“Thank you guys so much,” she said, staring at the papers again. “This… I’ll never be able to explain how much this means to me. It’s not about the money or… it’s simply about feeling like I belong. And you guys make me feel like that and then some. So, thank you. I won’t let you down.” There was determination blazing in her dark eyes that we all inherited from our father. I smiled. Lily’s last name may be Fredericks, but she was a Baker girl through and through.
“Well…” I began, pulling her into a tight hug. “I’ll see you on Wednesday.”
After Ezra finished off our little meeting, I went home feeling more sad than usual. So after eating and showering, I called Brynlee. My sisters and I have been sharing the same friends since… well, forever. Brynlee has been someone I confided in when I didn’t feel like I could go to my sisters. She never judged, and what we talked about always stayed between the two of us. Don’t get me wrong, I can go to my sisters about any and everything, but they all have lives and families of their own. I don’t know, sometimes I feel like I’m bothering them, and even though Brynlee had her husband Samir; I didn’t feel like I was imposing. Maybe it’s because I experienced their pain just as they had mine, and I didn’t want to interrupt their happiness with my… whatever this was. Eventually, I had to shake these feelings, though.
“Hey, Bloss,” she answered. I could hear the smile in her voice, and it made me smile.
“Hey, Bryn. How’s my little munchkin cooking?” She snickered, and I just knew she was rubbing her barely-there stomach. Brynlee was about three months pregnant with a small bump that wasn’t noticeable. I had a feeling she would carry small until the very end and still deliver a nice big baby.
“He or she is happy with their host.”
“I can’t wait to find out what you’re having.”
“Me either,” she mused. There was a brief silence and then, “What’s wrong, love?”
“It’s nothing… I’m just feeling a little down.”
“That doesn’t sound like nothing.” Brynlee has always had this soft voice that calms you no matter what she says or what’s happening. “Tell me what’s going on.”
“Everyone is so happy, you know?” I cleared my throat. “And, I wonder when that will happen for me.”
“It’ll happen when the time is right,” she said. “In the meantime, work on Blossom Baker. Write in your journal, workout, learn to cook—”
“Hey, I know how to cook!” She laughed.
“Babe, you make the best noodles and hot dogs I’ve ever had, but that’s about it.”
“Lilac taught me how to fry fish,” I argued, trying to hold in my laughter. She was right. I was a horrible cook, but being the baby made me a little spoiled. My sister always did the cooking, and I got fed.
“Mmhmm. I heard that story,” she murmured. “Let’s start simple. Baking your food is easier to learn.” I shook my head and pulled my blanket up to my neck, while also making a mental note to look up recipes on Lilac’s website and perfect them.
“Bryn.”
“Yes?”
“Thank you.”
“Always, Bloss.” I smiled. “I’m always here to take your mind off whatever you need. “Just know that he’s out there. And maybe he’s wondering where you are too, but remember that the only way you can receive his love when he does decide to show face, is if you love yourself the most.” It didn’t take long for me to fall asleep after we ended our call.
Wednesday Morning…
“Go ahead and use your key, I want to make sure it works,” I told Lily and sipped on my coffee. It was seven in the morning and we didn’t open until eleven, but I wanted to get a head start on showing her how everything worked. Most days, Jennifer our store manager would be the opener, but it was important that she knew how everyone’s role on staff worked in case of emergency.
“Works fine,” she murmured, pushing the back door open and stepping inside. The alarm sounded, and I walked around her to disarm it.
“Your code will be your birthday. Month and day.” She nodded sleepily, but I knew she was listening. After disarming the alarm, I turned and handed her the second cup of coffee that was in the holder I was carrying. “That’s for you.” She happily took it and placed the lid to her lips immediately.
“I feel it working already,” she said groaning. “What’s next?” I smiled and unlocked the office door.
“Remind me to get you a key made for the office when we go on lunch.” We took a few minutes to set our stuff down, drink the rest of our coffee, and then we got to work. “Alright, first…”
For the next couple of hours, I showed Lily everything she would need to know. From how to set the lights, how to open and count the register, the master codes to the safe, and more. While we walked through the store, I watched her take in the information like a fish. She was ready to prove herself, and that made me even more comfortable with our decision. Baker’s Clothing Bar was our baby. It was the first thing we ever invested in together, and it would be something we passed along to our children when the time came. Lily had to find her way, and she would. I remember what it was like to be fresh out of college, back in a city I hadn’t lived in since the age of eleven with a new job and a point to prove. Baker’s had already been open for a year, and I was juggling working here, while also trying to climb the ladder at the Public Relations firm I worked for. Eventually, my hard work paid off, and I made partner. The youngest African American partner the company has ever had might I add.
“OK,” I said, checking the time. “Let me show you one more thing, and then I’ll go over inventory, payroll… all that good stuff.”
“It’s so much,” she whispered.
“You’ll get used to it. We had years to get it down, today is only your first day.”
“I still can’t believe I’m a…” she paused and shook her head.
“Go ahead and say it, Lily.”
“I’m a business owner.”
“Yes you are, and don’t forget it.” We migrated to the office, and I flopped down onto the couch. “You can take the chair behind the desk. I’m just here as your safety net, but this is your store today.”
“Blossom…”
“Lily…” I said back, mimicking her tone. She chuckled. “Seriously, don’t doubt yourself. Show confidence, and they will respect you.” There were a few beats of silence, and I found myself closing my eyes.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Mmhm.”
“Do you think…” She sighed, and I placed my sleepy eyes on her. “Do you think that I’m a fool for not giving Devin a legit chance?” Devin was someone we met through Magnolia’s fiancé Lennox. He was a cool dude. The moment he laid eyes on Lily, he was smitten. Her issue is, he’s ten years older than her. I don’t see the problem, but I do understand her fear… sort of. I sat up and fixed my skirt.
“Yes, I do.” Her eyes widened, and I shrugged. “Devin is a good guy.”