Katherine shrugged a shoulder and smiled. “It’s okay. I’ve had plenty of jobs. I’ll find another one. I liked working with you though. I hope we can still keep in touch.”
“Absolutely! You’re not getting rid of me that easy.”
Katherine giggled, but stopped when she saw the manager stop at the counter, watching her and Talia. “Call me anytime. Don’t expect me to be stopping by though. I’ve been officially banned.”
Talia’s mouth dropped open. “Bullshit,” she hissed, turning to shoot a glare at her boss.
Katherine’s hand touched her arm. “It’s okay. You keep working here. This is a great job.”
“I’m sorry,” she said again, shaking her head.
“I’ll talk to you later.”
She gave one last goodbye and walked out of the little shop she had fallen in love with. She would miss the bakery, but it wasn’t the first time she’d had to leave a job. It had become a way of life for her. She was a rolling stone. As she walked down the street, she looked in the windows of the shops and stores she passed. It was time to get a new job. It had been a couple weeks now. Her vacation was over.
She thought about what she wanted to do. The bakery had seemed like a good fit because of her love of cooking. But in actuality, she did very little cooking, more baking goods that were already premixed. She liked the coffee shop part of it. The hustle and bustle was exciting and fast-paced. The days flew by. She also enjoyed the regular customers. People were creatures of habit and once they discovered a great place to buy their morning cup of coffee, they would keep coming back for more.
Her stroll kept going with no real destination in mind. It was then she realized she was basically sightseeing for the first time. In all the places she had lived before, she’d been too worried about being spotted to spend any real time out and about. She usually found a job, a place to do laundry and grocery shopping, and a home. Everything was different now. She wanted to branch out and learn more about the city, discovering the many secrets hidden in plain sight right in front of her.
“Good morning,” she said, speaking to an older gentleman sitting on a bench at the small park she had run into.
She sat down on one end and inhaled a deep breath, smelling what could only be sourdough baking in a nearby shop.
“Smells delicious, doesn’t it?” the man asked, with a big grin on his face.
Katherine giggled. “It does. I bet this bench is part of their marketing strategy. People sit and smell that bread and can’t resist.”
The man with the wise blue eyes and wrinkled face had a wistful smile on his face. “My Judy used to say the same thing. That’s why
I’m here.”
“For Judy? Is that your wife?”
“She was my wife for fifty-three years before she decided it was time to go. She always did like to go first, making sure everything was ready for me,” he said, a sad smile on his face.
“I’m sorry,” Katherine replied.
“Don’t be. I’m not sad. I miss her, but I know she’s getting everything just so, and when it’s time, I’ll meet her there.”
Katherine had to blink back tears. It was the sweetest thing she’d ever heard. She imagined being like that with Ben. Could they be a couple like that? She had never even thought of a happily ever after or growing old with a man by her side.
“Did Judy like the sourdough?” she asked.
“She sure did. She used to tell me to go sit at the park. When I smelled the bread cooking, I was supposed to wait another thirty minutes before I went in and asked for a fresh loaf. Judy was very particular about her instructions. “So, every Monday, I wait right here until it’s time to pick up the bread.”
Katherine smiled and nodded her head. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to wait with you. I don’t believe I’ve ever had fresh sourdough.”
The man shook his head as if it was a terrible shame. “You’re gonna be hooked. It is the best. I could never eat those dry loaves from the store again after having it fresh from the oven.”
“What did Judy serve it with?” she asked, an idea for dinner blooming in her mind.
He waved a hand. “Oh, she liked to make me these gooey grilled cheese sandwiches that I would dip in the tomato soup she made from scratch. Sometimes, she’d make me a delicious sandwich or serve it up with pasta. It never got old.”
“I think all of that sounds amazing.”
“I bet your husband will love it as well,” he said, a grin on his face.
Katherine chuckled. “He isn’t my husband, but I know he will love it.”