“I’d better grab a couple of things for lunch.”
They usually had sandwiches for their early, pre-lunchtime-rush meal, a combination of the bakery bread or buns and whatever fixings were in the fridge. And if they wanted more than tomatoes on toast, Erin needed to restock.
Vic picked up her coffee once the machine finished dripping and headed for the bathroom. By the time Erin was ready for her workday, all of her lists prepared, Vic would be dressed for the day and ready to go. The coffee would hold them both over until the first batch of muffins was fresh out of the oven, and then they would take a break to each have one or two before continuing their preparations. Waking up so early and working through the breakfast and lunch rushes, they took their own meals at odd times.
“Book Club day?” Vic asked as she and Erin climbed into the Challenger to buzz over to the bakery. It was only a few blocks from the little green and white house, but they had things to carry and they would be on their feet all day. It was still dark, a couple of hours before dawn.
“Yes,” Erin agreed, mentally reviewing her lists for the day. Book Club Day was a big deal for the ladies, but it didn’t really change Erin’s product line-up. They enjoyed a cookie or two, but she didn’t have to do anything special, just make sure there was a variety to choose from. Vic would make up a platter and take it over to The Book Nook next door after lunch. “And I need to do a cake for Peter Foster’s birthday. His mom is so excited about being able to order a bakery cake instead of having to make one herself this year. ‘Decorated and everything.’” Erin chuckled over how excited Mrs. Foster had been about it. “She’s got her hands full with that little Traci. I honestly don’t know how she gets anything done.”
“What kind did Peter want?”
“Chocolate cake. Darth Vader. I have a pattern.”
“That will be cool.” Vic swept her blond hair over her shoulder and tucked stray strands behind her ears. “I wonder what Traci will want on her birthday.”
“Anything she can get her hands—and mouth—on.”
“I love the way she gets so excited whenever the Fosters come into the shop. When we started, she was just a nursing baby. Now, she wants her cook-kie!”
“Yes, she does!”
As she opened the back door to the bakery and stepped into the kitchen, Erin took a deep breath of the warm, yeasty air. It was like a drug. Or a perfume. Bottle that smell and she would have a better mate-catcher than any floral concoction. The caffeine of her morning coffee was kicking in, and Erin felt energized and excited to begin her day. She always felt like that. It was hard to wake up initially, but by the time she got to the bakery, she was raring and ready to go.
“You want to start with those maple-bacon muffins?” her young assistant suggested.
Vic had initially been disgusted by the idea, but once she tasted the perfect balance of sweet maple and salty, smokey bacon, she was a convert. Now they were one of her favorite, and were frequently her choice for breakfast.
“Sure,” Erin agreed. “Maple-bacon it is.”
They already had several batters mixed ahead of time, so Erin selected the maple-bacon muffins and put them on the counter while the oven preheated.
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Dairy-Free Death, Book 2 of Auntie Clem’s Bakery Series by P.D. Workman is coming soon!
About the Author
FOR AS LONG AS P.D. Workman can remember, the blank page has held an incredible allure. After a number of false starts, she finally wrote her first complete novel at the age of twelve. It was full of fantastic ideas. It was the spring board for many stories over the next few years. Then, forty-some novels later, P.D. Workman finally decided to start publishing. Lots more are on the way!
P.D. Workman is a devout wife and a mother of one, born and raised in Alberta, Canada. She is a homeschooler and an Executive Assistant. She has a passion for art and nature, creative cooking for special diets, and running. She loves to read, to listen to audio books, and to share books out loud with her family. She is a technology geek with a love for all kinds of gadgets and tools to make her writing and work easier and more fun. In person, she is far less well-spoken than on the written page and tends to be shy and reserved with all but those closest to her.
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Please visit P.D. Workman at pdworkman.com to see what else she is working on, to join her mailing list, and to link to her social networks.
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