“What?”I shriek, leaping out of my chair and rushing into the kitchen.
This entire day has been a disaster.When I got here this morning, there was an issue with one of the ovens.I had to call the electrician to come fix it.It would turn on, but not heat up.
The oven had to be shut down and I'm not sure how long it will be before I can use it again.
Then the power went out.I'm pretty sure the electrician had something to do with that, but he’s claiming he’s innocent.Every time he ‘fixes’ the problem and turns the electric back on for that oven, sparks start flying.
Now, there’s something burning in the kitchen.In my only working oven.
“What’s in there?”I demand to know as soon as I see the black smoke leaving the oven.
“I don’t know!I didn’t cook anything.Did you?”Melissa opens the door and coughs as a big cloud of smoke leaves the oven.“It looks like cookies.”
“Oh, no!”I drop my face into my hands and let out a low groan.“I put them in there and then went to work in the office.I thought I set my timer.”
I rush to the door and open it, trying to get some fresh air into the building.Melissa takes the trays out and dumps the charred cookies into the sink.She turns the cold water on high and lets out a relieved sigh.
“Are there any customers in here?”I glance towards the front of the bakery and pray no one is here.
“No.I was cleaning while we were slow.There was a group of toddlers in here with their moms and they spilled a lot of milk and got crumbs everywhere.”
“Ok.Can you lock the door and put up a sign that says we’re temporarily closed?”I thrust a marker and paper into her hands.
As soon as Melissa is out of sight, I take in my destroyed kitchen.This is going to take forever to fix.I might just close down until the electrician is finished.Though based upon the way he’s coughing from the other room, I don’t think he’s going to finish today.
My phone rings from my office and I dart in there to answer it.At this point it could be anyone trying to ruin my day.
“Hello?”I ask without checking the caller ID.
“Hey, Syd.This is Skylar.”
“No,” I groan.“Please tell me they aren’t in trouble.”
“No one’s in trouble.Are you ok?”
“Just having the worst day of my career… It doesn’t matter.What’s going on with the kids?”I shake everything off and focus on the only thing that matters.My kids.
“Bree’s in the nurse’s office.She threw up during math class and has a fever.Is there any way you or Pecker could come to get her?”There’s a wince in her voice and I'm sure she feels horrible about calling me.
Skylar knows exactly what it’s like to have a business and needing to leave it to pick up your kid from school.Her husband, Tucker, had to do it a bunch when Skylar first became principal and his daughter kept getting in trouble.
“I’ll have to call Peck and see.I have a few emergencies happening at the bakery right now.No matter what, I’ll have someone there to pick her up as soon as I can.Thanks, Sky.”
“No problem.If you can’t find anyone, call me back.She can always hang out in my office.”
“I'm sure you really want a puking kid in your office.”I roll my eyes.
“Hey, this baby makes me puke constantly.This office is used to it.Maybe we can even share a trash can.”
She hurries off the phone when there’s a voice in the background.I can’t make out what they’re saying, but she says goodbye and the line goes dead.I'm just about to head back into the kitchen when my phone rings again.
“Hello?”I sigh into the line.
“Hey, baby.What’s wrong?”Maverick’s deep voice flows through the line.His soft voice and the care in his tone brings tears to my eyes.
“Everything?”
“What can I do to help?”
