by Naomi Miller
“Unless you want to go change before getting started. . .”
Bella looked down at her clothes, then back up at Katie.
“Is this outfit not appropriate?”
Katie had to smother a laugh at the sincerity and confusion in the young woman's voice. “There is nothing wrong with your clothes. I should probably warn you now that working in a bakery can be messy.”
“Oh! I didn't even think about that. I will go change. Most of my stuff is still in my car.” She started backing toward the front door as she spoke. “I'll be right back.” And with a quick turn, she was out the door.
When the bells over the door tinkled, Freida walked out of the kitchen.
“So, you decided not to hire her?”
Katie turned to Freida. “Nee, I decided to hire her. She went to change her clothes.”
“What was wrong with her clothes?”
“They were a bit fancy, don't you think? Working here, even out front, can get messy.”
“We have aprons.” Freida laughed as she said it.
“Gut point. I did not think of that. And I'm used to working in the kitchen, where even an apron doesn't always keep my clothes from getting messy.”
Looking back towards the front door, Katie asked, “Do you think she is telling the truth about just wanting a change of scenery? You don't think she could be running away from something, do you?”
Freida said nothing for what felt like a very long minute. When she spoke, she seemed to put a lot of thought into it.
“I think that Mrs. Mueller can get almost anything out of a person, no matter how hard they try to hide it—so if there is something to know, we will soon know it.”
After a few seconds, she added, “You are not worried about hiring her, are you?”
Katie thought over her answer carefully before speaking. “I am more worried about Bella. If she is running or hiding out, are we helping her by giving her a job or making matters worse. And if there's a problem, will we be able to help her when the time kummes?”
“Don't worry so, Katie. Gott will help us find a way.”
“Jah, that is true.”
* * *
No one was more surprised than Katie when the biggest uproar that day happened when Travis dropped Gwen off at the bakery.
He fairly stormed into the kitchen, the swinging doors banging against the wall on either side.
“Katie, just who is that out there with Freida?”
It took almost a minute for Katie to make her mouth work, so surprised she was by the unexpected behavior from Travis.
“She is Freida's replacement.”
“I thought Gwen was supposed to be Freida's replacement.”
Katie took a step back at the harsh tone in his voice. She had never heard him speak this way to anyone, even when his bruders had broken into the bakery and stolen all of the Independence Day cupcakes along with as much bread, cookies and other treats as they could carry.
“Travis, Gwen cannot be Freida's replacement. She is in school most of every day. Bella. . .”
He interrupted her, his voice still much too hard, but a bit less harsh, “Bella. . . really? What kind of name is that?”
“It is her name. Really, Travis. What is the problem? We still want Gwen to help out—especially with the holiday rush next week. Bella is just an extra help so that Freida can go on her honeymoon trip on time and Mrs. Simpkins will not kumme back to a disaster.”
He started to speak, but when Katie tilted her head and put a flour-covered hand on her hip in defense, he stopped and stepped back a bit.
“It took me by surprise, that's all.”
Katie swallowed the laugh that leapt to her lips. He looked like a young buwe pouting because he had just found out he had to share his new toy.
“It will work out just fine, Travis. Trust me.”
“I do trust you, Katie-girl. I was just not expecting this today.”
Katie nodded and Travis turned to head over to the walk-in cooler. Katie turned back to her bread, a wide smile taking over her face.
— NINE —
Monday morning, bright and early, Katie turned the corner in front of the Coffee Cup. She came to an abrupt stop when she saw that both Gwen and Bella were waiting for her at the front door of the bakery.
On the one hand, she was excited to see that they were both so eager. On the other hand, she was a bit worried that they were in some sort of competition.
Travis' words came back to her; about the surprise and hurt he had felt over her hiring someone else to work with them. Was it possible he was responsible for Gwen showing up early? Could he have misunderstood what she had said the other day? Was he worried she would decide they didn't need Gwen's help anymore?
Why does he not trust me?
Putting a smile on her face, she continued on to the bakery, pulling the keys out of her apron pocket as she went.
Both girls jumped up from the steps at her approach.
“Good morning, Katie.” they chorused together.
Katie stifled a laugh, but breathed a little easier at the smiles on both faces in front of her.
They looked like the best of freinden.
Perhaps they have been sitting here getting to know each other while they waited for me.
That could be a very gut thing. If they become freinden, Travis will know he has nothing to worry over about Gwen's job.
“You know, neither of you have to be here this early.”
“We know.” They spoke at the same time again, and then they laughed together.
“We just want to watch and learn.” Bella told Katie. Gwen nodded in agreement.
“All right. Kumme on in, then.” She unlocked the door and walked into the dark bakery, snapping on the lights after entering.
Bella and Gwen followed Katie, but stopped in the front room and started lifting down the chairs—righting them and sliding them gently under the tables, while Katie continued on to the kitchen.
Katie let out a breath of relief. She looked forward to her quiet mornings when Freida came in just before opening time. In as busy a household as her home was, quiet was a rarity.
While Katie started her morning routine, the sound of chair legs moving on the floor continued.
She pulled the clipboard off the wall with the list of late orders and scanned through it, making a mental note of what needed to be prepared first, along with the regular morning baking.
Just as she started lining up ingredients along the prep table, Gwen came through the swinging doors.
“Will it bother you if Bella and I watch you start the baking? We really do want to learn.”
Katie nodded and resigned herself to having no quiet time for the morning. She just couldn't tell Gwen no. She didn't want to give the girls the wrong impression. And she felt that Travis might take it the wrong way, too.
“Thank you, Katie. We'll stay out of the way.” And with that, Gwen pushed back through the swinging doors, returning less than a minute later with Bella right behind her.
* * *
At eight o'clock sharp, Travis opened the back door to the bakery kitchen and walked in, fully prepared to get an ear-full from Katie for dropping off his sister so early.
She had been acting more than a little weird since he'd cornered her about the new girl she had hired without any warning.
Between his worry over making ends meet, his mother still being so frail, finding a way to keep his brothers out of trouble, and the new hours he was putting in to help Mr. O'Neal's nephew, he barely knew what he was doing from one minute to the next. He did not need to start worrying about Gwen having a job—or not having a job—because of some new girl in town.
Didn't Katie know he had enough to worry about already?
The first thing he noticed was a complete and total lack of. . . Katie. She was nowhere in the kitchen.
The second thing he noticed was the note taped to a stack of bakery boxes on the prep table closest to back door.
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“Travis, I know what a hurry you're in this morning and since I had so much extra help, we stacked these up to make it easier for you. We have a few late deliveries today, but nothing urgent so don't feel like you have to rush back after lunch at the cafe.”
Katie.
Dropping the note on the hard, metal surface, Travis turned and walked out of the kitchen, slowing only when he saw that there were customers in the bakery.
He watched for several minutes as Freida took orders and the new girl rushed off to put the order together. He had to admit, she was quick, quiet and kept a sweet smile on her face the entire time. . . albeit a nervous one.
When Freida noticed him standing there, she walked over to him, a wide smile on her face.
“Isn't she great? Truly an answer to a prayer.”
He wanted to argue, but couldn't bring himself to mess up the happiness evident on Freida's face so he nodded.
“We stacked up the deliveries for you. Did you find everything all right?”
He nodded again and Freida went on, sounding more and more excited as she talked.
“Bella and Gwen are both such wunderbaar gut help. We got the bakery ready to open in record time so we figured we would make things a bit easier for you. We even opened up ten minutes early.”
“That's great, Freida. Listen, where is Katie? Isn't she usually here this time of morning?”
“She is at the Coffee Cup, taking a break. Bella and Gwen were such gut help, she took her break early this morning. She even walked Gwen to school, too, so you would not have to worry over her.”
“Thanks Freida. I'll be back in a few minutes.”
“All right, Travis.” Freida smiled and went back over to the counter as the bell over the front door jingled and another customer walked in.
Travis went out through the front door, feeling silly the whole time. It was ridiculous to feel that he had to speak with Katie right this minute. There was nothing he really needed to say to her, but he felt the desire consuming him—and he was not about to ignore it.
He crossed the street and made his way to the Coffee Cup in the early morning light, watching the townspeople as he went. There was quite a crowd heading for the bakery this morning.
I know they're usually crowded, but this is a bit much. Could all this really just be the holiday?
He didn't remember last Thanksgiving being this crowded.
What could it be?
A few minutes later, walking through the Coffee Cup, he figured out what it was. No one was talking loudly about it—and no one who was sitting too near Katie was talking about it at all, but there were definitely more than a few people in the coffee shop talking about the new girl over at the bakery.
Well, I guess that makes sense. She's new in town and the people are going to be curious until she's no longer a mystery.
Finally he made it over to where Katie sat, a coffee cup in one hand, one of her own muffins in the other.
“Hi, Katie.”
She looked up, clearly surprised to see him there.
“Hi, Travis. Is everything all right?”
“Why wouldn't everything be all right?” He pulled out a chair at her small table and scooted it around next to her, settling himself casually.
She looked at him with a slightly odd expression for several seconds before saying anything.
“I guess I just wondered why you're here, when you're usually out making deliveries by now.”
“Well, you and your new helpers saved me quite a lot of time by stacking everything up by the back door, so I figured I could take a few minutes before I get going on that.”
“Hmm.” was her only response.
He sat there looking at her for almost a minute before he started to feel silly. When he realized he was just staring at her, and that she wasn't saying a word, he decided it was time to go.
“Well, I guess I'd better get to those deliveries then.”
“Jah.” was all Katie said in return.
He stood, moved the chair back around to it's original position and turned to go.
“I'll see you later, Travis.”
“Yeah, later.” And he made a hasty retreat, suddenly feeling very foolish.
* * *
The ball of dough Katie had been shaping hit the floor with a splat as she turned toward the front of the store at the sound of Freida's scream.
Only a moment later, Bella stuck her head in through the swinging doors. “Katie, you might want to come out here.”
“Is everything all right?”
Bella didn't get a chance to answer because the next second Freida could be heard shouting “She's back! She's back!” so loudly Hannah probably heard her across the street at the Coffee Cup.
Katie waved a hand when Bella started to speak again. “I got it. Thank you.”
She wiped her hands on the apron at her waist as best she could, while rushing out of the kitchen.
The sight that greeted her was one of carefully organized pandemonium. Freida and Gwen were holding hands and jumping up and down in place, giggling and squealing right next to Mrs. Simpkins and Mr. O'Neal, who were, thankfully, laughing at the spectacle before them.
Bella stood behind the counter, both arms crossed in front of her as she watched all that was going on in front of her with what Katie hoped was amusement.
Katie rushed over to hug Mrs. Simpkins, laughing with her at the antics of Freida and Gwen, who were still jumping up and down and shouting.
It was several minutes before the scene quieted down enough for any meaningful conversation to be heard. Katie rushed to be heard first, afraid if she did not jump right in with her questions, she might never be able to.
“You're back early. Is everything all right? How was the cruise?”
She put a hand over her mouth, realizing what she had just said—and with Mr. O'Neal standing right there.
“It's quite all right, Katie. Andrew knows all about the cruise.” And her boss shocked Katie by turning and smiled up at Mr. O'Neal, slipping her hand into his at the same time.
“I think we should tell them our news, Milly dear, before Katie begins to think you've taken leave of your senses.”
And Katie could not believe her ears when her boss, Amelia Simpkins giggled.
Seeing their own Mrs. Simpkins holding Andrew's hand, Freida and Gwen stopped jumping up and down. “What news?” Freida asked, as they all crowded in close to Katie to hear the news.
Mr. O'Neal looked over at Mrs. Simpkins and Mrs. Simpkins looked back at him. Clearly both of them were waiting for the other. . .
After a long pause, they both replied,
“We're married!”
— TEN —
Katie concentrated on moving the needle through the deep purple fabric that Freida had chosen for her dress. Across from her, Freida was putting the finishing touches on the hem of her own dress.
She could hardly believe that the wedding was only one day away. Even more difficult to believe was how much they still had to do if they intended to be ready.
The entire time they had been working, Freida’s mamm had walked in and out of the large sitting room, checking on their progress and asking Freida about one detail or another.
With so many questions, Katie expected Freida’s smile to falter, but it looked like she was smiling more widely now that she had when Katie had begun sewing.
It was a gut thing to see her freind so froh all the time.
And Freida deserves some happiness. She works so hard and she is always there for me.
“Ach, Katie. One more day. . . just one more day and I'll be married to Thomas. I don't even care anymore if everything gets done on time. I just want to be married and done with all the details and planning.”
“I know you do, Freida. I am so froh—so happy—for you.” Katie stopped, wanting to say more, but suddenly she felt sad.
When will it be my turn?
* * *
“Have you noticed something
, Katie?”
“What's that?”
Freida moved in a bit closer to Katie before continuing, “We were so certain that Mrs. Mueller would find out everything there is to know about Bella—and then the whole town would know in no time.”
“Jah?”
“Well, here it is almost a week that she's been in town and I've not heard one thing.”
“You are absolutely right, Freida.”
A minute later, Katie added, with a shrug. “Maybe there is nothing to know. Maybe she really is just a young maedel whose life did not go as planned and she wanted to get away and start over.”
“But could it truly be that simple? I cannot think of many Englischers whose lives are truly that simple, can you?”
Katie thought about it for a minute. Why, even their boss's life was not so simple. Especially since she went on that cruise.
“Nee, I was expecting to hear more, too.”
It had been bugging her and Freida ever since Mr. O'Neal and Mrs. Simpkins. . .
I suppose I should start thinking of her as Mrs. O'Neal now.
The thought came to her suddenly, and left her unexpectedly feeling very odd about the whole thing.
Ever since they had made their big announcement, Freida and Katie had tried to get the whole story out of them, but all either of them would say was that Mr. O'Neal had shown up unexpectedly on the cruise and had “swept Miss Amelia off her feet”.
“Perhaps Mrs. Mueller is losing her touch.”
Freida's whispered words made Katie want to laugh, but when she really thought about what her freind said, it sort of made sense. It was strange indeed to think so, but there was no denying the fact that no one in town knew anything more about Bella Stanton than they had when she arrived. Even more unusual, no one in town had heard anything more about the cafe owner's and the bakery owner's whirlwind marriage.
They had finally acknowledged their feelings for one another when something happened. . . for weeks they argued, fought and sniped at one another, until they stopped speaking. Six months later, Mrs. Simpkins went on a vacation. A week or so later, without knowing where she was, Mr. O'Neal left. Then they both ended up on the same ship—at the same time—and incredibly, had come back home—together. And were married.