand and then back to me as if shocked but she only blushed more and attempted to cover her face with the other hand.
"Well .. I ... I suppose I can't deny a gift from someone so ... charming", she whispered as she flicked her eyes back and forth from her hand on mine and my eyes. I was still leaning in close I couldn't lean away everything seems silent. We were both startled by the bell of the door and our hands quickly parted as we leaned back out of the closeness. I quickly straightened myself up and turned to the door to see Layla bringing in ingredients. In a clumsy daze I rushed to her to take the bags and must have still looked flushed.
"My boy how hard have you been working you look pink as a pixie", she scolded me one eyebrow raised. Her eyes then travelled to the booth I had been standing at and she chuckled and lowered her brow. I held the bags up in an alarmed defence but before I could speak.
"Oh I see never mind, I see I have got the wrong idea", she howled softly then took off to the back room. She was probably going to tell Al a ton of nonsense but I was too frazzled to stop her. I hadn't brought sunny her cake! I turned myself around and quickly headed for the kitchen. As I passed sunny I smiled embarrassed.
"I'll be right back with your gift", I said softly and quietly as to not let anyone over hear. I finally made my way back in to the kitchen when my whole body felt like it turned to jelly. I held on to the counter tops and tried to franticly collect myself but it was more difficult then yesterday. Thinking of holding her hand in mine again made my heart pound in my chest.
I was under a spell for sure. Her spell.