Page 19 of Baking With A Ghost
The wetness of a tear slides down my cheek as Simon follows his father out of the creek and back to the mill. A final glance to the opposite creek bank and his own tears of anguish do me in and I silently weep into my blanket.
He must have been so heartbroken, losing everything he loved in a few minutes when it was so close to him. No wonder he's not been able to move on.
I sit there watching the rain fall and the fat drops splat against the window with insistence, like they too would rather be inside than out in the cold. When the blanket shifts next to me, I assume it's Snowball coming up for attention, but it's not.
Holding my breath, I watch as the blanket stays suspended for a moment and a gentle pressure against my body returns. The same pressure I felt a few weeks ago when I thought he may have hugged me.
"Oh, Simon. How I wish I could've helped you. I don't know if you're able to see what I just pictured, but you were so brave. You didn't deserve to go through that."
The force against my body doesn't leave and my arms ache to hold him.
Resting my head against the wall, I sit with him until I fall asleep.
When I wake up again, he's gone.
John
Jealousy
"Thankyouforcoming!"
I hand the young man his change and he smiles back. "Thank you! I'm sure I'll be back more frequently."
His eyes linger on mine and I understand the silent message.
"Tuesday to Saturday 8 A.M. to 3 P.M. I'll always be here."
"So you're closed on Sunday and Monday?"
The cute young man with the brilliant smile leans against the counter, placing his hip against my display case. My gaze notices the sliver of skin his t-shirt puts on display.
I nod. "Yes, decided to give myself some down time. When you're the only one running the show, I’ve learned you need to rest."
"So, does rest include a personal life then?"
His smile is confident as he leans closer.
"Not much, I'm a bit of an introvert, really. I spend my down time chatting with my friends back home or sleeping in. I'm a bit boring."
I laugh, the nerves kicking in with the man's interest, because I know what's coming next.
"That's not always a bad thing. Although, company can be good, too. Would you like to have dinner with me on Sunday?"
There it is. Why am I already forcing my lips to say no? He's attractive and seems nice, but I want none of it. There's only one man on my mind these days and he's not from around here. Or from a time when men could openly ask other men on dates.
"Um, I don't think I'm ready to date anyone yet. But I'll keep it in mind, if that's okay?"
His smile remains as he scans my face. "Of course it's okay. No offence. John, right?" He holds out his hand for me to shake. "I'm Dallas. It's not a yes, but I'll settle with dropping by to support your business, at the very least."
I smile back. "I'd appreciate that, Dallas. Thank you for coming."
After he leaves, I lock up behind him and begin cleaning the storefront. I plan to do another practice loaf, for what I'm now calling my vintage flavour loaf, before I go home for the evening. With everything tidied, I enter the kitchen to make my dough and stop short in the doorway, the swinging door smashing into my backside and almost sending me flying.
I'm getting used to having Simon around and seeing his signs. The helpful set up of my mixing bowls and ingredients some mornings, the random folding of laundry, the soup when I was sick, and most recently his presence next to me on the couch at night. All signs of comfort and care and not what I see in front of me.
The bowl of flour I set out is spilled across the island. When I walk closer I can read the message written in the flour.
Don't go.
