“Elizabeth, I’m so glad that you’re okay and that your hand will be completely back to normal in a couple of weeks.” Daniel paused. “Although, I do have to say that I’m a little concerned about whether you will be able to make and decorate your cakes with just one hand.”
“I’m not sure. My thought was that I would try to work on baking and decorating this afternoon and evening. I should have a better idea of everything after that.”
Daniel continued, “I don’t think we will take any more orders for cakes. Maybe after a few weeks we will see about selling them again.”
Elizabeth also had to admit she had been worried about whether she could get the cakes done with one hand.
Naomi spoke up, giving Elizabeth a gentle smile. “Why don’t we look at the schedule first?”
Elizabeth followed Naomi and Daniel to collect her schedule. They were going over the schedule and Elizabeth’s notes when there was a light knock on the open door.
Elizabeth looked up. “Hello, Isaac.”
He nodded at Daniel and Naomi before smiling at Elizabeth. “Hi. I came in to see how you were doing.”
“I’m doing well.” She glanced over at Naomi and Daniel; they were quietly discussing whether or not they should stop making cakes.
Isaac frowned. “What’s going on?”
Daniel turned to him. “We’re discussing whether Elizabeth can continue making cakes.”
“Why wouldn’t she?” Isaac asked simply.
Daniel looked confused. “Her hand will be bandaged for two weeks.”
“Jah. She still has the other hand, though. I think she will be fine if she has some help.”
Daniel shook his head. “We don’t have anyone to spare in the bakery.”
Elizabeth felt like crying. Daniel seemed set on the bakery not selling cakes for awhile.
“I can help her. I already talked to Stephen and I’m going to leave early for the next two weeks. I can come over and help Elizabeth and offer her a hand. Or two.” Isaac grinned.
Elizabeth felt like crying for a different reason now. Isaac was so sweet. She didn’t think her feelings for him could get any stronger at that moment and her heart swelled.
Daniel leaned back in his chair. “Are you sure?”
“Jah,” Isaac replied, good naturedly.
“Do you have any baking experience?” Daniel asked him.
“Nee, but I don’t really need any. Elizabeth can still measure ingredients. I can help mix it all together and pour the batter into pans, if she needs me to.” Isaac nodded to Elizabeth. “I already have experience taking the pans out of the oven. I’m sure putting them in the oven can’t be that much harder.”
“What about decorating the cakes? She won’t be able to do that since she can’t use her right hand. You’ve never done that before.”
“True, but I watched her the other night. Some of the techniques are very similar to what I use with the leather work at the shop.”
“I…don’t know. I just don’t see how it would work.” Daniel said shaking his head.
“Daniel, you should think about it some more. It’s not as though Isaac will be here alone making cakes. He is just here to help Elizabeth,” Naomi told him. “Elizabeth is an excellent cake maker and I’m more than confident in her ability to guide Isaac.”
“The cakes that need to be done tonight and the next few days are fairly simple. Why don’t you give us the next few days to see what we can actually do?” Elizabeth suggested. “If we can’t get the cakes done, and done well, then we can talk about what to do about completing the cakes on order.”
“What if you can’t get the cakes done tonight?”
Elizabeth understood that Daniel was concerned about the bakery and he didn’t want to lose any business, but his questions were upsetting. “Mamm said she would come in early tomorrow and finish them if I wasn’t able to.”
Naomi made a note on the schedule. “Great. So we have a plan for the cakes on order and a solution if any issues come up.”
“What if customers call in to order a cake for this week?” Daniel asked Naomi.
“Elizabeth has enough cakes on her schedule already, even if she wasn’t injured,” Naomi pointed out. “We might want to think about setting a limit per week or letting people know that we will need so many days notice to order a cake.”
“Jah,” Elizabeth agreed. “That would help.”
Naomi stood up. “It all sounds good. Let’s talk again after we get things worked out.”
The phone rang and Daniel reached for it as Elizabeth walked out of the office with Naomi.
“I really appreciate your help,” Elizabeth said to Naomi.
“Daniel can be so serious. He gets stuck on small details. The only thing I did was get him to the point that he was actually asking questions instead of just saying no.”
Elizabeth chuckled. “I could never do that.”
Naomi smiled. “I can get a little farther with him, but you are still his little shveshtah.”
“Jah, that is true.” Elizabeth touched Naomi’s arm. “I’m very happy that you are here, both at the bakery and for Daniel.”
* * *
Isaac joined Elizabeth in the kitchen. “Where should we start?”
Everyone had left the bakery for the day and Elizabeth seemed a little more relaxed. Daniel had come over to her several times to ask if she was okay to make the cakes or if she needed anything. Naomi finally pushed him out the door, waving to Isaac and Elizabeth. Now Isaac stood next to one of the worktables waiting for her answer.
Elizabeth blew out a breath and held up a finger. “First, I need to look at the orders for today and set up the dry ingredients in the containers.”
“Okay. Let me know what I can do.”
She rattled off the ingredients she needed and pointed to the large containers stacked against the wall. “Normally, I only set up the dry ingredients in the containers if I have two batches of cakes to get into the oven.” She held up her bandaged hand. “Given the circumstances though, it’s probably a good idea.”
Isaac pushed a chair next to her and set a large bucket on the seat. “Well, here’s the flour.”
“Danke.” Elizabeth picked up the measuring cup with her left hand. “I guess we will see how this goes.”
Isaac watched her fill the cup and empty it into the container. “Looks like you’ve got it.”
She smiled. “It feels a little odd, but I can do this part.”
One bucket at a time, he brought over the ingredients until she had set up the containers for all of the cakes that needed to be done that evening.
Isaac put the last bucket back and stopped at the refrigerator. “Why don’t we try this? You set up the ingredients in each bowl and then I’ll start mixing.” Isaac suggested, after bringing everything she needed back to the table.
“Great idea.” Elizabeth smiled as she lined up the mixing bowls on the table. “It will be almost like a game.”
Isaac began stirring the ingredients together the way that he had seen Elizabeth do it the evening before. When he thought it looked right, he tilted the bowl and asked, “how does this look?”
She looked at the bowl and gave him a curious look. “Are you sure that you haven’t baked before?”
“Nee. I have never baked a cake before. I have watched my mamm and shvestahs make them.” He smiled. “And I have eaten many of them.”
“You are a quick learner then,” Elizabeth said, with an approving smile.
A few minutes later the rest of the batter had been mixed and was ready to be poured into the cake pans. “I think if you tilt the mixing bowl I can use the rubber spatula to move it into the cake pan.” Elizabeth set a cake pan next to the first mixing bowl.
Isaac did as Elizabeth asked and watched her face as she worked. Her eyebrows were knitted together in concentration as she used her left hand to scrape the batter from the bowl. Elizabeth looked up and their eyes met, and she quickly looked away.
“Are they ready for the oven?” Isaac asked her, looking at the filled cake pans.
“Jah.”
Isaac turned to the ovens and opened the doors. He quickly moved the cakes from the table to the racks in the oven and closed the doors.
“Now let’s try decorating a cake. I have some extra cakes in the refrigerator.”
Isaac opened the refrigerator doors and pulled a rectangular cake from the top shelf. He set it on the table.
“Let’s see how I do with this.” She scooped out a large amount and started to spread it over the top of the cake. Her movement were slow and a little awkward, but he could follow the motions. “The secret is to start with a lot of frosting.”
Isaac reached over and took the rubber spatula from her hand. He copied her movements, covering the side of the cake. “Like this?”
“Perfect.” Elizabeth nodded. “Do you want to try some flowers next?”
“Sure.” Isaac wanted to help her in any way he could. When he had stopped by earlier to see how she was feeling, she had looked so happy to see him but her smile had faded as Daniel talked about stopping the cake orders. Isaac didn’t ever want to see that look on her face again.
“Here, take this bag. I’ve already put some frosting into it.” She turned the pointed end down. “Hold it like this and twist the open end closed.”
He did as she instructed. “Is that twisted enough?”
“Hmm, maybe one more twist. You don’t want frosting coming out when you squeeze the bag.”
Isaac nodded and gave the end of the bag another tight twist. “Okay.”
“Do you remember how I made the flowers last night?” Elizabeth asked.
Isaac did remember watching her make the flowers. He had been surprised that they were so easy to make. Elizabeth had shown him the different designs on the tips that you pushed the frosting through. “Jah. You moved out in circle.”
“Right. Squeeze the frosting out as evenly as possible and swirl out and over.” She mimicked the motion with her hands.
Isaac tried it. “Like this?”
“Jah, but try to keep the circle a little tighter,” she said, her voice gentle.
Isaac held his breath and tried again. “Is that better?”
“Jah. That looks great.” Elizabeth smiled and picked up another frosting bag. “Let’s try writing on the cake.”
Isaac frowned. This was the one part he was a little nervous about. He had seen the writing that Elizabeth had done on the other cakes. Her writing was very pretty and the letters flowed into one another very well. He was doubtful that he would be able to do the same.
“The best way to make sure you have room is to write it out on paper,” Elizabeth explained.
He nodded. “Okay.”
She handed him a piece of paper. “I have already marked off the corner where you put the flowers. Why don’t you write ‘Thank you Tyler’ in the middle?”
Isaac wrote it out on the paper.
“Goodness. Is that your handwriting?” Elizabeth said and then covered her mouth.
Isaac grimaced, and then grinned. “Jah. Let me try again. I’ll treat it like one of the designs rather than letters.
Isaac took his time and drew each letter out carefully. “Is that better?”
“Jah! That looks wonderful. Now try it with the frosting.”
She had handed him a second bag with a narrow tip.
Once again he went slowly. It took him a bit to get the frosting to come out evenly, but by the end the letters looked exactly as he wanted them.
Isaac looked up waiting for her reaction.
Her eyes were wide when she said, “Great job! I’m impressed.”
Isaac felt something flutter in his chest at her praise. “Anything else I need to know?”
Elizabeth’s smile was wide and bright. “Nee. I think you’ve got it. Our plan is going to work!”
* * *
Chapter 6
Sadie was in the storeroom when Elizabeth walked in to get more cake boxes. “How is the café today?” Elizabeth asked.
“Busy, but in a good way,” Sadie replied. “Tyler’s sister, Jessica, has been a big help. She used to work in a restaurant near her college.”
“That’s great!” Elizabeth tucked the flattened boxes under her arm, making sure to avoid her hurt hand.
“How is your hand?” Sadie asked.
“Better. Doctor Wilson changed the bandage this morning and said it is healing nicely.” Elizabeth held up her hand and moved her fingers around. “I can move my fingers now without it hurting.”
“That is very good progress.” Sadie tilted her head. “Isaac said the cut was quite deep.”
“Jah, it was.” Elizabeth nodded. “Hopefully he wasn’t too horrified by it.”
“Nee, he has seen his share of cuts and scrapes. I think it was hard on him because it was you.”
Elizabeth was sure that Sadie didn’t mean anything by the comment. “Jah. I’m like a little sister to him.”
“Is that a bad thing?” Sadie asked her.
Elizabeth shrugged. “Nee, Isaac is um…very special to me too.”
Sadie gave Elizabeth a pointed look. “Do you like him? Would you court him if he asked you?”
Elizabeth didn’t know what to say. They were talking about Sadie’s brother. She couldn’t lie to her best friend, though. “Would that be alright?’
Sadie smiled. “Jah, that would be wonderful.”
Elizabeth was surprised. “Are you sure?”
“Jah, you and Isaac are perfect for each other.”
Elizabeth’s happiness faded. “It would be perfect, but I don’t think he feels the same way about me.”
Elizabeth heard someone call Sadie’s name in the café.
“I need to get back.” Sadie walked toward the café. “You might be surprised about Isaac.”
* * *
“Isaac, wait!”
He looked over to see Sadie catching up with him as he walked across the town square.
“Are you okay?”
“Jah, I just wanted to talk to you.”
He slowed down. “What about? You know I’m always happy to help you.”
“I’m not the one that needs help,” Sadie replied.
He looked over. “Who then?”
“You.” Sadie said, with a sigh.
“Me?” Isaac asked. She wasn’t making any sense.
Sadie sighed again. “Jah. You and Elizabeth.”
Isaac stopped walking. “I don’t understand.”
“You don’t?” Sadie gave him a look that said he should know what she was talking about.
“Nee,” Isaac said. He thought for a moment and then said, “I don’t know. Maybe.”
Sadie gave him an exasperated look. “Ach, come on, Isaac.”
He knew how she felt; he was feeling just as exasperated. “I said that I don’t know.”
“Well, I know.” Sadie gave him a pointed look.
“Jah?”
She nodded. “Jah. Elizabeth is a wonderful person.”
“Jah. I think so too.” Isaac was trying to think it all through. He had known for a while that his feelings for Elizabeth had deepened, but it was all so complicated.
“Then do something about it.” Sadie said. “Come on, I have to get back to the café.”
Isaac looked at the ground. “What if she doesn’t feel the same way?”
“Ach! Dear bruder, I wouldn’t be talking to you if you needed to worry.”
Her words didn’t sink in at first. He looked up suddenly. “Are you sure?”
Sadie grinned. “She’s my best friend.”
Isaac nodded. “And you’re fine with me courting your best friend?”
“Jah, of course.” Sadie linked arms with him. “You two are my favorite people.”
“Danke, Sadie,” he said squeezing her arm.
“I just want you both to be happy.” She smiled and walked into the café.
* * *
> Isaac looked over as Simon King walked in the front door. He was coming to learn to bake with Tyler.
Simon walked up to him. “Isaac, can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Jah, of course. What can I do for you?”
Simon looked around and then quietly asked, “I know it’s not really my business to ask, but are you courting Abigail Schrock?”
Isaac was surprised that so many people had asked him that question lately. “Nee, I’m not.”
Simon opened his mouth and Isaac added, “…and I’m not interested in asking her in the future.”
Simon smiled. “That’s great news…I think I’ll talk to her after church next Sunday.”
“I’m glad I could help.”
Simon shook Isaac’s hand. “Danke. I guess I better get to work.”
“Jah.” Isaac turned around, looking for Elizabeth. She was in the office talking to Daniel and Naomi.
That’s when he saw Abigail walking towards the bakery. An idea quickly came into his mind so he headed out the front door.
Abigail smiled when she saw him. “Hello, Isaac. How are you?”
“I’m gut.” Isaac stopped outside of the bakery. “Can I speak with you a moment?”
She stopped and said, “Jah, of course.”
“Do you know Simon King?” Isaac thought this might be an easier way to let Abigail know he wasn’t interested in courting her. She really was a sweet girl and he didn’t want to hurt her feelings.
“Jah,” she answered slowly.
“He will be staying after church next weekend. You might want to talk to him.” Isaac hoped she would understand what he was really saying.
“Okay,” she said clearly confused. After a few moments though, she smiled and nodded. “I’ll be sure to talk to Simon then. Danke.”
He nodded at her. “I’m only too happy to help.”
“Will you be staying after too?” Abigail asked him.
“I don’t know. It depends…on Elizabeth,” Isaac said.
“Elizabeth?” Abigail looked surprised for a moment and then smiled. “That is gut. Elizabeth is a sweet girl.”
Isaac looked into the bakery. “Jah, she is.”
* * *
Elizabeth hoped that Sadie was right about Isaac. She had been thinking about it ever since. There had been moments when they had looked at each other and she had felt something pass between them. For all she knew, it was just wishful thinking on her part. Pulling out her schedule, Elizabeth tried to put her thoughts about Isaac aside. There was plenty to do and she wouldn’t get any of it done moping around.
AMISH ROMANCE: The Amish Bakery Boxed Set: 4-Book Clean Inspirational Box Set - Includes Bonus Book Page 15
