Page 69 of Bear Creek Valentine
“Sure thing. Give me just a minute.”
Dash watched as she filled his order, always fast, efficient, and friendly. Guest reviews were effusive in their praise for her and the tasty treats found atDelicious. He had, in fact, instructed his staff to print and post the best ones for all to see, and he often delivered them in person. Dash presented Ginger with his debit card and she gave him a wry smile. At first, she’d resisted his insistence on paying; he was, after all, the owner of the resort and mated to her boss! He refused to budge, however, and her respect for the man grew that much more.
Ginger watched him go, growling with pleasure at the goodies he carried. She’d been nervous, at first, to change jobs, but working here was a pleasure, and she’d never been treated so well by an employer before. Well, there was no time for woolgathering with product waiting in the back room, and she began restocking the display cases.
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Delicious, the next day
Aiden stifled a chuckle as he witnessed the human traffic jam behind the counter. His new part-timers were here for initial training on the basics, and with six people crammed in the narrow space, they were stepping on each other’s toes. Blanche made good on her promise and recommended four retirees who were just what Aiden was looking for. Violet, Opal, Cora, and Howard were dressed in street clothes and white aprons instead of the official uniform, though they wore the lime-green newsboy cap along with the regular employees.
Today was more of an orientation session to get them familiar with the product and how things worked before the excrement hit the fan next week on Black Friday. They would mostly work evenings and Saturdays, but never all at once, and Serena had five business days to get them sorted out. Blanche was to manage the phone and online orders, while Serena, Toby, and Aiden worked the counter and register using the number system Blanche cooked up last year.
The part-timers would soon learn how to answer general questions and box or bag up the treats for customers. They would also help with the constant restocking of display cases with fresh items from D2. The first few days would involve some trial, error, and mistakes, but Aiden was confident that by the first weekend of December, the shop would run like a well-oiled machine.
Aiden returned to the kitchen, setting out the ingredients he and Toby would use later. He finished a bit early and grabbed a bundle of envelopes from the day’s mail delivery. One letter had Loretta Goodwin’s name in the upper left-hand corner, and he opened it to find flowery stationery with a note written in longhand.
Dear Aiden,
I hope this note finds you well and happy. How are things at Delicious? I can’t imagine what my old building must look like by now! Someday, I will come back for a visit so you can show me. I sold my home to a delightful family who works for the resort. Now, I have no ties to Bear Creek, and it makes me miss the town and its people.
Marcy likes her new job, and the children are getting used to the absence of their father. I take care of the house and help my grandchildren with homework and other things. It’s nice to be needed, I suppose, and I know my daughter appreciates the help. I have considered opening up an online store whereI can sell my hats and crafts. I need a creative outlet for my downtime.
The holidays are coming up, and I’m sure you will be so very busy. Please give my greetings to your staff and to Dash, and don’t forget to send me photos of the building when it’s done, as I’m very curious. I also miss all the wonderful treats you make, and would be thrilled if you opened a second shop in Pittsburg!
Take care,
Loretta
Aiden was glad to hear from her, but he could sense her loneliness between the lines. Loretta’s life had changed drastically in a brief time, and it would probably take a while for her to adapt to her new situation. There was, however, a little something he could do to lift her spirits, and took the letter out front for Blanche to read. She gave him a knowing smile and pulled out one of the deluxe gift boxes. Aiden nodded.
“Have one of our trainees help you, and include all of her favorites. I just hope she doesn’t send me a box full of hats in return!”
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November 24th, Thanksgiving Day
Dash and Aiden had been cooking and prepping all afternoon for their guests. They wanted to do something special for theDeliciousfamily, knowing full well there wouldn’t be another opportunity until after Christmas. Thus, their dining room now held two folding tables with room for ten. Besides Aiden and Dash, there were places for Serena, Blanche, Toby, Leo, Skip, Hudson, Cooper, and Ryder—whose family wasn’t celebrating until the weekend.
There wasn’t a spare inch after the food was brought out from the kitchen, and a boisterous and laughter-filled mealfollowed. With two shifters at the table, there weren’t any leftovers, either. While they let supper settle, Aiden encouraged his guests to share their blessings or stories from past holidays. Nearly everyone contributed, and they all groaned when Aiden finally announced it was time for dessert.
“I made something from my pastry chef days, but if you’re a traditionalist, I also have pumpkin pie.”
Aiden served up a scrumptious chocolate cheesecake, topped with a tart cranberry drizzle and a dollop of real whipped cream. Despite protestations of full stomachs, the group finished it off, along with the pumpkin pie. Before they were done, Aiden had something to share.
“I just wanted to say how thankful Dash and I are for all of you. We’re going to be really busy for the next month, and I realize it won’t be much fun sometimes. Just remember that every new customer we gain at the shop or the resort will stay with us through the coming years if we all do our part. I’m proud of our team, and I will generously reward you for your dedication and hard work. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.”
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Meanwhile, downtown
Rafael timed his arrival in Bear Creek with the tail end of twilight. Heather thought it would be easier to get in and out while the town was having its Thanksgiving meal, and the idea of disrupting said meal also appealed to her. While he was willing to help with the operation, she got to call the shots unless it put them both in danger of being caught.
At the west end of the block, Rafael turned onto the alley running behind the entire row of main street businesses. Though more or less uniform in front, they were all different shapes and sizes in the rear, creating a hodgepodge of dark places to hidehis Caddy. As expected, no one was open on the holiday, and his chosen spot next to a dumpster was unoccupied. He cut the headlights and backed in to hide the vehicle, yet still allow for a fast and easy getaway. He shut off the car and turned to check with his girlfriend one last time.
“You ready, babe? Any questions?”
Heather gave him a toothy grin and shook her head.
