Page 32 of A Soldier's Destiny
Chapter 12
Abit nervous about leaving Jasper alone in the front of the bakery, she’d checked on him a few times in the morning. But seeing that he had it under control, she let her creative juices take over. It wasn’t until her shoulders started yelling at her, that she realized she’d been at it non-stop for hours.
Wedding cakes were the one time she could really use her imagination especially if the customer didn’t have any specific requirements, which Mrs. Evanston hadn’t. She’d been thrilled that Rori had agreed to make it on such short notice. If she hadn’t had Jasper there helping her she would have been up all night working on the elaborate cake and its tiers of flowing lilies and roses, delicate spun sugar hearts and green ivy vines. It might be her best creation yet and she’d have to remember to take some pictures to add to her book.
By the time Jasper had locked up the front of the bakery, she was putting the finishing touches on the cake. Stepping back to check for gaps in the flowers or ivy, she carefully spun the cake when she heard a low whistle behind her and smiled.
“What do you think?”
“I think Mrs. Evanston is going to be head over heels for it.”
After they got it into the walk-in, she had to complete her usual close out list starting with the croissant dough. It was one of the most time-consuming items she made on a daily basis, but it was also her best seller.
“Can I help with anything?”
“Would you be up for stirring custard?”
“Yeah, I think I can handle that.”
“It’s important you keep a steady stir, or it won’t turn out right.”
“You get it started and I’ll keep it going.” Grateful she could cross off an extra item from her list, she pulled out the ingredients to make her custard. She made a huge batch each time since it was used for the eclairs, crème puffs, and the filling for some of her cakes. Once it was set up, she handed the spoon to Jasper and got to work on the croissant dough.
The phone rang as soon as she was up to her elbows in flour. “Typical. It has to happen at least once a week. I swear it’s like there is a pressure point on the floor. When I step on it the phone rings, and it’s always at the worst possible moment,” Rori said as she grabbed a towel and wiped the dough and flour off her hands before walking over to grab the phone.
“Want me to get it?”
“Nope, you need to keep stirring or it will get lumpy. I’ve got it.”
By the time she got to the phone, whoever it was had hung up. Again, typical. But she kept forgetting to leave the phone near where she was working.
“No one there?”
“I think I was just too late. If they want something they’ll call back.”
“You’re not worried about losing a customer?”
“No. Everyone in town knows I work by myself. I don’t think it would put them off. Besides, they could leave a voicemail.”
Jasper nodded as he continued to stir but looked like he wanted to say more.
“Something wrong?”
“No, just thinking about…” Before he could finish whatever he was going to say the phone rang again.
“See, I told you,” she said with a grin before she pushed on the answer button. “Prince’s Patisserie, may I help you?”
“You don’t really think having that guy there will save you, do you? Because you’d be dead wrong, accent on the dead.”
“Who are you? Why are you doing this?” Jasper grabbed the phone from her hand.
“Listen, fucktard. You need to back off. Leave Aurora and her bakery the fuck alone or you will be sorry.”
“Really? Whatcha gonna do? You think you’re all high and mighty ex-Delta. You’re not so much hot shit. You better watch your ass because if you stand in our way we’ll take you out too.”
“What did they say?” Rori asked as Jasper put the phone on the counter. “Did you hang up on them?”
“Nope, he hung up, if it was a ‘he.’ I’m not entirely sure. They were using a modulator to disguise their voice like I figured.”
