#bakerry

Very similar to Stars Hollow of Gilmore Girls fame, everyone knows everyone in Winslow. Harry entered the small town about seven years ago when his realtor told him about the space for the bakery. It was more than affordable, and the building came with an apartment upstairs, so he really couldn’t turn it down. At first, he found the town to be cute and quaint, and he liked that everyone was so friendly, but after some time he realized that people are just out for gossip. Any time he even thought of dating someone, word would get around that he was single and looking. So, he’s taken on the persona of a man who keeps to himself. He likes it this way, he prefers it this way.

Harry’s bakery is popular with everyone. He’s got coffee, comfy couches, and free WiFi. It’s constantly filled with high school kids and retirees. He doesn’t mind because he’s usually in the back working on something. Every once in a while, when it’s really slow, he’ll come out front to see how things are going. There are a few people he doesn’t mind shooting the shit with. He’s not a total loner, after all.

His good friend Niall usually works out front. He’s more personable with the customers, and is great at upselling items. Sheila works the register and makes the more intricate coffee drinks. There are no frappes or anything annoying like that, but people can get iced or hot lattes and such. It’s a bakery, not a coffee shop, which Harry likes to have well known.

Harry usually spends his free time in the bakery, working on new decorations for cakes, but he likes to go walking through the small town. He notices that one of the abandoned barns off the main path has been sold, and that the Winslow Pet Resort will be going in. Harry laughs to himself as he passes by. The last thing Winslow needs is a pet hotel. He stops off into the local grocery store to grab a few things, and runs into Peggy.

“Harry, how’s your weekend going?” Peggy asks with a big smile on her face. Peggy is in her mid-fifties, and loves to gossip.

“It’s good, I was just going for a walk, thought I’d grab some snacks.” He ponders as he looks at the several types of chips on the shelves. “Should just buy some potatoes and make my own.” He jokes, making her laugh. “Did you see someone bought that old barn on Thicket Street?”

“Yes! It’s actually Fay Jensen’s grand-niece. She left just about everything in her will to her, even the house. Her name is Emma Kingsley. She used to stay with Fay every summer when she was a kid; they were close.”

“Apparently so.” Harry blinks.

“I guess Emma loves the house, so she’s moving here and is opening up a little doggy hotel. I think it’s great. I’ll never have to pay some untrustworthy teenager to stay in my house to watch my little Kya. You can also pay for training and daycare. It’s going to be quite the place.”

“Sounds like it. Must be nice to inherit so much.”

“Fay was terribly frugal. She saved every penny she had. Now it’s going to good use. I don’t know much about Emma, but apparently she’s been looking for a change of pace. She’s moving into Fay’s house soon. The barn is going to take some work. Construction and repairs are supposed to start next week. A few of us are going to drop off some welcome food, maybe you could bake her a cake.”

“I’ll see how busy I am. Keep me updated.”

Harry decides on some snacks, pays, then leaves. He’s gotten his fix of gossip for the day, and is now ready to go home. He truly thinks a pet resort is one of the stupidest things he’s ever heard, and Fay is probably rolling in her grave.

//

“I can’t believe we get to live here.” Violet says to her mother on moving day. “Auntie Fay left us so much and I never even got to meet her.”

“I know.” Emma sighs. “I can’t believe she kept me in her will after our falling out.” They both walk into the kitchen of the home. “It’s like she knew we’d need a fresh start. I can’t wait to open up the resort. We’ve got a lot of work to do to that barn.”

“You said if I took care of unpacking that I wouldn’t have to do any of the labor in that dusty old place.”

“That’s true, I did say that.” Emma smirks. “What a good memory you have.” She looks around the kitchen and sighs. “I don’t know if it’s a good thing or a bad thing that this placed was left with everything. We’ll have to go through a lot of this stuff and see what’s worth keeping.”

“I’m more than happy to take care of that, you know I love organizing things. Besides, there’s bound to be a ton of cool, old stuff here from when she was young. You really got to spend your summers here?”

“Mhm, up until I was seventeen. She was so warm and welcoming, and it was the perfect escape. The lake here is great for swimming. I think you’ll like the school system, Fay was always talking about the good colleges the high school kids would get into.”

“As long as I can still do theater, I don’t really care.”

“Vi…” Emma puts her hands on her daughter’s shoulders. “I know moving right before starting high school isn’t the most convenient thing. I want you to know how much I appreciate you being so positive about this.”

“It’s just nice to be somewhere new.” Violet shrugs a shoulder. “Come on, we’ve got more boxes to bring inside.”

“Maybe after we can go walk around the town. I can give you a little tour. You can get the lay of the land.”

“I’d like that.”

//

On Sunday, Harry goes to the hardware store to look at some paint swatches. He’s been looking to repaint his bedroom. He likes to keep busy. As he looks over various shades of grey and white, a young girl comes down the same aisle, looking over blues and lilacs. He doesn’t pay her much attention until she walks right in front of where he was looking. She’s pulled about five different swatches.

“Sorry, I’ll get out of your way in a minute.” She says to him.

“Violet.” Emma sighs, coming down the aisle with a cart full of paint supplies. “I don’t want an accent wall.”

“I know, but I was thinking we could work from the top down, so I can paint our bedrooms and the upstairs bathroom, and then we could-“

As Violet speaks to her mother, Harry can’t help but feel like everything around him has slowed down. The girl speaking just sounds like buzzing in his ears as he checks out the woman gripping her cart. Her hair is a golden-brown color with a slight curl to it. She’s wearing a sports bra under a cami paired with black spandex biker shorts. She happens to do a double take, and looks at Harry.

“Can I help you?” She asks.

“Huh?” He blinks. “No, I was looking at swatches. Your friend got in the way.”

“She’s my daughter.” The woman says, crossing her arms over her chest.

“How was I supposed go to know that?” Harry scoffs. “I was minding my own business. She comes over here and starts pulling every color off.”

“Vi, take the cart up to the register, I’ll pick my own color for my room, okay? Show the boy at the paint counter the one you want for your room. Tell him you want a gallon of the paint, and a gallon of primer.”

“Okay.” Violet takes the cart and leaves the aisle.

“That girl is a child, is that not obvious?” Emma says to Harry.

“Apparently not. You look more like her sister than her mother. I wasn’t checking her out if that’s what you were thinking. I’m not a fucking perv.”

“I know you weren’t checking her out, you were checking me out.”

“No, I wasn’t.” Harry’s cheeks flush.

“It’s hot out, I’m allowed to dress for the weather.”

“I didn’t say anything.” He’s desperately trying to keep his eyes locked on hers.

“You didn’t have to.” She turns to look at the paint swatches, and picks out a pastel purple. “The aisle’s all yours.”

“Are you new here or something?”

“I’m afraid I didn’t sign up to play twenty questions. Try to keep your eyes in your head.” She turns, leaving him in the aisle. She goes to meet Violet by the paint counter. “A gallon of this color too, please.” She places the swatch down.

“Sure thing.” The boy smiles. Harry comes to stand behind them. “Hey, H! Feel free to grab what you need. You can use the spare paint mixer.”

“Thanks, Sam.” Harry says, and goes to get his paint.

“Will that be all?” Sam asks as he puts the gallons of paint and primer into a box for Emma and Violet.

“Yes, thank you.” Emma says.

“Need some help getting this into your car? It’s a little heavy.”

“I think we can handle it.” Emma smiles.

Harry puts a twenty-dollar bill down on the counter, and leaves with his paint. Emma and Violet walk out to their car and load it up.

“Mom?” Violet asks as Emma turns the key in the ignition.

“Hm?”

“Why did that guy get to go mix his own paint?”

“Because everyone in this town knows everyone.” Emma says as she pulls out of the parking space. “It’s why I stopped coming here, or why Fay told me I couldn’t come anymore. She didn’t want everyone talking about her.”

“Why would everyone talk about her?” Emma gives a look to her daughter. “Oh…I’m sorry.”

“There’s nothing you need to be sorry about. I don’t have any regrets. She let her pride and status drive us apart.”

“I just feel bad. If it weren’t for me-“

“Don’t finish that sentence. You’re my daughter, I love you, and I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Emma drives them home, and sees a few cars parking out front. There are three women holding various casserole dishes and boxes.

“Who are these people?” Violet asks as she unbuckles.

“I…oh my god.” Emma takes a deep breath. “They’re locals…town gossips. Stay quiet, okay? Let me do the talking.” Violet nods, and gets out of the car with Emma.

“Emma Kingsley.” Peggy smiles.

“Hi, Peggy, it’s good to see you.” Emma smiles back. “This is my daughter, Violet. Violet, this is Peggy, Gertrude, and Norene.”

“Hi.” Violet smiles politely.

“Well, you all look like you have your hands full…” Emma says.

“We wanted to give you a warm welcome.” Peggy says. “I know you’re probably still unpacking, but Fay would have our heads if we didn’t come over to help. We thought we’d get you started on a few meals.”

“That’s very kind of you all. Come on in.” Emma opens the front door. “Vi, could you start bringing in the paint supplies?” Violet nods and goes back to the car.

“I had no idea you had a daughter.” Peggy says as they go inside the kitchen.

“Yeah, Fay never mentioned it, and she was always gushing about you.” Norene says.

“You don’t even look old enough to be her mother. Is she a foster child?” Gertrude asks.

“Are you kidding? That girl is Emma’s spitting image! You need to get your glasses checked, Gert.” Peggy says. “Okay, so Norene made a baked ziti, Gert made a big salad, and I ordered you so some specialty cupcakes from Harry’s.”

“Thank you so much. This is super helpful. Vi loves baked ziti, so this’ll be a real treat.” Emma flips open the box of cupcakes. “I need to have one of these now, I have such a sweet tooth.” She picks up one of the cupcakes, and bites into it. “Mm, oh my god, this is so good. Violet!”

“Yeah?!”

“Come have a cupcake!”

Violet comes into the kitchen and takes one. She has the same reaction as her mother.

“These are good. Where are they from?” Violet asks.

“Harry’s Bakery.” Peggy tells her. “He bakes everything fresh every day. I have no idea when the poor guy sleeps. He must get started around 3AM, and he keeps going until he feels like he’s finished for the day. He also has some of the best coffee in town, but you didn’t hear that from me.”

“I thought Nelly’s Diner had the best coffee.” Emma smirks.

“Not since Harry got here.” Norene says. “Nelly’s has great diner food, but Harry’s is the place to get a good cup of coffee.”

“Thanks for the tip.” Emma smiles. “I’ll have to pop in there and grab some pastries for the guys coming to help renovate the barn.”

“Right! You’re turning it into a pet resort.” Gertrude says.

“Mhm, it’s going to be great. If all goes according to plan, we should be able to open in the fall.”

“That’s wonderful, we’re all so excited.” Peggy says. “Well, you two were clearly in the middle of something, so we’ll get out of your hair. Call if you need help with anything.”

“I will, thanks again.” The three older women leave, and Emma exhales.

“How do you know all of them?” Violet asks, mouth full of cupcake.

“Let’s see, Gertrude is the librarian at the town library, and used to lead story time for the kids. I don’t know if she does it anymore. Norene is a piano teacher, I’m not sure if she’s retired or not yet, and Peggy owns the card shop in town with her husband.”

“Card shops are still a thing?”

“It’s cute; you can get little trinkets and stationery. It’s a lot like The Paper Store, only all of the stuff is from local people.”

“And they all knew Auntie Fay?”

“Auntie Fay knew everyone.” Emma smiles fondly. “I’ll have to stop by this bakery, these cupcakes are amazing.”

“Yeah! It’d be nice to have fresh muffins and stuff in the house.”

“I agree.” Emma takes the baked ziti and puts it in the fridge along with the salad. “That’ll be a good dinner for later. Were you able to get everything inside?”

“Mhm.”

“Alright, let’s go get your room set up for painting. We need to wash the walls and put the tape up, then you can prime tomorrow while I’m out at the barn doing demo. The dumpster was dropped off today.”

“I still can’t believe you’re gonna do all that demo alone.”

“It’s worth the money I’ll be saving. And I’m not doing it all myself, just the stuff I feel safe doing. I’m handy, you know that.”

“Yeah.” Violet smiles. “Okay, let’s go upstairs before we eat all these cupcakes.”

//

The next morning, Emma gets up bright and early and heads out to the barn. She knows Violet can handle having breakfast and getting on with her own day. As Emma drives through town, she decides to stop off at Harry’s Bakery to try out the coffee.

“Good morning.” A young woman smiles.

“Morning.” Emma smiles back. “Could I please have a medium iced with…do you have oat milk?”

“We do!” The woman, Sheila, says. “Will that be it?”

“Yes.”

“That’ll be $2.99.”

Emma hands her a five-dollar bill and tells her to keep the change. Harry’s in the back layering some fondant. He happens to glance up through the swinging door window and sees Emma. He’s about to drop what he’s doing, but he sees her get her coffee and leave. Once she’s gone, he comes out.

“Sheila, um, did you happen to get that woman’s name?” Harry asks her. “I didn’t recognize her.”

“Her name’s Emma. She’s the owner of that new pet resort.”

“Fay’s grand niece? That was Fay Jensen’s grand niece?”

“I guess so.” Sheila shrugs. “Do you know her?”

“No.” Harry blushes defensively. “This stays between us. I don’t want Niall to know I was suddenly interested in a customer’s name. He’d get too much of a kick out of it.”

“Sure thing, H.” Sheila blinks as Harry goes back into the kitchen.

He continues to roll out his fondant. He’s making a cake that’s airplane themed for a kid’s birthday party coming up. He needs to concentrate. Crisp lines, no air bubbles, and no runny colors. Even though the intricate details of the plane need all of his attention, Harry can’t help but think of the “Welcome to the Neighborhood” cupcakes he mindlessly made the day before. They were for her…they were for Emma.