Tuesday at 9:00 a.m., Mary held open the front door of the bakery as Glenn and his sohn from Bender Building and Supply carried in the Formica countertop she wanted installed as a bar for stools.
“Morgen, Mary. We should be done by the end of the day. Pete’s coming to do the electrical work, jah?”
“He promised he would be here today.” A knock sounded on the back door. “Excuse me, Glenn.”
She hurried to the kitchen and opened the back door. “Morgen, Pete. Glenn just asked if you were going to make it.”
Pete set his Smuckers Electrical toolbox on the kitchen floor. “Sorry, I’m a little late, forgot something and had to run back to the shop and fetch it. But don’t worry, the additional outlets should all be installed by the end of the day.”
“Danki, I really appreciate it.” Mary moved from the kitchen to the front of the bakery, checking on the progress of the countertop.
When convinced the men could handle things without her, Mary poured a cup of coffee and retreated to the office. She pulled out the bookkeeping ledger and journal and started catching up on bookwork. After three hours of nonstop work, she closed the books. The bottom line showed an increase in revenue. She was glad of that, but income still needed to be higher.
Mary wandered from her office into the front of the bakery and set her cup down. As her gaze swept the room, her jaw dropped open. The mounted counter fit perfectly under the windows. It was lovely and functional. The brown Formica matched the wooden stools. Hopefully, it would attract young customers to stop in for a cappuccino or latte.
Glenn pushed the front door open, set a box on the floor and began to fill it with scraps of wood and countertop. “It’ll look better when I have the sawdust cleaned up and the stools unboxed and pushed under the counter.”
“It looks wunderbaar.” She walked around to get a better look. “Don’t worry about the sawdust. Jacob is going to help me clean and paint tomorrow. I’m just pleased you could work us into your schedule so fast.”
“Glad to do it.”
“Do I write a check now?”
“Nein. I have to add it all up and send you an invoice. We’ll finish up and be out of your hair.”
Pete poked his head around the kitchen doorjamb into the bakery. “I’m done. I’ll total and send an invoice.”
“Danki, Pete.” Mary followed him to the kitchen and ran her gaze around. “The extra outlets look gut. It’s going to be great having them. And the generator that powers the bakery’s electricity will be large enough to handle the extra outlets?”
“No problem, it’s big enough.”
After Pete gathered his toolbox and left, Mary headed back to the front of the bakery for one last walk through. She flicked the light switch, hitched King and steered him for home.
The peaceful clip-clop of horse’s hooves on the road was soothing. Mary leaned back in the seat and let King set his gait to an easy trot. A new sensation bloomed in her chest. The old bakery was her stiefmutter Sarah’s, but the newly decorated bakery was her idea. And even though the changes were minor, it made the shop feel like hers.
She clutched the string of her prayer kapp and twirled it around her finger. Jah, she would definitely have to confess that outburst of self-satisfaction and pride at what she’d done for the bakery. But who could blame her? It was finally happening! Her bakery was getting a new face.
King turned into the drive and headed for the barn. She unhitched the buggy, wiped King down and filled his oat and water pails. His brown eyes widened with anticipation. She patted his mane and closed the barn door behind her. She carried her quilted bag to the haus and hung it on a peg by the door.
Her stiefmutter turned from the sink. “You’re home. How did it go today?”
“Wunderbaar. It looks great. I can’t wait until Jacob and I get it painted tomorrow.”
Jacob banged the screen door closed. “What am I going to get out of all this work?”
Mary ran over to him and mussed his hair. “I’ll make you my contest apple pie and you can eat the whole thing.”
He chuckled. “I’m going to hold you to that.”
The screen door squeaked open and Daed wiped his shoes on the rag rug. “What’s going on in here?”
“I was telling them the additional outlets and the new counter were installed today and it all looks wunderbaar.” Mary gave Daed a kiss on the cheek. “Danki.”
“Gut, I’m glad to hear it. Do you think it will help keep the bakery open?” His tone laced with skepticism.
Mary took a step back. “Daed, it sounds like you don’t believe I can do it?”
“Nein. I didn’t mean that. You are a terrific baker, and you can do whatever you set your mind to do. I’m only saying that Noah’s store also has fresh vegetables, a nice deli and delicious baked goods.”
“And how do you know how his food tastes?” she huffed.
Silence loomed across the kitchen.
Jacob shoved his hands in his pocket. “If Daed and I are hungry when we’re in town, Noah’s deli is a convenient place to grab a quick sandwich or a slice of pizza. His tuna sandwiches are super, and I don’t care much for tuna fish.”
“So you go behind my back and sneak off to the competition.” Her voice strained. “And what do you think of his breads and pastries, are they gut?”
Jacob glanced at Daed. “Jah, his pastries are gut. His pecan pie is better than yours.”
Mary gasped. “You’re just saying that.”
“Sorry, sis, but I’m telling the truth.” Jacob reached up and pulled a string on her prayer kapp. “You better practice for that baking contest, because you’re going to need all the practice you can get. Have you tried his baking? His croissants are the best I’ve ever had.”
Mary turned toward Daed. “Is that what you think, too?”
Daed nodded.
Mary pulled a chair away from the table and sat. “Mamm, I had no idea.”
Sarah wrapped her arms around Mary. “We’ll work on some recipes. You’ll see. We’ll come up with some delicious new ones.”
Horses’ hooves tromped up the drive, and buggy wheels skidded to a stop. Daed stepped to the door and walked out on the porch.
A minute later, he burst back into the kitchen. “The bakery is on fire. Let’s get to town.”
“I’ll stay here with the kinner,” Mamm yelled. “Mary, you and Jacob go. Hurry!”
“Mary, get your things. Jacob and I’ll hitch the buggy,” Daed shouted on his way out the door.
Mary paced the ground until the buggy pulled up to the haus with both Tidbit and King hitched. She jumped in the back seat.
Daed shook the reins. “Hee-yah!” The horses jerked the buggy and tore off down the driveway. Daed slowed them to turn onto the road then headed to town. He tapped the reins again. “Hee-yah.”
Mary twisted her hands on her quilted bag handles so hard her fingers hurt. “Go faster, Daed.”
“Jah, I’m trying to do that, but others use the road too. The firemen are there taking care of it.”
“I know, but I want to see what’s happening.” The three miles to town seemed endless to Mary.
Arriving at the edge of town, the air reeked of burnt wood. When the buggy drew closer, toxic fumes from the fire stung Mary’s eyes. As the building came into view, she scooted to the end of the seat, threw her hands to her mouth and gasped. Daed stopped outside the barricades. Firetrucks, police cars and red lights filled the street in front of the bakery.
Mary sniffled as tears filled her eyes and drenched her cheek. “Nein, nein.” Flames still engulfed the inside of the building as hoses spayed water from all sides. “Nein.” She threw herself back against the seat. “Oh, nein, Mamm is going to be devastated.”
She slipped her hand in her bag, scratched around and pulled out a handkerchief. She wiped the tears off her cheeks and blew her nose.
Daed turned King and Tidbit around. “I’m going to get the horses away from here. We’ll walk back and get closer.” He parked in a lot a block away.
Jacob opened the door, Mary jumped out, and they walked toward the destruction. Her body was numb, her legs almost unwilling to take another step. She stopped in front of Noah’s store and watched the smoldering building from the other side of the street outside the police barricades.
Thirty minutes later, firefighters still shouted to each other and aimed hoses at the dying flames. Noah stood in his yellow Nomex gear beside something they’d taken from the burning building. Black char clung to the sides, so Mary couldn’t make out the object.
Daed stepped closer and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Are you okay?”
“Jah, but even seeing it, I’m still in disbelief.”
He squeezed her to his side.
Mary drew a deep breath with sobs catching in her throat. “Can we rebuild right away?”
Her vater patted her arm. “We’ll have to talk to Sarah and see what she wants to do.”
Mayor Conrad walked up behind Daed and patted him on the back. “Sorry about the bakery, Caleb. We need your business in town, so I hope you decide to rebuild.”
“Danki, Mr. Conrad. It’s just such a shock. Something we never expected to happen.”
“We’re all praying for your family. I’m going to go over and talk to the fire chief. Take care, Caleb.” Mayor Conrad turned and faced Mary. “It’s a real shame, but rebuild.” He nodded, then headed across the street.
Jacob shuffled his feet around on the sidewalk, trying to get a better look. “Daed, I’m going to go over and talk with Noah Miller and see if the firemen know where the fire started.”
Daed nodded. “They might not know yet, but I’ll walk with you.”
They crossed the street, staying out of the firefighters’ way. When Noah had his hands free, Jacob approached him and they talked for a minute. After a few more moments, Jacob and Daed walked closer to the building where the chief was, but Noah turned and headed toward Mary.
He stopped beside her and turned back to look at the charred building. “How ya doing, Mary? Sorry about Sweet Delights.” He stumbled over each word in a soft voice.
Tears blurred her eye. “Now you’re the only bakery in town.” Her voice quaked and tears streamed down her face. “I’ll never get my business back.”
His amber gaze of concern met and held hers. “You’ll rebuild.” He stepped closer, as if trying to lend her his strength should she need it.
“Amish don’t have insurance. By the time we find the money, which I doubt Daed could do, everyone would be used to shopping at your store.”
“Don’t underestimate your loyal customers. Sure, they might like something I sell, pizza, a favorite sandwich, but they still love Sweet Delights.”
Her chest ached, her eyes felt puffy, and her face was wet with a continuous stream of tears. “The mainstay of my life has been ripped from me. Even if we can rebuild, it won’t be the same place that Sarah’s daed started. His soul filled those four walls. Customers remember all the gut times they had there, his recipes, his joking with them. He helped the community, and they loved him. Most of his recipes were just destroyed.”
“Did you have his recipe book locked in a safe? The fire burned at 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit.” He softened his voice. “There won’t be much, if anything salvageable. The book would have burned.”
She gulped a breath as her life was tearing into pieces at his news. “Jah, I locked the recipe book in the safe, along with the ledger and journal.” She sobbed. “Now everything is gone.”
Why, Gott...why? I have nothing to my name. I loved Sarah’s bakery, and You took that. I don’t even have my quilt anymore.
Noah wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, so close she could feel his breath on her cheek. “Shh, Mary. Sometimes God takes away so He can give us something better.” His words wrapped around her like a prayer. “It might not be much, but the safe survived the fire. It’s smoldering now, but we had the hot fire put out in forty-five minutes. I’ll have it moved to my store for safekeeping, if you want.”
Mary sniffled and swallowed hard. “Jah, that would be fine.”
A protective twinge tightened Noah’s throat as he glanced down at Mary, snuggling close to his chest. “Do you want to come inside my store to sit and rest?”
“Danki, but I want to go home.” She blotted a tear running down her cheek. “Mamm will be a wreck wanting to know what’s going on. It was her vater’s bakery, and it meant a lot to her. It will just devastate her. And I need to stop and tell Amanda.”
“Mary, I can’t tell you how sorry I am.”
“Don’t talk, Noah. My heart was just ripped out, and I don’t want to discuss it. Not right this minute, I can’t.”
He drew in a ragged breath and nodded. He released his arm. “Listen, we aren’t enemies. I never meant to hurt you or drive you out of business. I’m truly sorry I put my store across from Sweet Delights. When I rented the building, I knew there was a drug store on one side and an antique store on the other, but I didn’t check the whole street. I’ll give you space in my store, and you can keep your bakery going. You can use my ovens and whatever else you need until your shop is rebuilt.”
Mary’s eyes widened. “What? I couldn’t possibly do that. Have you lost your senses?”
Noah smiled and shook his head. “Of course not, but thanks for asking. Everyone in town knows we’re competing, and I don’t want them to think I’d take advantage of you after your bakery burned. Someone might even say I started it.”
Mary jerked her head up and locked eyes with him. “No one in this town would ever accuse you of that.”
“It could start as a joke and get around. That would ruin my reputation, and it would be your fault for not working with me and squashing any loose gossip.”
“Mr. Miller, you have a way of exaggerating the problem.” She shook her head with a smirk.
“Yeah, but what do you say? I’d sure feel better about everything if you would let me help you.”
Mary drew a deep breath of smelly, smoky, toxic air, coughed and stepped back. She glanced across the street at the smoldering building. “I don’t know how long it will take to rebuild, or if Daed and Mamm will want to.” Tears filled her eyes and clung to her lashes. She batted them away.
“We don’t have to talk about length of time now. Moving a small part of your baking to my store is only a temporary situation. Unless you would rather come and work for me?”
“Not even as a joke. Then people probably would think you did it on purpose to get me to bake for you since your baking tastes terrible.” A smile pulled at the corners of her mouth.
“I know it’s a big decision, Mary. Take your time.”
As she stared at her bakery, or what was left of it, he watched the change of emotions cross her face. What would it be like working side by side with her every day?
She turned and opened her mouth as if she was going to say something but then hesitated...
His heart drummed up into his throat, so hard he couldn’t speak. He wanted her to say yes, but would she?