The Baker's Assistant (closed)

[KieranSoares]

Aleister ruffled Lynn's soft hair before returning to his work, and it wasn't long before Dazu arrived too. Everything was going smoothly even with one oven down. It simply meant that the other ovens would be working a little longer that day.

"Tell Dazu th'plan. I'll make sure t'set up deliveries an' such while we're gone, Aleister called out to Kayla from under the oven.

 

[heartofcourage]

"We're going to Edinburgh." Kayla said as Lynndon slumbered against her shoulder. "We need someone to watch the store for a few days while we're gone. Do you think you can handle it all by yourself?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"I might ask Leon to help," Dazu told her. "But I can, yes."

"Ruben's cubs will come 'elp too, I'm sure," Aleister told him. "But til then, we need t'get everything ready." Dazu nodded and immediately set to work.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You all can stay in Aleister's apartment if you need. I can clean and make sure that it's all set up." Kayla offered, know that Dazu would work very hard to keep the bakery going while they were gone. "That way Lucy can be with the two of you."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Don't worry about us, we'll make due," Dazu assured her. "You have too much to worry about as it is. If we need anything, we always have Leon's parents if all else fails."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You're wonderful, Dazu." Kayla said as she kissed him on the cheek in thanks. "We'll bring you back some from Edinburgh for your troubles. And something for Lucy's shelf. Her Da always brought her back trinkets when he was traveling. It'll make her so excited."

 

[KieranSoares]

Work continued as per usual til just after lunch, when Aleister brought out some ropes and he and Dazu pulled the broken baking slab out of the deconstructed oven. It was two massive pieces of stone that they couldn't actually lift, so Aleister brought a wheelbarrow inside and took out each piece with Dazu's added strength. Instead of just getting rid of the pieces, Aleister dug out a little trench in front of the door, setting one piece there like a solid doorstep as the step was rather high. The other was set alongside the path leading to the door, like a bench. The new slab was a serious struggle to get in the next day, but thankfully they had the help of the two stonecutters who'd delivered it.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla was impressed with everything that Aleister had done with his bakery. The new step was lovely and a nice touch to the entrance. The bench outside was also nice and she enjoyed telling people that it use to be part of the oven that had made their bread every day.

"Your shop is coming together nicely, Al." Kayla said as she took care of the front counter, glancing towards where Lynndon was playing by the window every so often.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Wait til I expand it," Aleister told her as he stepped out wiping his hands on a spare towel. "Gonna move th'west an' south walls out, upstairs too, an' add a storage cellar so we don' have t'store all th'barrels in th'bakehouse."

 

[heartofcourage]

"A bigger apartment?" Kayla asked as he talked about expanding the shop completely. "Lynn could use a bigger nursery."

She teased him about the boy often, but it was very clear that Aleister adored Lynndon. The two had a bond that she couldn't explain, but they both had come to need each other. Lynndon was cranky and sullen when he didn't see Aleister for more than a day at a time.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Wha', is tha' an offer t'move in with me?" Aleister grinned. "Because y'know I won' hesitate t'accept if it is." He turned to get his gloves so he could haul in more wood for the ovens.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'm sure that Lynn would love that." Kayla said with a smile. "But my Da might have opinions of his own. You might find yourself at the point of his sword if I said yes."

Kayla turned and handed Lynndon a soft cookie to eat, smiling down at her little boy as he lit up and instantly put it in his mouth.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Yer old man doesn' scare me, lass. I trained with 'im an' I know all th' old Invernessian Axeman tricks. Now if 'e got yer Ma on 'is side, then I might 'ave reason t'be afraid." He wrapped both arms about her waist and kissed her cheek. "Give it some thought, love. I think it'd do all of us a world o' good." With another kiss, he headed outside to get the wood.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla was a little stunned that Aleister wanted her to move into the bakery with him. With more room, it would be a lovely place to be and they certainly spent enough time together as it was. She needed time to think before she sped headlong into another situation that she couldn't control. Gale had broken her heart and Alesiter had repaired it beautifully. She simply didn't want to be hurt again.

That evening, she went to Leon's home, needing to talk to her brother before she talked about things with her parents. Lucy seemed brighter, doting on Lynndon like the perfect cousin that she was. Kayla was impressed at her smattering of words and she was in awe of the look of love that Dazu gave to the little girl.

"Aleister wants to expand the bakery." Kayla murmured as she sat next to her brother with a mug of cider while Dazu played with the children. "And he seems serious about moving me in with him."

 

[KieranSoares]

"After seein' you two work together an' seein' the way 'e looks at you, I don' see any good reason not t'go for it. Ma might 'ave somethin' t'say about it, though. Y'know the reputation women get these days when they're shacked up with someone without bein' married." It didn't bother Leon much, but it would effect Kayla's reputation.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Leon, I have a child without being married to his father. I think my reputation can survive shacking up with someone." Kayla pointed out, glancing towards her brother as he mentioned what people might say. "And the other thing is...I think he would marry me if I told him that I was ready for that kind of commitment. He adores me and he loves Lynn fiercely."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Hell, then I don' see why y'shouldn't move in with 'im." Leon leaned back in his seat. He didn't put up as much a fight as Boar might have, because he knew Kayla could make her own way and Aleister loved her and Lynn.

 

[heartofcourage]

"That's a large thing to think about." Kayla said softly. "What...what if he dies? He's so much older than myself."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know 'e's twice yer age. But... Well, look at Dazu. Werefolk live so much longer than us humans. But we decided together tha' the time we 'ave is worth it. Otherwise, why would anyone fall in love? Someone is always goin' t'die first. But y'can be sure Aleister's gonna be around long as 'e can."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I guess I need to talk to Mummy and Da too." Kayla said as she glanced towards Lynndon playing with Lucy. "They should have a say in the matter as well. I know that whatever decisions I make they will support but they matter to me too."

 

[KieranSoares]

"They're most concerned with you an' Lynn bein' well-cared for an' happy. An' Aleister's plenty capable of makin' sure y'are. Ye'll get a little resistance, especially seein' how Da doesn' trust men an' they'll both be overprotective after Eli... But I think they'll like th'idea in time."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I don't mind the idea myself." Kayla said softly as she looked at her brother in curiosity.

He hardly mentioned Eli but when he did, it was always to make a point. She knew he was healing when he could talk about his twin without breaking down completely.

"So, where is this meal that you promised me? Dazu's been raving all week about the meal that you learned to make." Kayla teased her brother with a small smile on her lips.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I promised nothin'," Leon chuckled, standing up to head into the kitchen. "But I will if y'want."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Of course I do." Kayla said with a grin. "I have to make sure that my brute of a brother can take care of his lion."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I've been takin' care of him since the moment he walked into my life." Leon rolled his eyes at her. "I spend all day lookin' after Lu an' choppin' wood, an' he's off playin' around in a bakery."