The police arrived at six AM and inspected the doors, locks, windows, checked for prints on the drawer and asked her a million questions.
“Do you have an alarm? No.”
“Who has a key? Myself and Tyler.”
“What do you think happened? I don't know.”
“How do you know the money is gone? I sold out, there should be almost $700 in there.”
“Why would someone steal from you? I don't know.”
“Do you have an idea of who did it? - I’m not sure.”
It went on and on for what seemed like forever, but was only thirty minutes. The police officer suggested she invest in an alarm system, a surveillance camera, change the locks and limit who has access to the drawer. All seemed reasonable, all seemed expensive and considering the loss this morning. It would not be anytime soon that anything happened but she could not afford for this to happen again either.
As the police left, customers started to arrive and each asked what was going on. Sarah just smiled, nodded, and insisted they were checking on her and she supplied them with some of her wonderful muffins. She tried to brush off any concerns that something serious had happened at her precious bakery. She waited on each customer with a smile and her day passed quickly.
12
She received a text around ten AM from Matt. “Hello there, lovely lady.” Sarah did not reply. She justified it in her mind that she was simply too busy. She could not and would not let herself think that he had taken from her. Matt did not seem the ‘type’ but then again, what was the ‘type’? She was afraid to trust her instincts.
The police certainly hinted that it may have been someone she knew...maybe even an inside job, but they were going to check for prints and get back with her. She gave them a list of old employees within the last year - which equaled two names- and she included Tyler, Josh, and Matt on the list to cross reference for prints.
She included Josh only because he seemed to be the only one that would really lash out and harm her, even though she had not heard from him in years. He had already proved he would cross one line, why not cross another? What was theft from your ex-wife if you could strangle her in public? He had issues, this could always be another one.
The police seemed to think she had nothing to worry about because they did not confront her while she was at the store, but suggested a security measure of some kind, and mentioned again having cameras or an alarm system.
Sarah received a second text from Matt about two PM. “Busy day today? Thinking of you, maybe dinner tomorrow night?” Sarah again did not respond. She threw herself into making a few pies for the case and several smaller layer cakes with buttercream. About five PM, as the small cakes cooled in the freezer, she got yet another text from Matt. “Are you ok?”
Sarah sighed dejectedly. She really liked him and was in shock. She still did not believe for one moment that he could have stolen the money from the drawer but then if it wasn’t him, was it Tyler? Could it be someone else, like Josh, and are they coming back?
Sarah texted back. “Yes, very tough day. Can I talk to you tomorrow?”
Matt replied “Sure, sorry about your day. I am here if you need to talk.”
Sarah locked the front door and turned off the open sign and started to cry. At first just one or two tears, gave a wobbly sigh... and gave in. She wept openly and sat in a chair in the kitchen for a few minutes. She got up, had a glass of water, rinsed her face and moved to count down the drawer again, praying it was not going to mimic this morning’s events. She had been extremely careful and wary in the shop all day and was exhausted from being on edge. She counted the drawer, counted the receipts, filled out the deposit slip and sighed in relief. Six hundred and eighty two dollars. She was determined she would do the deposits at night before she left instead of in the morning before the day got started. This was not happening again.
Sarah shut off the lights, put the dough in the warmer, swept the floors and grabbed her purse. She got out her keys, headed out to her car and stopped in her tracks. Unbelievable! She had a flat tire on her car. She put her purse and the deposit on the floor board of her car, opened the trunk and got out her spare. She looked around in the trunk and could not find the jack or tire iron. “Are you kidding me?” she yelled out loud. She had had enough today.
Sarah opened her car door, grabbed her purse, deposit and keys and marched back up to the bakery. She opened the door and slammed it shut again-taking a bit of pleasure from it slamming. She set the deadbolt and called her roadside package. They said that if the car was easily accessible they would be happy to put her spare on for her, but it would be four hours before they arrived at her location due to high call volumes. Sarah hung up on them angrily.
Sarah texted Matt. “I have a problem and I hate to ask a favor.” The phone rang immediately. Sarah answered. “Hello,” trying to keep the quiver out of her voice.
Matt said guardedly, “Sarah, are you okay?” He felt odd all day long when she did not respond to his texts. He wondered if she was upset at how things had progressed when they were last together.
Sarah broke down crying “No, I am not okay. I am having a horrific day. I don't know what to do and now my tire is flat. I do not have a jack to change it and I am not sure I want you to change it but I really do not have many people in town I want to even talk to right now. Can I borrow your jack for your car?” she took a deep shaky breath.
Matt replied, “Yes, I will be right there and you can tell me all about what is going on.” He was very concerned. For someone who seemed to be a strong, independent woman, she was having a small breakdown and he was worried. Something had to be seriously wrong for her to be this upset.
Sarah hung up and sat down again on the little chair in the kitchen and looked around. She did not want to wait inside and she did not want to wait outside in the dying light. She didn't want him inside the bakery and she wanted him to hold her, to tell her everything was going to be okay. She was so torn.
Matt pulled around back and parked next to her car in the dimly lit gravel lot. He hopped out of the car and ran up to the door, trying the handle. It was locked. Matt banged on the door and yelled, “Sarah?” She unlocked the bolt and wiped her eyes. Matt grabbed her and held her, smoothing her braid and crooning to her. “Baby, what’s wrong? What happened? Is this about the tire? I can get it fixed for you,” he reassured her.
Sarah sniffed, wiped her nose indelicately and said, “No, it's not the tire, I mean, yes, it is the tire. It is everything.” She felt so very overwhelmed however with Matt holding her against him, she could feel the strain seeping out of her. She took a shaky breath and just breathed in his cologne. She laid her head against his chest and listened to his heart beat for a moment. The rhythmic pulse calmed her.
Matt said, “Let’s take one thing at a time… Let’s take care of the tire first so we can get you home.” She was pretty shaken up, and it bothered him deeply to see her cry. He was surprised that a flat could rile her up that quickly. Maybe there was more to it? Matt looked around again at the dim lighting in the lot, the gravel underneath and said, “Look Sarah, let’s change plans. Let me pick you up something for dinner, let’s get you to your place so you can rest. I am off tomorrow. I will pick you up and bring you to work. I can then take your car and get the tire fixed. Let’s not try to put the spare on in the dark in the gravel. I do not want to make a mistake and have the car fall off the jack or something.”
Sarah sighed and agreed. Matt was really too nice to her. Here she was having a small breakdown and they had only been on two dates, dare this be a make it or break it moment? She thought wryly. She hoped she did not run him off with the first truly horrible day she had in years.
She could not believe how bad her day was going and that he was practically rescuing her. She nodded and he smiled, opening the car door for her. Sarah checked the lock on the bakery again and locked her car. “Can we go by the night depository too? I am sorry to have to ask.”
Sarah halfheartedly tried smiling and buckled up in his car. They drove down the road to the bank and he let Sarah out to drop the envelope in the night depository box. At least this was going right, she was able to put the cash in the bank before it disappeared again. She hopped back in his car and they drove to grab a burger. “Want to eat here or at home?”
Sarah was exhausted. “Home. If that,s ok?” She just wanted to hide away and tend to her emotional wounds. She wanted to plop down on her couch, toss a blanket over her lap and curl up with a hot cup of tea to relax.
Matt smiled at her and just held her hand across the seat between them. “Sure, what would you like?” Sarah just shook her head. She did not care what was ordered at this point. Matt ordered two burgers and two milkshakes. “Sweet tooth, you remember? Besides, ice cream makes it all better in most cases. Or at least, that is what my mother used to tell me when I scraped my knees growing up,” he said to her with a wink, trying not to look too alarmed.
She was so quiet and so pale. This was not the talkative, vivacious, smiling lady he had dinner with yesterday. He paid, got the bag and the two cups and drove to her subdivision. Matt said carefully. “Want me to let you out or would you like me to take you to the door? What is your house number?”
Sarah sighed, he was really good to her and she was apparently the most trusting or naive person ever. She barely knew him, someone stole from her and now she was having him take her home. This was either the nicest guy ever, or the biggest mistake of her life. Sarah sighed again praying for the nice guy part. She was not sure she could take much more today. “I’m at 2803 just down the block. I was checking the mail when you ran by.”
Remembering that day, Matt smiled at her. “Gotcha, you’ll be there in a second.” He pulled up in front of her condo and turned off the car. “You are so very quiet. I am worried about you.” He asked, “Would you like to talk?”
Sarah grabbed the shakes and nodded, not trusting herself yet to speak cause she could feel the tears welling up again. She wasn't normally such a crybaby but this was her livelihood and she had no idea what was going on, or at least did not want to believe what her mind was telling her. She walked with him up to the door, unlocked it and invited him in. “Just like a vampire,” she thought with a giggle.
Matt looked at her weirdly over his shoulder when he heard the giggle. “Are you getting hysterical on me?” he said half teasing. He hoped she would open up to him and tell him what had happened to make her so very upset.
Sarah flopped down on her couch, kicked off her shoes and wiggled her toes in her socks. She grabbed a shake and took a long draw on the straw. “Umm chocolate, ice cream does make things better...” she said with a sigh and her lip started to shake. Matt sat down next to her, took her hands and told her to let it all out.
Sarah told him about how happy she was this morning, how everything was fine, the dropped bowl, how she is pretty sure she misheard Tyler and how he was creeping her out, she told him about the drawer and the missing money, about the police and what was discussed and what Tyler said about him. She revealed her fears of it being her ex-husband and she told him of the attack from Josh.
Sarah also went on to explain that she was unsure it wasn't Josh that had taken the money, which was part of the reason she contacted the police. She already had a restraining order in the past on him and things were definitely bad between them in their history together. She finished off her watery tirade with “and the police said they think it’s an inside job but the only people that were ever there alone with the drawer was me, Tyler and you. I think it could be Josh, but overall? No one knows, I am just out the money and no leads.”
Matt sat back and looked at her. His smile was gone and his eyes were hard. “Sarah, you really think I would take money from you? Are you in danger from Josh?” He was afraid for her safety. If her ex had attempted to strangle her in front of others before in the past, he would not be surprised to hear of him financially destroying her. It hurt to think she even considered him as a possible suspect.
Sarah whispered, “No, I can’t believe you would ever do that. That is why I called you about the flat. I trust you.” She looked at him, her eyes silently imploring him to be there for her. She was afraid to be hurt and needed to be able to lean on someone. She felt such a bond with him, she wanted to believe he would be the person she could rely on.
Matt leaned over and kissed her. “Sarah, I would never hurt what we have started. I really like you a lot and thought about you all day. I wondered if something was going on or if something was wrong when you didn't respond to my texts. I would never jeopardize this between us… but I am seriously concerned about your safety at the bakery. Are you getting an alarm system or a camera? Do you have a gun?” he prodded.
Sarah thought for a moment and nodded. “I just don't know what protection to get yet. I am doing good at the bakery, but it’s tough sometimes. I spend quite a bit of time there and sell a lot of product. I always sell out daily, but it’s just enough to make ends meet most times between Tyler’s pay, shop expenses.” She chewed on her lip as she thought about bills she had coming in soon.
“What time do you need to be there in the morning?” Matt questioned. Sarah replied that they typically opened at five thirty and Matt suggested that she relax and try to rest a bit. He would stay and watch her if she wanted the company.
Sarah was not sure if she should be so happy that he offered to stay. She was genuinely relieved that he had not run like the wind at all of her crying tonight and seemed concerned for her wellbeing.
Matt wanted to bring down her stress levels and calm her. “Okay, let’s see what we can get you in the meantime, if for some reason you are in danger or something fishy is going on... but for now? Let’s have dinner and relax a bit. You have had enough on your plate today.” He offered to hang out as a gesture, but honestly used it as an excuse to be close to her for a time. He missed her all day and jumped at the chance to call her.
Sarah flipped on the news and they ate quietly watching TV together, commenting here and there on items they were discussing. Sarah prayed there was nothing on there about her bakery. She did not want the negative publicity for BatterUp! Thankfully, there was no commentary or mention of a robbery. “And to the police, it almost seemed like they were not a hundred percent sure it happened. I’m sure it was odd that there was no busted doors, no broken windows.” She waited for them to get back with her regarding the finger prints on the register.
Matt pulled Sarah closer to him and she sat quietly by his side with her head leaned against his chest at the crook of his arm. He pulled a small throw over her lap and just held her. She fell quietly asleep. Matt did not move as he heard the soft sigh and a tiny snore escape. He just smiled and held her. He leaned over, grabbed his phone, set the alarm for four thirty and slumped down a bit along the couch holding Sarah and gently kissed the top of her head.
13
Matt’s phone went off in the morning and Sarah jumped... and yelped that there was a person on the couch by her, before she realized it was Matt groaning and rubbing his neck awkwardly. “Oh my God, that is sore” he said rubbing and smiled at her. “You sure wake up jumpy!”
Sarah was disoriented to wake up with someone next to her and on the couch! “You stayed the night? I fell asleep? Oh my gosh, I am so sorry! We have been on two dates... and barely that” she wailed in dismay “and here I am with morning breath!” She was amazed he was considerate enough to stay with her without trying any funny stuff, but was mortified at how her hair must look. She wondered if she had a drool trail on her chin and rubbed at her jaw quickly to check.
Matt laughed and then groaned from the pain. “Stop, that hurts my neck. And yes, I consider that two d
ates regardless if we stayed at your bakery. Hell, this means we slept together,” he said jokingly, gesturing at the couch and flinched again at the cramp in his neck.
Sarah smirked at his pained expression and almost said, ‘thats what you get’ but refrained. He was trying to be light of the situation and technically he was correct, even if it was in the literal sense. “I am getting the shower first and how exactly did you sleep sitting like that?” she questioned.
Matt groaned again, “Apparently very painfully” and continued to rub his neck and try to move it. He tried flexing his shoulders and rotating his head trying to work out the kinks. Hopefully the heat of the shower would loosen it up somewhat.
Sarah ran to the bathroom, stopping at her room and grabbed clothes for the day. Hopping in the shower, she scrubbed up as fast as possible, washed her hair and braided it wet again. She brushed her teeth and put a fresh towel out for Matt and a fresh bar of soap for him.
Matt almost passed on the shower, due to the idea of laying on the ground to put a spare on. He had second thoughts as the pain in his neck would make it almost unbearable to change out the tire and he took her up on the offer. He turned the water on as hot as he could stand it and massaged away at his neck trying to get it to loosen. He toweled off and threw back on his clothes. He just figured he would get another shower after the tire was taken care of.
They got in the car and drove the short distance to her bakery, he was silently thankful she had reached out to him and he was available today to help out. As he pulled up in front of the bakery, he saw nothing unusual. He circled the block and headed down the alley way only to find that Sarah’s car had not one, but two flat tires now. Putting a single spare on it would be worthless at this point. It would have to be towed.
Sweet Heat Rising (Thoroughbred Men Series) Page 6
