The Bake Shop

by Amy Clipston

  Besides, she didn’t need a relationship right now. She had to concentrate on her booth and make sure it was successful to convince her father to allow her to keep it open.

  “Ach no.” Salina glanced toward the clock on the far wall. “We need to get back to our booths. The doors will open soon.”

  “It’s time to sell out of all our goods.” Leanna gathered up her coffee cup and purse. “I’ll see you later.”

  “Have a gut day,” Bethany sang out.

  Christiana walked with Jeff and Salina toward their booths.

  As they rounded a corner to enter their aisle, Salina quickened her pace. “I’ll see you both later. Have a gut day.” She winked at Christiana before disappearing into her booth.

  Christiana sucked in a breath, hoping Jeff hadn’t seen the wink.

  As they approached his booth, she turned to face him. “Danki again for your help this morning.”

  “I’m froh to assist anytime.” He grimaced as voices sounded from across the market. “I think it’s about to get crazy. Are you ready?”

  “I’m definitely ready.”

  “See you later.” He gave her a nod and then stepped into his booth.

  As Christiana walked into hers, a knot of people came right behind her.

  “Good morning,” she said as she set her coffee on the counter and turned to face her first customers of the day. A smile overtook her lips. How she loved her booth and the chance to see her cousins so often. But, she had to admit, she also loved the freedom that having her business at the market gave her. She could concentrate on it without her father’s strict oversight.

  * * *

  “How was your day?” Mamm asked as Christiana entered the kitchen that evening.

  “Salina said it would be crazy, but that’s not quite the correct adjective.” She dropped into a kitchen chair as her feet throbbed. The aroma of a roast filled her senses. “It was beyond crazy. It was insanity.”

  “That busy?” Phoebe handed Christiana a glass of water.

  “I ran out of everything and brought home empty racks. I’m going to have to get everything we made yesterday out of the freezer and make more kichlin tonight.” She looked up at her sister. “And I really need your help. I thought I could handle this weekend alone, but I can’t.”

  Phoebe turned toward Mamm. “May I please go with her tomorrow? Please. Please. Please!”

  “Ya. You don’t have to beg, Phoebe Kate.” Mamm opened a cabinet. “Let’s get a batch of kichlin in the oven before your dat gets home. The roast will be ready soon, and we can put the kichlin in. What should we make first?”

  “Peanut butter kichlin seem to go fast.” Christiana took a sip of water and then stood up. Oh, how her feet ached.

  “Did you see Jeff today?” Phoebe asked.

  “Ya.” While she gathered the ingredients for the cookies, Christiana shared how he helped her with her racks.

  “That was so kind of him,” Mamm said. “He seems like a very nice young man.”

  Phoebe grinned. “I think he likes you. He seemed so froh to help you when you moved in last week.”

  Christiana kept her eyes focused on making the cookie batter. How could she tell her mother and sister that she didn’t think Jeff was the man for her? Would that sound prideful?

  Mamm sidled up to her. “What are you afraid of?”

  “What?” Christiana met her gaze. “You think I’m afraid of Jeff?”

  “I don’t think you’re afraid of Jeff, but I have a feeling you’re afraid of falling in love.”

  “Love?” Christiana nearly choked on the word. “What makes you think I’m falling in love with someone I just met?”

  “I didn’t say that.” Mamm pulled another mixing bowl from a cabinet. “You just seem to shy away from the idea of getting to know him and leaving open the possibility of falling in love.”

  “Where is this coming from?” Christiana stared at her mother. “You’ve never pressured me to fall in love before. Are you suddenly in a hurry to marry me off? Do you want to make my room into a second sewing room or something?”

  Mamm chuckled. “Don’t be gegisch. I’m not in a hurry to see you married, but I’d like to see you froh.”

  “I am froh.” Christiana gestured around the kitchen. “I have my family and my baking. That’s all I need right now. I’m only twenty-five. I don’t need to complicate my life with a relationship that probably won’t last.”

  “Probably won’t last?” Phoebe scrunched her nose as if she smelled stinky cheese. “Why would you say that?”

  “None of my other relationships lasted more than a few months, so why would I even bother worrying about it?” Christiana stirred the batter. “I don’t even know what it means to fall in love. Leanna talks about when she fell in love with Marlin and how she was certain he was the one God wanted her to marry. She said that’s why they were married when they were only twenty. I’ve never felt that complete and overwhelming love for a man. My boyfriends were more like freinden. I couldn’t see myself spending the rest of my life with any of the men I dated.”

  “It will happen when the time is right.” Mamm patted her hand. “God will put the right man in your life when you least expect it. When I met your dat, I had given up on ever getting married.”

  “Really?” Phoebe asked.

  Mamm nodded. “I had dated a few young men, and they were kind and gut Christians. I liked them, and I even considered marrying one of them. But it never seemed quite right. I guess they didn’t warm my heart the way a husband should.” A smile turned up her lips. “But when I met your dat, I knew he was the one God intended for me.” She touched Christiana’s cheek. “You’ll know when you find that man. God will tap you on the shoulder. He’ll make sure you feel it in your heart.”

  Christiana swallowed against her dry throat. “We’d better get these kichlin ready for the oven.”

  Mamm’s words echoed through her mind as she dropped the batter onto a cookie sheet. Would she really feel God’s nudge when she met the man she was supposed to marry?

  7

  Jeff folded his arms over his chest and gritted his teeth as he stood at the front of his booth the following afternoon. Not only did the line into the Bake Shop snake down the aisle past his space, but other customers were weaving past the line, ignoring his booth entirely.

  He craned his neck and looked back at the items lining his shelves, all seeming to wait patiently for customers to buy them—customers who would have to fight their way through Christiana’s line to access his booth—if they even noticed it.

  Blowing out a deep sigh, he turned back toward the chaos. Was Christiana giving away free samples today? What on earth had caused this madness? He pushed his hand through his thick hair. If only Kent Dobson had another empty booth, he would gladly move his business away from Christiana’s.

  But then I might not see her around the market as much.

  He swiped the thought from his mind. He had opened the booth to earn an income, not make friends.

  But that wasn’t true. He’d opened the booth to find an outlet for his heartbreak. Still, he wanted to sell his work, not just leave it on the shelves. But Jeff could never save his business if the entrance to his booth was constantly blocked.

  His discouragement deepened as he made his way to the workbench at the back of the booth. He dropped onto a stool and pulled out a piece of leather. Soon he was cutting out a key chain in the shape of a cat.

  “Excuse me.”

  Jeff looked up, startled. A woman about his mother’s age was staring down at him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you come in.”

  “You looked like you were deep in concentration.” She gestured toward the key chain. “You do amazing work.”

  “Thank you.” He stood. “How may I help you?”

  “I was looking at your personalized bracelets, and I think my granddaughters would love them.” She pointed to the display. “I found their names there, so I’d like to purchase them alon
g with a few key chains and wooden name trains.”

  “Great. Thank you.” He waited at the counter with the cash register while she gathered the items she wanted to buy. After he rang up her purchases, she paid him, and then he deposited the gifts into a bag. “I’m glad you came in today.” And he was. At least he’d had one customer today, and she’d bought several items.

  “This market is wonderful.” She slipped her change into her wallet. “I need to bring my sister here.”

  “That would be nice.” He handed her the bag with her gifts, and she smiled.

  “Have you eaten anything from that bakery next door?” Her smile widened. “That young lady is talented too. I had one of her peanut butter cookies. Oh my goodness!” She grinned as she held up another bag dangling from her arm. “I bought some for my grandchildren. They’ll love them.”

  Jeff grunted. “Her baked goods are fantastic, but it would be nice if her line was a little shorter.”

  Her smile faded. “What do you mean?”

  “Her line is blocking my booth.” He pointed toward the mob of customers in the aisle. “You’re the first person who’s come in here all day.”

  “Oh.” She looked over her shoulder, and then she smiled again. “I’m sure more people will come in. You have a marvelous selection too. Thank you. Enjoy the rest of your day.”

  “You too.” Jeff leaned forward on the counter as the woman left. He glowered as she excused herself while weaving through the line of customers waiting for their chance to visit Christiana’s booth.

  He stood up straight. Maybe he could ask her customers to move away from his booth. But would that inspire them to peruse his store and purchase some of his gifts? No, probably not. His sales had been stagnant for nearly a month now. The line wasn’t his only predicament.

  Jeff groaned and made his way back to the worktable, trying to channel his frustration into creating more key chains. He needed to find a hot new item to sell, but what? He racked his brain and stared at his inventory, but the undercurrent of annoyance continued to nip at him.

  * * *

  Jeff’s foul mood hovered around him like his own personal dark cloud.

  Most of the day had been a waste of his time. He’d spent the remainder of the afternoon creating leather and wooden key chains, glancing at Christiana’s crowd moving past his booth in their nonstop line. He’d also continued to search his mind for an item to make that could boost his sales, but he’d come up blank. That one woman had been his only customer, and that reality caused his bad mood to fester. He was going to lose his business, the one thing that helped console his broken heart.

  When he arrived home, he was greeted by his mother’s and Kathy’s perky dispositions as they cooked supper together, and their smiles only served to irritate him further. He answered their questions with brief retorts and then retreated to his workshop until Nick retrieved him.

  While Jeff ate supper, he tried his best to keep his focus on his hamburger casserole instead of his brother’s and Kathy’s overt happiness. He longed to go back to his workshop and avoid his family until it was time for evening chores. He was in no mood to witness anyone’s love. No, not today.

  “Are you all right, Jeff?” Mamm’s question pulled him back to the present.

  “Ya.” Jeff nodded before sipping his drink.

  “You seem rather grouchy.” Mamm’s tone was hesitant, as if she feared Jeff’s temper might snap.

  “It was a long day.” Jeff worked to keep his tone even.

  “Was the market busy because of the holiday weekend?” Kathy had gathered up their empty dinner plates and was putting the percolator on the stove.

  Jeff rubbed his chin as he considered his response. “Ya, the market was busy.”

  “I’m sure you sold quite a few gifts,” Dat added.

  “No, actually, I didn’t sell much at all. It was one of the slowest days I’ve had since I opened.” Jeff gripped his glass of water and took a long drink.

  “Oh. Well, uh, did you get any kichlin from Christiana?” Dat’s eyes seemed hopeful.

  Jeff shook his head. “I couldn’t get close to her booth once the market opened.”

  “What do you mean?” Mamm asked as she brought a chocolate chip cheesecake to the table.

  “Her booth was busy all day. A line of people stretched in front of my booth all day long.”

  “No kidding.” Kathy set mugs on the table for their coffee.

  “No, I’m not kidding.”

  “I’m certain she had a profitable day,” Nick said.

  “Ya. At least one of us did,” Jeff muttered.

  Nick raised his eyebrows, but Jeff ignored the implied question.

  “I’m sure you’ll have more customers tomorrow,” Mamm said with a bright smile. “Let’s sample this chocolate chip cheesecake. It’s my first time trying this recipe.”

  “It looks fabulous.” Kathy rubbed her hands together.

  “I agree,” Dat said.

  But Jeff wasn’t as interested in baked goods as usual. Not tonight.

  * * *

  Jeff approached his back porch just as a horse and buggy came to a stop at the top of his rock driveway. Lewis Blank, his best friend since school, climbed out of the buggy.

  “Lewis.” Jeff walked over and shook his hand. “It’s great to see you. What brings you out here tonight?”

  “I was out this way and thought I’d stop by. How are things?”

  “Fine.” Jeff pointed toward the porch. “Do you have a minute to sit?”

  “Ya, of course.”

  “Let me get us some cold drinks.” Jeff rushed into the house, where he grabbed two glasses of his homemade root beer before joining Lewis on the porch again. They sat down side by side in rocking chairs. “What were you doing out this way?”

  Lewis took a drink of the soda and then set his glass on the small table between them. “I sort of had a date.”

  “What?” Jeff grinned. “When did you meet someone?”

  “I ran into an old freind a couple of weeks ago, and we started talking.” Lewis studied his glass as if to avoid Jeff’s gaze. “And I went to visit her tonight.”

  “Who is it?”

  Lewis looked up at Jeff. “Do you remember Renae Detweiler?”

  “From youth group?” Jeff chuckled. “Of course I do. I’ve noticed her at church a few times. How’s she doing?”

  “She’s great.” Lewis pushed his rocking chair in motion. “She’s twenty-eight and not married.” He gestured between them. “Just like us. And she’s still schee and sweet. I had a crush on her when we were eighteen, but I never had the confidence to ask her out.”

  “This is news to me.” Jeff studied him. “Why didn’t you ever tell me you liked her?”

  “I don’t know.” Lewis shrugged. “I guess I was afraid you’d laugh at me.” He cleared his throat. “Anyway, she’s still great, and she’s interested even after all these years. So I went to visit her tonight, and I’m going to go see her again tomorrow night.”

  “Wow.” Jeff shook his head. “If your relationship progresses . . . I thought we’d be the last bachelors from our youth group.”

  “I never wanted that title.”

  “Neither did I.” Jeff stared out toward his parents’ house and then felt a new jolt of loneliness as he spotted Nick and Kathy walking to Nick’s buggy. Soon Nick would ask Kathy to marry him, and then, he suspected, Lewis would eventually ask Renae. Jeff would be among the last few bachelors in his circle of friends and family.

  “What’s on your mind?” Lewis asked.

  “Nothing.” Jeff made sure to keep his tone light. “How’s the lawn ornament business?”

  “Gut.” Lewis picked up his glass again. “It was busy today, and we expect it to be even busier tomorrow. How’s the market?”

  “Fine.” Jeff kept his eyes focused on his father’s house.

  “Fine?” Lewis angled his body toward Jeff. “That wasn’t a very convincing response. What’s going
on?”

  Jeff rested his left ankle on his opposite knee as he kept his gaze trained across the field. “Today wasn’t a gut day.”

  “What happened?”

  Jeff explained about Christiana’s booth and how her long line of customers had blocked his booth all day long.

  “I had one customer today.” Jeff held up an index finger. “One. On a holiday weekend when the market was packed with tourists.”

  “Well, we can be froh for her that her booth is already so successful. You told me when you opened yours that you were taking a chance. She must be froh that she moved her business there.”

  Jeff pressed his lips together as he stared at Lewis. “That’s all you have to say?”

  “What do you want me to say?” Lewis shrugged. “You had a bad day. So what? We all have bad days. I think they’re God’s way of reminding us how blessed we truly are. Tomorrow will be better.”

  “It’s more complicated than that.” Jeff blew out a deep sigh. “The truth is sales were okay in the beginning, maybe because I was offering something new. But they haven’t kept up. I’m afraid I’ll have to close my booth.” Saying the words aloud sent an ache radiating through his chest.

  “Really? I had no idea.”

  “I was hoping sales would improve. I keep trying to come up with an idea for a new item that might help, but I can’t think of anything that will bring people in. I’ve already filled my shelves with everything mei daadi taught me to make.”

  “Have you thought about visiting another market to get ideas?”

  Jeff shook his head as he fingered his glass. “No. Maybe I should try that.” He sighed again. “Still, it won’t help to have new ideas if her line blocks my booth all day.”

  Lewis paused, and Jeff could almost hear the wheels turning in his friend’s head. He could always count on Lewis to give him good, sound advice.

  “How close are you to the maedel who runs the booth?” Lewis asked.

  “I would say we’re freinden. We talk.”

  “That’s gut. What if you had an honest conversation with her? Ask her to help you come up with a solution so customers can access both your booths?”