make sure the door is locked, and make my way to my bed for the night. Unfortunately, the events of the night are on replay in my head.
His demands and requests, how horrible his loss must be, and my own insanity for allowing this to continue. I've become part of the problem.
"He needs to find a hotel tomorrow," I say out loud to the darkness of my room before finally falling asleep.
Four in the morning blares its ugly arrival on my alarm clock. I dress and head to the bakery. My personal problems can't interfere with my business any more than they already have.
Mercedes breezes in with sunglasses on and an extra-large coffee in her hand.
"Rough night?" I laugh.
"Shh, not so loud," she whispers and slips into her office, without turning on the light.
Giggling, I start the muffins, breads, and cookies. Once I'm done with the initial baked goods, I get the urge to change the special for the day.
I grab the ingredients and start up the food processor, adding pepperoni, ham, smoked mozzarella cheese, and just a bit of smoked cheddar. In the mixer, I attach the dough hooks and place in the ingredients.
By the time Sarah and Greg arrive, the dough is on its second rising.
"Morning," Sarah smiles and Greg mumbles in unison.
"Good morning, guys." I focus on Greg. "You look like you're in the same shape as Ced."
"What are you making?" Sarah asks, pulling an apron over her head. It's the one I gave her last year that says if you like these cookies, you should taste my muffin .
"I changed the special." I shrug. "I'm in the mood for pepperoni and ham rolls."
"Need any help with them?" Sarah rolls up the short sleeves of her bakery shirt the way she likes them.
"Sure, if you don't have anything else to start."
She steps next to me and starts cutting pieces of dough before flattening, filling, and rolling. She inhales deeply.
"What did you put in the dough? Garlic?" she asks.
“Yeah, that and parmesan cheese,” I answer.
“I will love you forever if you say I can have one this afternoon.” Greg stands opposite Sarah, his hands clasped in prayer.
"You will love me no matter what," I counter.
"True, but come on. Please?" He smiles and bats his lashes.
"Oh God, tell him yes so he'll stop that." Sarah cringes, teasing.
"Okay," I laugh.
"Yes!" Greg fist pumps.
"You realize you look like a demented bobble head when you do that, right?" Sarah calls after Greg's retreating form.
"Don't be jealous!" he shouts before disappearing into the large cake fridge.
With Sarah's help, I get the rolls done in half the time I thought they would take. We place them on top of the ovens, so they can rise one last time before baking.
Sarah walks to the radio. Her hand hovering over the flour, sugar, and icing covered device on one of the shelves along the wall.
“Sure,” I agree, walking toward Mercedes’ office.
I grab the baby video monitor off the table along the way and then lean into her door.
"You feeling okay?" I raise a brow at her.
"Better now. Just had a hard time waking up today. I'm getting too old for long nights."
"You wanna trade nights?" I mumble, sitting in the chair opposite her.
The look of confusion on her face prompts me to tell her about the events of yesterday evening.
"He's upstairs right now?" She bites her bottom lip, her eyes wide.
"Unfortunately," I agree. "Though, he will be finding somewhere else to stay while he is in town. I already feel stupid crazy for allowing a stalker to spend the night."
Huffing, I set the monitor onto Mercedes’ desk. "Can you keep an eye on him while I start on some orders?"
"Of course." She smiles. "Maybe you should get one of these put in your husband's room," she giggles.
"Not funny,” I say flatly.
“Oh, come on! I'll watch that monitor for you." She winks. "Say what you will, that man is fine. I wonder if he sleeps nude or perhaps in his boxers. Wait! What kind of underwear does he wear?”
She seriously wants me to answer.
“I’m done with
His demands and requests, how horrible his loss must be, and my own insanity for allowing this to continue. I've become part of the problem.
"He needs to find a hotel tomorrow," I say out loud to the darkness of my room before finally falling asleep.
Four in the morning blares its ugly arrival on my alarm clock. I dress and head to the bakery. My personal problems can't interfere with my business any more than they already have.
Mercedes breezes in with sunglasses on and an extra-large coffee in her hand.
"Rough night?" I laugh.
"Shh, not so loud," she whispers and slips into her office, without turning on the light.
Giggling, I start the muffins, breads, and cookies. Once I'm done with the initial baked goods, I get the urge to change the special for the day.
I grab the ingredients and start up the food processor, adding pepperoni, ham, smoked mozzarella cheese, and just a bit of smoked cheddar. In the mixer, I attach the dough hooks and place in the ingredients.
By the time Sarah and Greg arrive, the dough is on its second rising.
"Morning," Sarah smiles and Greg mumbles in unison.
"Good morning, guys." I focus on Greg. "You look like you're in the same shape as Ced."
"What are you making?" Sarah asks, pulling an apron over her head. It's the one I gave her last year that says if you like these cookies, you should taste my muffin .
"I changed the special." I shrug. "I'm in the mood for pepperoni and ham rolls."
"Need any help with them?" Sarah rolls up the short sleeves of her bakery shirt the way she likes them.
"Sure, if you don't have anything else to start."
She steps next to me and starts cutting pieces of dough before flattening, filling, and rolling. She inhales deeply.
"What did you put in the dough? Garlic?" she asks.
“Yeah, that and parmesan cheese,” I answer.
“I will love you forever if you say I can have one this afternoon.” Greg stands opposite Sarah, his hands clasped in prayer.
"You will love me no matter what," I counter.
"True, but come on. Please?" He smiles and bats his lashes.
"Oh God, tell him yes so he'll stop that." Sarah cringes, teasing.
"Okay," I laugh.
"Yes!" Greg fist pumps.
"You realize you look like a demented bobble head when you do that, right?" Sarah calls after Greg's retreating form.
"Don't be jealous!" he shouts before disappearing into the large cake fridge.
With Sarah's help, I get the rolls done in half the time I thought they would take. We place them on top of the ovens, so they can rise one last time before baking.
Sarah walks to the radio. Her hand hovering over the flour, sugar, and icing covered device on one of the shelves along the wall.
“Sure,” I agree, walking toward Mercedes’ office.
I grab the baby video monitor off the table along the way and then lean into her door.
"You feeling okay?" I raise a brow at her.
"Better now. Just had a hard time waking up today. I'm getting too old for long nights."
"You wanna trade nights?" I mumble, sitting in the chair opposite her.
The look of confusion on her face prompts me to tell her about the events of yesterday evening.
"He's upstairs right now?" She bites her bottom lip, her eyes wide.
"Unfortunately," I agree. "Though, he will be finding somewhere else to stay while he is in town. I already feel stupid crazy for allowing a stalker to spend the night."
Huffing, I set the monitor onto Mercedes’ desk. "Can you keep an eye on him while I start on some orders?"
"Of course." She smiles. "Maybe you should get one of these put in your husband's room," she giggles.
"Not funny,” I say flatly.
“Oh, come on! I'll watch that monitor for you." She winks. "Say what you will, that man is fine. I wonder if he sleeps nude or perhaps in his boxers. Wait! What kind of underwear does he wear?”
She seriously wants me to answer.
“I’m done with
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