“Welcome to Morningside Bakery.” Kacey stowed the broom and dustpan before slipping behind the counter to wash her hands and pull on a pair of plastic gloves.
The couple smiled and greeted her as they approached the display case.
Kacey stood up straight and pushed her thick blonde braid off her shoulder. “Is there something in particular you’d like?”
The woman pointed to the cupcakes. “Those carrot cake cupcakes look divine.”
“They’re one of my favorites too.”
“How about we make that two? Along with two cups of coffee,” the man said as he pulled his wallet from his back pocket.
“Coming right up.”
Kacey was busy serving a line of customers at four o’clock when she peeked toward the front windows and spotted her eight-year-old niece and her best friend waving. Kacey waved in response before Riley and Colleen hurried next door. Riley’s light-brown braids fluttered behind her bright-pink backpack as the two girls disappeared from the window.
Kacey turned her attention back to her customers and rang up a pink sheet cake decorated with a colorful unicorn and the words “Happy Birthday, Corinne.” She tucked it inside one of her sister’s signature bright-blue boxes.
“Is this your sister’s cake?” she asked the teenage boy who frowned as he held up his wallet.
“How could you tell?” the young man deadpanned as he gave her the money.
She shrugged. “Lucky guess.” She handed him change and a receipt. “Tell your sister happy birthday for me.”
He grunted before sauntering toward the exit, passing tables of customers drinking coffee and eating treats as the murmur of conversations wafted over Kacey.
She continued working her way down the line selling cookies, pastries, cakes, and breads that her sister had baked earlier that day.
Once the customers were served, she made her way around the dining area, wiping down empty tables. Then she headed to the kitchen and stowed the paper towels and cleaning spray.
After washing her hands, Kacey returned to the counter just as her phone vibrated in her pocket. She retrieved it from her back pocket and found a text message from her sister:
Stay for supper tonight. Mom is coming too.
Kacey quickly shot back a response:Sounds great. Thanks!
The bell above the door rang and a line of customers walked in just as a chorus of young voices belted out “Joy to the World,” the sound reverberating through the wall from the community center next door.
“Welcome to Morningside Bakery,” Kacey called above the children’s chorus.
During the next two hours, she chatted with customers and filled orders as the children next door continued to sing sections of “Joy to the World” over and over again.
By the time she locked the bakery door at six, she was certain she’d have the hymn stuck in her head on repeat for the next week.
After cleaning up the dining area and the counters, she quickly packed up the few leftover goodies in a blue box, left her apron and hat on the counter, and then retrieved her coat, purse, and keys.
Kacey headed toward the front door, expecting to find Riley and Colleen waiting for her, but they weren’t on the sidewalk. Perhaps Mrs.Hansen, the community choir director, had kept the kids late to share details about the Christmas Tree Lighting.
She slipped out the front door, locking it behind her, and then traipsed down the short length of sidewalk to the community center as the cold evening air nipped at her nose. Above her the sun had begun to set, sending a beautiful explosion of colors across the clear November sky.
Kacey nodded greetings to a few familiar faces passing by. As she approached the door, she recalled her mother telling her the building had once been home to a Blockbuster and then a children’s clothing consignment shop. A few years later, the town council voted to buy the property and convert it into a small community center that offered a variety of classes from karate and art to yoga and dance.
Kacey pulled on the handle and stepped into the lobby, where a young woman sporting purple highlights in her blonde hair looked up from a desk while smacking her gum. “Hi. Where is the children’s chorus?”
“Last room on the left.” The woman pointed before blowing a pink bubble and then popping it with her tongue.
“Thanks.” Kacey headed down the hallway, dodging kids running past clad in white karate uniforms.
When she reached the open doorway at the end of the hall, she slipped into the room, where kids and mothers were gathered in small groups talking, kids were playing, and adults were ferrying kids toward the door.
