Page 26 of Working For Her Sweet Treats
By eight the next morning, the photograph of me wearing a raspberry-pink Sweet Treats apron has reached every employee on the Jefferson Street project.
By eight-fifteen, someone has printed it and taped it inside the construction trailer. The caption beneath the picture reads:
JAKE DALTON FINDS HIS SWEETEST PROJECT YET.
I remove it from the wall.
Cole watches from behind his coffee cup. “You know they’ll print another one.”
“Then I’ll find another unpleasant job for whoever does.”
“You already gave me drain cleanup.”
“I can find worse.”
He appears to consider that before returning to the day’s schedule.
The photograph would not bother me if Ava were not visible in the background. She is leaning against the counter, smiling while I sweep the floor. It is not the polite smile she gives customers or the reluctant one that appears when I irritate her in a way she secretly enjoys. She looks happy.
I fold the page once and place it beneath a stack of invoices instead of throwing it away. My phone rings before I can question that decision. The number is unfamiliar.
“Dalton.”
“Is that how you answer every call?”
Ava’s voice changes the entire morning.
“It depends who’s calling.”
“This is Ava Bennett from Sweet Treats.”
“I know who you are.”
“You don’t have my number.”
“I recognize your voice.”
A short pause follows. I picture her standing behind the bakery counter with flour on her face, trying to decide whether that answer pleases her.
“The Foundry accepted my proposal,” she says.
Her excitement comes through clearly, and I smile before remembering Cole is still in the trailer.
“Two hundred pastries?”
“Two hundred and twenty. They added a few extra for the volunteers.”
“You sound happy.”
“I am overjoyed, actually.”
The word suits her. So does the warmth in her voice.
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” She takes a breath. “Kayla wants me to visit The Foundry this evening and finalize the setup. Since you built the display, I thought you might look at the space and tell me the best way to move it.”
“You’re asking for my help?”
