almost as soon as my head hit the pillow.
I welcomed the ease of sleep. I had been struggling with insomnia for months and it was wonderful to drift off so easily. For the first night in a long time I didn’t think of him , my mind was only filled with pastries.
After a good night’s sleep I woke up ready to get started and full of ideas. I went to the shop early again and immediately started baking. I made a wide variety of muffins, which had been very popular the day before, but I also added several batches of blueberry and dried cherry scones and some croissants stuffed with soft cheese or chocolate. In addition to the oversized cinnamon rolls that had already proved to be a big seller, I also made some creamy caramel pecan rolls, along with a large assortment of donuts and danishes. Finally I decided to also add a double chocolate biscotti and lemon-pistachio biscotti. By the time Amy arrived just a little before 5am I already had the display cases stocked and ready to go.
My second morning was even busier than the first. Most of the people I’d seen the day before came back again, and this time there were many new faces as well. The morning ran smoothly, since I had prepared more food in anticipation. The morning rush lasted several hours, and then when things slowed down Amy ran out to pick up some lunch for us while I headed back into the kitchen to prepare for the afternoon crowd.
My lunchtime offerings were as varied as the morning. I made several fruit tarts, some pies and cakes, as well as a dozen batches of various cookies. I also created a few different types of fruit bars, some fudge, pralines, and chocolate truffles.
I was enjoying myself so much that when I finished I worried I may have made too much. But I was relieved to learn that was not the case. The lunch rush was again busier than the day before and I sold nearly everything I had prepared.
We closed at 3 again, and I stayed for several hours preparing for the next day. As I was getting ready to wrap things up and leave I heard a knock at the front door. I peeked out of the kitchen and saw a businessman in a suit standing on the other side of the glass door.
“I realize you’re already closed,” he said as soon as I opened the door “but I just got off work and I spotted that soccer ball cake through your window. It would be absolutely perfect for my son’s birthday party tomorrow and I was wondering if there was any way I could talk you into selling it to me.” He finished looking hopeful.
“Of course!” I exclaimed and stepped back to allow him inside. I boxed up the cake and he insisted on paying me double what I would have normally charged since I had been willing to open the door for him after regular business hours. Finally I closed up the shop and headed home exhausted again, but loving every minute of it.
The weeks passed, each day seemingly busier than the one before. At first my customers were mostly people who lived or worked in the area, but as my reputation grew people began going out of their way to stop by my shop and try something.
Within the first month I was already taking orders for specialty cakes. The gentleman who had purchased the soccer ball cake had returned to rave about how much his family had loved the cake and to beg that I design a ballet themed cake for his daughter’s recital. My cake decorating reputation spread quickly. In addition to my regular bakery business I was taking cake orders nearly daily and working late into the evenings baking and designing cakes.
I was making more money than I could have ever dreamed possible, and I was glad that I could afford to pay Amy a decent salary. I couldn’t have done any of it without her. She helped wherever I needed her, from answering the phone and running the register to making trips to the store when I ran out of ingredients. We were a team, but as much as I appreciated her I still felt guilty for keeping her from pursuing her career goals. She spent
I welcomed the ease of sleep. I had been struggling with insomnia for months and it was wonderful to drift off so easily. For the first night in a long time I didn’t think of him , my mind was only filled with pastries.
After a good night’s sleep I woke up ready to get started and full of ideas. I went to the shop early again and immediately started baking. I made a wide variety of muffins, which had been very popular the day before, but I also added several batches of blueberry and dried cherry scones and some croissants stuffed with soft cheese or chocolate. In addition to the oversized cinnamon rolls that had already proved to be a big seller, I also made some creamy caramel pecan rolls, along with a large assortment of donuts and danishes. Finally I decided to also add a double chocolate biscotti and lemon-pistachio biscotti. By the time Amy arrived just a little before 5am I already had the display cases stocked and ready to go.
My second morning was even busier than the first. Most of the people I’d seen the day before came back again, and this time there were many new faces as well. The morning ran smoothly, since I had prepared more food in anticipation. The morning rush lasted several hours, and then when things slowed down Amy ran out to pick up some lunch for us while I headed back into the kitchen to prepare for the afternoon crowd.
My lunchtime offerings were as varied as the morning. I made several fruit tarts, some pies and cakes, as well as a dozen batches of various cookies. I also created a few different types of fruit bars, some fudge, pralines, and chocolate truffles.
I was enjoying myself so much that when I finished I worried I may have made too much. But I was relieved to learn that was not the case. The lunch rush was again busier than the day before and I sold nearly everything I had prepared.
We closed at 3 again, and I stayed for several hours preparing for the next day. As I was getting ready to wrap things up and leave I heard a knock at the front door. I peeked out of the kitchen and saw a businessman in a suit standing on the other side of the glass door.
“I realize you’re already closed,” he said as soon as I opened the door “but I just got off work and I spotted that soccer ball cake through your window. It would be absolutely perfect for my son’s birthday party tomorrow and I was wondering if there was any way I could talk you into selling it to me.” He finished looking hopeful.
“Of course!” I exclaimed and stepped back to allow him inside. I boxed up the cake and he insisted on paying me double what I would have normally charged since I had been willing to open the door for him after regular business hours. Finally I closed up the shop and headed home exhausted again, but loving every minute of it.
The weeks passed, each day seemingly busier than the one before. At first my customers were mostly people who lived or worked in the area, but as my reputation grew people began going out of their way to stop by my shop and try something.
Within the first month I was already taking orders for specialty cakes. The gentleman who had purchased the soccer ball cake had returned to rave about how much his family had loved the cake and to beg that I design a ballet themed cake for his daughter’s recital. My cake decorating reputation spread quickly. In addition to my regular bakery business I was taking cake orders nearly daily and working late into the evenings baking and designing cakes.
I was making more money than I could have ever dreamed possible, and I was glad that I could afford to pay Amy a decent salary. I couldn’t have done any of it without her. She helped wherever I needed her, from answering the phone and running the register to making trips to the store when I ran out of ingredients. We were a team, but as much as I appreciated her I still felt guilty for keeping her from pursuing her career goals. She spent
Similar Books
