The morning after the wedding, Eunice walked into her bakery with a lightness in her step. Her first wedding cake had been a success, and the memory of the bride's teary gratitude replayed in her mind like a sweet melody. But her joy was quickly tempered by the sight of a small crowd gathered outside her shop, their voices animated.
"What's going on?" Eunice murmured, clutching her keys tightly.
As she approached, a tall woman with a kitenge bag on her arm turned and grinned. "We've been waiting for you! Everyone at the wedding couldn't stop talking about your cake. I need to place an order for my daughter's engagement!"
"And I need one for my shop's anniversary," chimed in a man holding a bicycle.
Eunice blinked, stunned. "Oh… uh, please come in," she said, unlocking the door and stepping aside to let the eager customers in.
By mid-morning, Eunice had scribbled down a dozen orders, each one unique and more elaborate than the last. She leaned on the counter, overwhelmed but thrilled. Her bakery, once quiet and serene, was now a buzzing hive of activity.
Her mother visited later that day, carrying a basket of freshly picked avocados.
"I heard the whole village is talking about your wedding cake," Mama said, her voice tinged with pride. "It seems your hard work is paying off."
Eunice smiled, but her face was lined with exhaustion. "It's a blessing, Mama, but also a lot of pressure. What if I disappoint someone?"
Her mother set the basket down and took Eunice's hands in hers. "Do you remember when you were a little girl and you learned to make mandazi? The first batch was burned, but you didn't give up. You kept trying until they were perfect."
Eunice nodded, tears welling up.
"It's the same now," Mama continued. "You'll have good days and bad ones, but as long as you give it your best, you'll be fine."
The days that followed were a whirlwind. Eunice woke before dawn, her apron already dusted with flour by sunrise. She balanced her orders carefully, learning to manage her time and resources.
One afternoon, a woman named Martha placed an order for a birthday cake shaped like a soccer ball.
"It's for my son," Martha explained. "He's obsessed with football. If you can pull this off, I'll tell everyone in the next town about your bakery."
Eunice accepted the challenge, spending hours perfecting the design. When Martha came to pick up the cake, she gasped.
"This is incredible! I've never seen anything like it," she said, handing over payment and an extra tip.
Eunice watched her leave, her heart swelling with pride. The soccer ball cake quickly became the talk of the neighboring town, and soon, customers began arriving from miles away.
One evening, Eunice sat with her mother under the stars, their plates of ugali and sukuma wiki balanced on their laps.
"Mama," Eunice said softly, "I sometimes feel like I don't deserve this success. After everything I've done…"
Her mother set down her plate and looked at her intently. "You've made mistakes, yes. But you've also worked hard to make amends. Don't let guilt rob you of the joy you've earned."
Eunice nodded, her chest tight with emotion.
As the night deepened, Eunice thought about the bakery, her customers, and the life she was building. She knew challenges lay ahead, but for the first time in a long time, she felt hope.