22
Functional, Like a Toaster
Maisie
By the time I arrived at the shop, Main Street was already alive with bicyclists – early riders looking to claim the open space while it lasted. On the sidewalks, early walkers did the same, stretching their legs before the walkways filled to bursting.
It was still early May, and the real chaos hadn't even started. The summer months would bring larger crowds – and with them, more money.
If things kept humming, those tourism dollars would be enough to carry businesses like mine through the long, empty winter, when icy waterways made travel by ferry difficult, if not impossible.
But winter was still months away.
Today, I had cookies.
Unfortunately, this wasn't all I had.
I slipped through the back door and set the dreaded white pastry box on the long work-table in the back room. Then I pulled out the second container – larger, heavier, and warm enough to fog the plastic lid. This one held chocolate chip cookies, still soft from the oven.
Tessa had really outdone herself.
We'd both turned in early last night. But this morning, I'd woken to the scent of gourmet coffee and fresh-baked cookies.
Tessa had apparently gotten up before dawn, baking like her life depended on it. When I'd stumbled into the kitchen, bleary-eyed and half asleep, she'd smiled and said, "If you're deliveringthose raisin bombs, you should bring a box of something better to balance the karma."
Forget karma. I'd been stuck on raisin bombs. It had taken me a long, sleepy moment before it had finally clicked. She had meant the raisin pastries from yesterday that Ryder had purchased for Griff. I still hadn't decided if I should actually deliver them, but Tessa had apparently decided for both of us.
The news had barely registered when she'd asked, "Hedoeslike chocolate chip, right?"
I'd been too sleepy to think. "You mean Griff?"
This had made her frown. "Well, I wouldn't make cookies for Ryder."
"Right."Ryder, she obviously hated. Apparently, Griff rated higher."Uh, yeah…I'm sure he'll love them."
"Let's hope so," she'd said. "I was so worried, I couldn't sleep."
It was so thoughtful, and yet for some stupid reason, it had bothered me. She'd met Griff exactly once, and now she was baking him cookies? My gaze had strayed to the oven. "Really?"
"Yeah, I mean, Ihaveto give him the raisin things, right? If I don't, let's say Ryder complains, I could lose my job."
"Ohhhhh." Something in my shoulders had eased. "Right."
"And you know what else?"
"What?"
Her gaze had become steely. "These new cookies – they'll totally ruin Ryder's prank."
Sleepy or not, I'd laughed good and hard. I had never met this Ryder person, but the way Tessa described him, it had felt shockingly good to see his plans thwarted.
"And don't worry," Tessa had added with a smile. "I made cookies for us, too." She'd pointed to the oven, where a dozen more were still baking behind the glass. "When you're ready to leave, just let me know. I'll pack the warmest ones for the shop."
I hadn't argued. The whole thing had been excessively nice, and I was starting to realize something. Until the past few weeks, I hadn't really known Tessa at all. But the more I learned, the more I felt that Delaney hadn't done her sister justice.
Of course, Delaney hadn't donemejustice either, considering that she'd ditched me for no discernable reason.
Some best friend, huh?
