Wait, is she…
“Do youownBatter Up?”
She nods, and a proud grin spreads across her lips. “You bet. I’m Lily, by the way. I’m sorry. I should have said that earlier. Come inside.”
I step inside after her, and as the door swings open, a warm wave of aromas hits me. The enticing scent of freshly baked goods fills the air, wrapping me in its embrace. My mouth waters at the rich, sweet smell of sugar and flour mingling together, creating an irresistible feeling that makes my heart race with joy. Not even the finest baked goods scented candle could ever compare to this.
“This is such a cute place you have here,” I say, looking around and taking it all in.
A single counter sits nestled between two enticing display shelves featuring an array of treats. Showcasing specialty cookies with vibrant icing, rich and moist crumb cakes, and irresistible mini muffins in various flavors.
“I’m sorry, I never got your name,” Lily says.
“I’m Blair. Blair Andrews.” I want to take back the words as soon as they leave my mouth as I use my full name yet again. But I doubt people in town would know who the mayor is in a city that’s states away. “And that little fluff ball in your arms is Reginald.”
“Nice to formally meet you both,” she says with a small nod before she rounds the counter to stand on the other side with Reginald still in her arms. “Can I interest you in something?”
“Everything looks amazing,” I say, scanning the cases displaying everything available for the day. Stopping my scan, and my eyes widen. “Is this a crumb cake?”
“Cinnamon swirl crumb cake,” Lily answers with a nod.
I lean down to get a closer look. “I’ve never mastered baking a crumb cake. It seems too easy, but I could never make it work and come out this good.”
“You bake?”
I nod. “It’s my favorite hobby.”
“I knew we were destined to be friends.” Lily beams, putting Reginald down and letting him explore the place freely.
The word “friends” feels so foreign to me.
The same way everything here feels.
As I look at Lily, I'm speechless. She's nothing like the people I know in the city. Instead, she's warm and inviting, with seemingly no hidden agendas. In my past, friendships have often felt transactional, with people befriending me for their own gain. But with Lily, it's different. She's genuine.
“Do you know anywhere in town hiring?” I finally ask.
“I’m sure we can find you something,” Lily says, pulling a slice of crumb cake from the tray and placing it on a small paper plate for me. “Between my friend, Autumn, next door at Cozy Cup or the bar, we can find you something.”
“Thank you so much. That would be so helpful and really appreciated.”
“Here.” She pulls her phone from the back pocket of her jeans. “Put your number in here. I’ll shoot you a text message, so you have mine. I’ll talk to them this afternoon, and we can find something for you. Don’t worry. We take care of each other around here.”
Warmth fills me with her comment as she places her phone in my hand.
In just a short amount of time, Lily successfully makes this feel one step closer to this town being home. Making me feel like part of this community just days into moving here, despite not knowing a thing about me.
“Hey, Lily,” a female voice calls from the front door.
“Speak of the devil.” Lily grins. “Autumn, come meet my new friend, Blair. She just moved here and is looking for a job.”
Autumn offers me a welcoming smile, and I get the same friendly vibes from her as I did the moment I met Lily.
“Tell me you got this dressed up for a job interview and not just to explore the town.” Autumn laughs but covers her mouth quickly. “I’m sorry. That was rude. I tend to be a little blunt.”
I can feel my cheeks turn crimson red.
Reginald takes that moment to let out a bark. As if he’s telling them “yes.”
