"What a day", I say as I let out a contented sigh while locking up my cake shop for the night. It had been a long and tiring day, but I felt satisfied with the day's work. My cakes had sold well, and I had even managed to experiment with a new recipe which had turned out to be a hit with my customers.
As I turned to walk away, I noticed a man standing at the entrance, he had a navy blue suit on, looking at me with a hopeful expression. "Hi", he says. "Sorry, we're closed for the night," I say, feeling a little guilty for having to turn away a potential customer.
"I know, I'm sorry for bothering you," the man replies, "but I was really hoping to get a cake for my mum's birthday tomorrow. She loves cakes, and I wanted to surprise her with one."
I softened at the man's words. Knowing how special it was to receive a homemade cake on one's birthday, I couldn't bear to disappoint him. "Well, I suppose I could make an exception," I say, smiling at the man.
The man's face lit up with gratitude. "Thank you so much! I'll take any cake you have left."
"I'm sorry, but I don't have any cakes left. I'm just closing up the shop for the night. But I could make you a fresh one if you can wait a little while?", I inform him
He hesitated, looking at his watch. "I don't want to be a bother..."
"It's no bother at all," I insist. "I'll just need a few minutes to gather the ingredients and whip something up. Why don't you come inside the shop and wait?"
"I'm Dominic by the way, and you are?", he says behind me as I turn to unlock the door.
"Olivia, you can call me Olly", I tell him.
Dominic nods and follow me into the shop.
"Please have a seat", I say as we got to the first table, I leave as soon as he was seated, and came back with cupcakes and tea for him.
"Chocolate and vanilla cupcakes for you, with tea", I say to him as I place the contents of the tray on the table.
"Thank you", he says.
"I'd be in the back if you need anything", with that I make my way to the pantry.
I quickly get to work, pulling out flour, sugar, and eggs from my pantry.
After I mixed the batter and popped it into the oven, I go back to the shop. Dominic was on the phone talking to someone, though I didn't mean to eavesdrop but from what I heard, he was apologizing to the person at the other end of the phone. So I quietly make my way to his table.
Dominic having sensed I was coming towards his table ends the phone call, "I'd speak to you later, bye", he says to phone.
"I saw that you were busy on the phone ", I say.
"Yeah, it was my brother", he informs me.
"I see you have had the cupcakes and tea, did you enjoy them?", I ask as I scan his table.
"I did enjoy them, thanks by the way", he says smiling.
We chat a bit about cupcakes and the weather as it was hot during the day, The timer I set for the cake beeps, "that's the cake", I say. "It should be ready by now", I say as I stand to leave.
I stand up and head over to the oven to check on the cake.
"Oh, alright", Dominic says.
I bring out the cake in the oven, and place it on a rack and allow it to cool. It's a simple vanilla sponge cake, while the cake is cooling, I prepare the buttercream frosting. I put it in the fridge for a few minutes, by then the cake was completely cool, and I set to frost the cake.
Since it's a simple cake, I frosted it with just a single layer of the buttercream, then I take to decorate it with fresh flowers and berries.
I wrap it up in a box and take it with me into the shop.
Dominic stands up as he sees I'm with the cake. I hand it to him with a sigh.
"Thank you so much," he says, looking at the cake with wonder. "I really appreciate this". He brings out his wallet and pays me for the cake.
I accept the cash, "You're welcome," I reply simply. "It's what I do."
While I turn off the lights and lock the door, he steps outside the shop, and makes his way back out to the parking lot, cake in hand, Dominic quickly stashes it in the trunk of his car.
As he turns to make his way back to the bakery, I'm set and ready to leave in my car, he strolls down to my car, "Thank you once again", he says " Please can I get your business card, so I can give you feedbacks on the cake".
I reach for a business card in the compartment of my car, and hand him one.
"Thank you", he says, and heads to his car.
I watch him go with a sense of satisfaction.
I smile to myself in content in the knowledge that I'd be making someone's day just a little bit brighter.This is why I love baking - it brings joy to people's lives, even if it is just a simple cake for a birthday.
"Whew", I blew out. "What a way to close for the week".
As I drive out of the parking lot. I imagine myself in my apartment, soaking up in the tub, with the new scented candles I got from the previous week.
"I can't wait to get home", I say to no one in particular.
I don't know how the weekend will be, but one thing I know for sure is I'd be sleeping through it.
I get to my house by 7:30p.m. As I walk up the stairs to my apartment, I can feel my muscles tensing up with each step. I can't wait to soak in a warm bath and forget about everything else.
When I finally get inside, I head straight for the fridge. I'm too tired to cook anything, so I settle for the leftover lasagna from the night before. It's not cake, but it'll do. I heat it up in the microwave and sit down at the kitchen table to eat.
As I eat, I can feel myself starting to unwind. The flavours of the lasagna are comforting and familiar, and I let myself sink into the chair, feeling the tension slowly release from my body.
After finishing my meal, I head into my bathroom. I fill the tub with warm water and add some lavender essential oil, my favourite scent. As I take off my clothes and sink into the water, I feel the stress of the day melt away. I close my eyes and let out a contented sigh.
The warm water soothes my muscles, and the scent of lavender fills my senses. I let my mind wander, thinking about the cakes I made and the customers I served. Despite the long hours and the stress, I love my job.
There's something satisfying about creating something beautiful and delicious that brings joy to others.
Eventually, I reluctantly climb out of the tub and dry myself off. I head into my bedroom, feeling relaxed and content. I change into my pyjamas and crawl into bed, grateful for the soft blankets and pillows that await me.
As lay on my bed, I think about the day I had. I know there will be more cakes to bake and more customers to serve in the following week, but for now, I'm content to let myself rest and recharge.
I love my job, and even though it can be stressful at times, I wouldn't want to be doing anything else. I know that the following week will be busy, but I'm ready for the challenge. And, most importantly, I'm looking forward to sharing my love of baking with others and bringing joy to their lives.
I let out a contented sigh as I snuggle deeper into my bed, the soft sheets and fluffy pillows enveloping me in comfort. Looking forward to a peaceful night of rest, I drift off to sleep, my phone rang, jolting me back to reality.
I groan inwardly, "Who could be calling me at this hour, ughh", wondering to myself I pick up my phone.
Glancing at the screen, I saw that it was John, my older brother. We haven't spoken in months, and I wonder what could be so urgent that he would be calling me in the middle of the night.
Well not middle of the night, but then it was 10:45pm.
"Hello?" I answer, trying to sound awake.
"Hey, Liv," John's voice came through the speaker. I smile at the sound of my brother's voice."I hope I'm not disturbing you.", he says.
I rub my eyes, trying to shake off the drowsiness. "No, it's fine. What's up?"
"I just wanted to talk," John says,"It's been so long since we've caught up, how's it going?"
I feel a twinge of guilt. I have been so wrapped up in my own life lately that I forgot to make time for my family. "It's going okay. What about you?"
John chuckles. "Same old, same old. You know how it is. Work, kids, the usual."
I nod, even though John can't see me. "Yeah, I know. How's Sandra doing?"
"She's good, thanks. Just trying to keep up with the little ones. They're growing so fast, it's hard to keep track."
I laugh. "I can only imagine. You know, sometimes I wish I had your life. A husband, kids, a nice house...it all sounds so perfect."
There was a brief pause on the other end of the line, and I wonder if I had said something wrong.
"Hey, are you okay?" I ask, suddenly worried.
"Yeah, I'm fine. It's just...you know, it's not all sunshine and rainbows. Marriage is hard work, and being a parent is even harder. Sometimes I wonder if I'm doing it all right, you know?"
I sit up, suddenly interested. I had never heard John talk like this before.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, it's like...you're responsible for these tiny humans, and you have to teach them everything. How to be good people, how to make good decisions. And then you have to take care of your spouse too, and make sure they're happy. It's a lot of pressure."
I think about what John says for a moment. I never think of marriage and parenting in quite this way before.
"But you and Sandra seem happy. You make it work, right?"
John sighs. "Yeah, we do. But it's not easy. It takes a lot of communication, a lot of compromise. And sometimes it feels like we're just going through the motions, you know?"
I didn't know what to say. I have always looked up to John and Sandra, I always think of them as the perfect couple. To hear that they struggle sometimes is kind of unsettling.
"I guess I just never realized how hard it was," I say finally.
John laughs. "Yeah, well, nobody ever tells you that part. They just show you the highlight reel."
I smile ruefully. "I guess you're right. But you know what? I still think I want what you have. A family, a home, all of it. Even if it's hard."
John chuckles. "Well, that's good to hear. But don't rush into anything, okay? Make sure it's what you really want."
"I will," I promise. "Thanks for talking to me, John. It means a lot."
"Anytime, sis. You know I'm always here for you."
Maybe marriage and parenting weren't as easy as I had thought. But if John and Sandra could make it work, maybe everyone could too.
As we say our goodbyes and both hang up, I let out a deep breath as I place my phone on the nightstand. The conversation with John had been pleasant, but it left me feeling a bit melancholic. I stare at nothing in particular lost in thought. It had been months since I have seen my brother in person, and the distance between us feels like a vast chasm. I dwelled in thought of being be able to reach out and hold him, to share a laugh or a hug. But for now, I can only lay back on my bed and hope that soon enough we would see each other again.
I lay back on my bed, deep in thought.
As I lay in bed, my mind wandered to the love and happiness that seemed to radiate from John and Sandra, leaving me feeling both happy and envious.
John and Sandra have always been close, even before they had gotten married. I was at their wedding, I watched as John exchanged vows with his beautiful bride, I felt a sense of awe and wonder. They looked so happy together, so in love. It was clear that they were meant to be together, and Olivia couldn't help but feel grateful to have been a part of their special day.
As the priest pronounced them husband and wife, my eyes filled with tears. I was so happy for them, so grateful to see them starting their journey together. I knew that they would face challenges and struggles along the way, but I also knew that their love for each other was strong enough to overcome anything.
I remember as the celebration continued into the night, John and Sandra danced together, their eyes never leaving each other's faces. They looked so happy, so content.
At John and Sarah's wedding party, I stood at the back of the reception hall, taking in the sight before me. It was the most beautiful wedding I had ever seen. The decorations were stunning, the music was lively, and everyone was dressed to the nines. I was putting on a lilac silk dress, with my strapped heels.
As I looked around, I felt a sense of joy and gratitude. I was so happy for John and his new wife Sandra. They were perfect for each other, and it was clear that they were deeply in love.
The wedding party was in full swing, and I watched as the guests danced and laughed. I was surrounded by family and friends, and I felt a sense of belonging that I hadn't felt in a long time.
My attention was drawn to the center of the room, where John and Sandra were having their first dance together. They looked so happy, so in love. I felt a sense of longing. I wanted what they had, a love that was strong and unwavering.
But as I watched them, I realized that I was surrounded by love. Our family and friends were all here, celebrating the love that John and Sandra shared. I was grateful to be a part of it, to witness the beauty of two souls coming together as one.
The night wore on, and the guests continued to dance and celebrate. I found myself laughing and smiling, enjoying the company of her loved ones. Watching John and Sandra have their first dance together as husband and wife, I felt tears prick at my eyes.
It was a beautiful moment, one that most of the guests would never forget. I knew that John and Sandra would have a long and happy life together, filled with love and laughter.
As the night came to a close, I hugged my brother tightly. I told him how happy I was for him, and how much I loved him. I was definitely going to miss him. He smiled and hugged me back, telling me that he was grateful to have me as a sister in his life.
I looked around at the rest of the wedding party, feeling grateful for every person who had come to celebrate with them. I knew that this was a night for the books, and that I would never forget, a night filled with love and happiness.
It was such a beautiful ceremony, filled with love and laughter.
Over the years, I have seen how John and Sandra's relationship had grown and matured. Though they have faced challenges and obstacles, but they have always worked through them together, their love for each other never wavering. I have always admired their ability to communicate openly and honestly with each other, to always put each other first.
I can't help but feel a sense of longing. I yearn for a love like John and Sandra's, a love that is strong and true. I have been on my fair share of dates, but I have yet to find someone who makes me feel the way John makes Sandra feel.
I sigh and roll over onto my side, staring out the window at the darkened sky. The stars are twinkling brightly, as if they are trying to offer me some comfort. I can't help but wonder if there is someone out there for me, someone who will love me unconditionally and make me feel like I am the most important person in the world.
With a contented sigh, I close my eyes and drift off to sleep, dreaming of a future filled with love, laughter, and the kind of relationship that John and Sandra had.