The Baker's Assistant (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"... I kinda had pl-... uh... never mind," Leon gave in. "Alright, I'll be there 'round six, I guess." He turned to kiss her cheek in return, knowing not to ask why or argue. "Little sisters always messin' with their brothers. Guess I should be used to it by now, aye?" He pulled himself up into his saddle and gave her a rare smile.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You should know that you'll never win." Kayla said, returning his rare smile as she turned to let Aleister help her into the cart.

She waved at her brother as he kicked his horse into a trot and she glanced over as Aleister got them moving. "See, I told you that you would have fun tonight. Now just imagine all the customers you'll see tomorrow."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I didn' think I wouldn' enjoy it, I jus' thought I'd be terrified th'whole time... I guess I paint a worse picture o' th'world than it deserves more often than not. People weren't this kind when I was a lad... but I guess tha's t'do with th'changes Brogan's made... it's no' a risk t'help out yer neighbors anymore like it was way back when... There's a lot more of a community now than jus' a bunch o' people livin' near one another."

 

[heartofcourage]

"And now you have four sets of hands to help set up your bakery stalls. The village will be nice since there isn't anything near there and Katya and Timmal were so excited. I'm sure Sam and Rho will be just the same when we get them set up in the town." Kayla said as she discussed the future like she had agreed to be his business partner.

 

[KieranSoares]

Aleister noted how she spoke of the venture as if she were invested too, and he looked over. "So... does tha' mean I've got a partner?" He offered her a kind, rather hopeful smile. He'd really hoped she'd agree because he knew he couldn't handle in alone if his business got much bigger.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I suppose it does." Kayla said softly as she looked at Aleister with a smile on her face. "You know that I'll be there every step of the way, right? No matter what whether I'm your assistant or your partner. I care about you, Aleister. I care about your business and I really want to see you succeed."

When he pulled to a stop in front of her house, she let out a sigh, the air clouding in front of her face. "I'm glad you went with me tonight. I had a good time dancing."

 

[KieranSoares]

Aleister climbed down to help her, and ended up simply lifting her from the cart and setting her neatly on her feet before him. "I'm glad too. R'mind me not t'doubt you any more when y'say things'll be alright."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Oh, I'll never let you forget it." Kayla said with a laugh, looking up at Aleister.

Her father's words were ringing through her head. Sometimes you had to find someone that simply made you happy. There was another chance out there for everyone if she only looked for the right man. She nibbled on her lower lip, wondering if Aleister were that man.

"Thank you for being my friend, Aleister." She murmured softly, all joking aside for the moment. "I don't think I could have gotten through these last few months without you."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm more'n happy t'be here beside ya," Aleister assured her softly, his expression serious as they put their teasing aside. "Y'brightened up a fairly dark world, Kay." He'd wouldn't admit quite yet that she'd brought him out of a long, lonely depression.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla blushed at his words, knowing that he had led a pretty lonely existence before she had come along. He wouldn't admit that to anyone, but she had known. Now he smiled and laughed and she was proud that she had been a hand in his transformation.

"Well, goodnight, Aleister." Kayla said softly, standing on her toes to gently kiss his cheek. "I'll see you bright and early in the morning."

 

[KieranSoares]

Aleister pressed a kiss to her cheek in return. "I'll see ya then, Kay. G'night." He made his way back to his cart and gave her one last smile before he drove off back home. He couldn't get rid of that smile until he fell asleep later on.

 

[heartofcourage]

The next morning, Kayla was at the bakery bright and early. Aleister already had the first batch of bread baking and she made sure to pull it out before burning it. She still did that quite regularly, but she had gotten better at it. She had also set many different scones, pastries, pies, and cakes to bake in anticipation for a busy day that day. She also put in some rolls and sweet breads that the twins could sell in town and in the village.

 

[KieranSoares]

Aleister came down from his home above the bakery to find Kayla already setting to work, and he chuckled at her. "Mornin' lass. Plannin' fer another feast?" He noted all she'd set out in his absence. But before either could say another word, the shop door opened up and two sets of twins popped in. Sam and Rho had a little cart between them and Katya and Timmal had a little wagon.

"Hiya, Mr. MacNamara," Rho piped up.

"Hey, young lad. Ready so early?" Aleister came to stand before the children.

"Ma said we ought to get here early to help out before we went to sell," Sam told him responsibly. "To help clean and get things ready."

"I could use th'help. Timmal, Katya, you come with me, I've got a cart t'return. Sam, Rho, you stay 'ere an' help Kayla out, aye?"

"Yessir!" They replied immediately, and soon each set of twins was at the side of their chosen leader. Sam and Rho stepped up to Kayla, Rho with a smile and Sam with his now-usual serious expression, ready to help until things were done baking and they could go sell in the market.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Did you two eat breakfast?" Kayla asked as she passed each a scone anyway, grinning at her cousins as they ate while she explained all the different things in the shop.

"I'm going to send rolls and bread with you to town today. The rolls you sell for cheaper than the bread and you can keep whatever tips anyone gives you." She explained as she helped them to load the items into their little cart. "Be nice and polite to them and if you want to eat one for a snack, it's alright, but don't go overboard."

She knew that Sam and Rho balanced each other out beautifully. Every since Rho had been injured, Sam had become more responsible but they still had a habit of getting into mischief. She supposed that any Ghis sibling would get into mischief too if given the chance.

"Now, why don't you come and help me clean out the coals in the cooled ovens and restock them before you go." She had problems bending down for long periods of time and cleaning out the ovens was a job that she hated.

 

[KieranSoares]

Both boys followed her to the ovens and Sam quickly figured out what Rho could do with one arm, so Rho ended up doing the actual cleaning while Sam handed him the brushes he needed and keeping the coal door open and really just doing anything Rho couldn't manage. Sam tended to take on all the work that Rho couldn't, without complaint, so that Rho never noticed any slip-ups or problems due to his missing arm.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla watched the two boys work in unison. It was sweet what Sam was doing, but there would come a time when Sam would have to let Rho swim on his own. She didn't have the heart right then to tell him that, so she just let them work until the ovens were restocked and ready for the day.

"Alright, boys, it's almost time to get going. Aleister will be back soon with Katya and Timmal. I wonder if you can't sell more than them today." She was trying to make it seem like a game between the two sets of twins and a little healthy competition wouldn't hurt anyone.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I bet we can," Rho immediately confirmed just as Aleister stepped in.

"Can what?" Timmal asked.

"Sell more than you two!"

"Never!" The little black wolf growled playfully.

"Alright, kids, get your carts an' 'ead off. Be back 'ere by lunch. If y'manage t'sell everything, y'can come back early." Then, as if to add to the game, Aleister grinned and added, "I'll bet Katya an' Timmal win."

Both sets of twins hurried out and Aleister smiled to Kayla. "I think I like this li'l set up with th'kids."

 

[heartofcourage]

"It'll be good for all of them." Kayla said, watching the twins race off to their respective stands. "And a little extra spending money in your pocket when you're that age is always a good thing."

Kayla soon moved from his side to finish setting up the front of the bakery before the door was unlocked and people started to arrive. It was a busy morning for them both and they sold out of nearly everything that had been prepared before lunch even arrived. Kayla was busy meeting customers and filling orders and splitting her time in the bake house. She was doing too much, but it meant a lot to her to show Aleister that she was capable of keeping up and being a good partner.

 

[KieranSoares]

Come lunch time, Aleister emerged during a lull and put a new rack of fresh bread up on the shelves. "What d'ya say t'lunch after th'kids get back? We'll close up fer a half hour an' leave a sign on th'door, an' I'll take ya down th'street t'the tavern. They've got damn good food," he offered, knowing she needed a break and they both needed to eat. "I'll pull out th'last o' everything tha's baking right now an' we'll start right back up when we get back."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla glanced up from the dough that she was kneeding, blowing a lock of hair from her eyes as he offered to take her to lunch at the tavern. She grinned at him, wiping her sweaty brow with a flour covered hand. She smeared it across her cheek and forehead, uncaring and unknowing.

"Why Aleister MacNamara. Are you asking me to go to lunch with you?" She asked him in a teasing voice, knowing that he ate at the bake house most days.

 

[KieranSoares]

Aleister was about to be embarrassed at her teasing, until he burst out laughing at her. "Only if y'don't walk out o' here lookin' like a ghost." He took the edge of his apron and stepped up to gently wipe away the flour streaked on her face. "An' if y'promise t'take it a little easier from 'ere, aye?" He asked a little more softly.

 

[heartofcourage]

She had to laugh as well as he cleaned off her face with the corner of his apron, getting all the flour off before he asked her to take things easier. She blushed a little bit at his insistence but she nodded at him, agreeing.

"It's hard to slow down when there's still so much to be done." She said softly as she rested a hand on her belly that was partially hidden by her apron. "Maybe we should think about hiring another assistant for the bake house."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm lookin' into hirin' a friend's son 'r daughter. If tha' fails, y'could certainly mention it t'anyone in yer family tha' needs a job," Aleister nodded. "I care more about you an' yer baby than keepin' up with business, lass, so don't go overdoin' it."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I promise." Kayla said as she went to clean her hands and help him with the last batch before they closed down to go to lunch.

It was a bright day outside but still bitterly cold. She pulled the hood on her fur cloak up against the wind, walking with Aleister to the bustling tavern where Ria and Gerald were greeting people as they walked in. Kayla found an empty table and sat down with a tired sigh, looking at Aleister with a grin as the tavern maid came by for their drinks.

"A cordial for me, please." Kayla murmured.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Ale fer me, lass," Aleister told the barmaid with a kind smile, and she hurried off to get the drinks. Soon, Ria approached, bringing their drinks. She looked quite content, and she held the tavern in a steel grip with Gerald as her enforcer. The patrons knew not to rush her or get too rowdy, or else she'd break up their fights and pummel them herself. She'd done so many times already.

"Well look who it is," Ria smiled to Kayla. "I didn't think I'd see you around here. But considering who you're with, I think I get it." Aleister was a regular, Kayla knew. He often went to the tavern just for a single ale at night and maybe dinner on occasion and he was friends with Gerald and Ria even though he didn't talk much.

"Well, you an' yer man cook so well, I thought I'd treat Kay t'lunch," Aleister smiled up at the woman.

"Sweetheart," Ria chuckled, kissing his cheek. "We've got stew and chicken today, how does that sound?"

"Soun's great t'me," Aleister nodded and looked to Kayla.