Table for Two

    A blustering wind pierced Brian’s down jacket as he made his way from the parking lot. Crossing the street to Croesus Bank’s heavy oak doors, he was never unsurprised at the force needed to open them. Cold though he was, he waited patiently with the fifty-pound door in hand for a woman that had come hurrying up the stairs behind him. The interior of the bank was warm and opulent with it’s black marble floors, high ceilings, and sconced pillars. He got in line to make the weekly deposit for his business, the Rolling Scones Bakery.

    Brian moved to Massachusetts three years ago and owned the bakery located a mile from Westfield’s town center. Business had been especially good this holiday season, even with the fierce competition his sole competitor provided. He opened his doors after graduating culinary school and credits his unique business model and curious customers for its success. 

His rival, Sophia’s Sweets, had cornered the market on baked goods in the area for nearly a decade before he rose to challenge them. Luckily for Brian, the town’s inhabitants were willing to try something new which allowed him to pay his overhead from the outset. Sophia’s Sweets had a loyal customer base however; and though they seemed to coexist for the time being, Brian held reservations against his rival bakers. He would wait to see what the following years held before deciding on friendly terms.

    As he stood there with the deposit envelope under his arm, rubbing his hands together after the brush with sub-zero temperatures, it slipped and hit the floor. Brian bent down to retrieve it, accidentally bumping into the woman waiting before him.

    “Excuse me.” He said.

    When the woman turned to face him, Brian was taken aback. She had flowing brown hair descending in shiny waves from her gray and white ski cap that fanned out against her matching grey peacoat. Her features were soft and feminine with glowing brown eyes that seemed familiar, a small nose, and high cheeks blushed red by the cold. Her plump lips formed the perfect pink cupid’s bow that seemed to have stunned him. He couldn’t help staring.

    “It’s okay, thanks for getting the door for me earlier. They’re so darn heavy!” She smiled and regarded his expression.

    Trying not to come across as completely stupefied he said, “Yeah, I guess that’s good for security but do they have to weigh fifty pounds? Seems a little overkill.” His tone was off-hand but he felt nervous.

    “Right?” She giggled. The banker called for the next person in line and she turned. “Guess that’s me. See you later.” And she headed over to the open stall. Brian stared after her a minute, before it was his turn to come up as well.

    “Since this is a larger deposit, sir, we will need you to fill out some additional paperwork.” The clerk stated before handing him a few pages and a pen. “After you fill these out you can return to the window and we will finish processing the deposit.”

    “Excellent, thank you.” Brian went over to the seating area and began scribbling on the forms. He heard someone clear their throat next to him and looked up to see the young woman standing there. She shifted her weight nervously and he couldn’t imagine what she wanted. He looked up, meeting her eyes with awe, again.

    “My name’s Elizabeth. I thought it was rude that I didn’t introduce myself earlier.” She smiled and held her mittened hand toward him.

    “I’m Brian.” He returned and shook her hand, unable to keep a bewildered smile from crossing his face. He considered she might take her leave then and the thought left him scrambling for something to say. He was hoping to see her, Elizabeth, again. “Are you going to the Holiday Festival tomorrow by any chance?” He blurted.

    “Yes.” She laughed. “I was going to ask you the same thing! Great minds think alike. I’ll be a vendor there actually.”

    “Really?” Brian considered himself lucky. “I’ll have a tent set up myself. Number eighty-seven.”

    “We’ll be a few booths down then! My booth is eighty-four!” She opened her mouth in a playfully astonished smile. Her overly excited nature was endearing. “Too bad I don’t have my business card on me and I have to run…” She fumbled through her pockets but couldn’t seem to find what she was looking for.

    “No problem. We can talk about it tomorrow when you have more time. I’ll see you there.” He smiled.

    “See you there.” She gave him a small wave before heading over to the oak doors. Giving them a determined look, she pushed against the handle with all her weight. The doors budged; cracking just wide enough for her to make an escape. Brian chuckled to himself and finished his paperwork. Delivering the completed forms to the clerk, he mused about seeing Elizabeth and her sweet smile again. Then he headed to the car and drove back to the Rolling Scones Bakery.

-

Early the next morning Brian showed up to the location of the festival. It was being held on the usually chaotic traffic circle and main street in downtown Westfield; blocked today for the event. In front of the conjoined storefronts, sellers from all over the area were given the opportunity to order booths and tents to be set up in the street and on the green that was decorated with holiday spirit. Brian’s bakery wasn’t located far from the town center but it would have been outside the event’s perimeter, so he opted to get a tent more central to the festivities. He and two of his employees started setting up their display case and organizing the boxes of pastries prepared for the day. It should be a good turn out from how the patrons were buzzing. He grabbed a folding table and cushioned chairs from his truck bed. Part of his success had come in offering conversational comforts and ambiance alongside his baked goods. He would bring the people what they wanted.

His tent resembled an open air cafe tastefully draped in Christmas lights and pine garlands. When the night and chill came on, he would be able to draw down the rolled up walls with plastic windows, creating an oasis in the cold with his heaters. Brian wiped his forehead when the work was complete. There were only thirty minutes left before the Holiday Festival was open to the public and Brian looked down the row of tents and booths. He saw Elizabeth’s chestnut hair and petite frame standing in front of Sophia's Sweets’  wooden booth. He excused himself from his employees and left the last of the work in their capable hands.

“Elizabeth!” He called, eyeing the empty booth that held tier upon tier of gorgeously decorated cakes, cupcakes, and cookies. If they tasted half as good as they looked, Brian considered he’d be in trouble. “Hey, glad to see you made it. Which booth is eighty-four? I’ve been so busy setting up my own tent I didn’t catch where you had yours.”

“Rolling Scones Bakery. Very funny. I hope you take baking more seriously than your store name. This is my booth.” She pointed to the Sophia's Sweets sign.

“Oh I didn’t know you worked for them. Where’s Sophia? I’ve never met her.”

“You probably won’t. Sophia was my grandmother, I took over the business after my mom retired. We’ve been using her recipes to make all of our cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and brownies. She had a real talent for baking.” Her eyes squinted as she studied him. “You’re not from around here, are you? That explains the interesting business model and why I’ve never seen you around town before. We haven’t really had any competition since we opened and now here you are.” The corner of her mouth screwed down as she thought it over.

“Great minds think alike, remember?” Brian was trying to coax her smile back out.

It barely worked. “I suppose... what got you into baking?”

“Well, I moved up this way for culinary school and found a quaint town; charming and with a shortage of bakeries. I decided to open a business and settle down in the area. I’m an only child, my mother was an avid baker. She would let me help anytime I was available and they are some of my favorite memories with her. Unfortunately, she passed away a few years back so I guess I started baking to stay close to her.” Speaking of his mother always drudged up some emotion that Brian had to bite back from his voice... “She was really lovely...” he was unsuccessful.

“I am so sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up.” Elizabeth apologized. Her face softened in empathy.

“It's okay. It’s my story. I had better get back to my tent before the customers start arriving. Will I see you again? Maybe on a lunch break or after I’ve sold out?”

“Sold out! You must not have made enough food. We’re only four booths down from each other so let the best baker sell out first!” With a smirk she got in her plain booth with beautifully decorated sweets and Brian set off toward his own lovely tent and plain pastries.

-

The day passed quickly, with many faces new and known coming to visit Brian and enjoy the atmosphere provided during this wintry event. Periodically, he would look toward Elizabeth’s booth and found it to  be busy, with many people buying bulk orders. This caused him a little distress as he still had another few cases of pastries to sell still. Every now and then he would catch Elizabeth looking his way and though they were in competition, he couldn’t help but feel his heart swell. The day was certainly a strange mix of delight and distress for him.

Darkness came early and the lights turned on. The atmosphere changed from exciting to intimate as more people came in pairs instead of in families to enjoy the dimly lit ambiance of a snowy December day. Seeing the couples enter his tent and enjoy a meal together had his mind set on Elizabeth. Fortunately he was almost out of everything and he would be able to close the tent to see her.

It seemed she had beat him to it as she entered his cozy white confines under soft lights and green garlands. Something about the manufactured ambiance affected him. He didn’t care that she must have sold out before him or about the last few pastries in his case. He went over to Amy, his assistant and asked her to watch the tent before making his way over to a curious Elizabeth.

“This certainly is lovely. Where did you say you were from again? It’s very high class for our little town.” She mused, looking around.

“California. And it wasn’t quite as lovely until you walked in.” He said with a blush he hoped she wouldn’t notice in the dim lighting.

“I came to see how you were selling. I’ve already closed for the night.”

“Hmph, well, I have a few more scones if you wanted to try one before they’re gone.”

“I’d love to.” Elizabeth and Brian walked over to the counter.

“Amy, I’d like a scone for Elizabeth.”

“Oh! Sure thing, is blueberry good, boss? We’re out of everything else.”

“That’s perfect.” Elizabeth answered, glancing happily at Brian.

 “Here you go!” Amy looked between them again and handed over the warm pastry.

“I actually brought you something as well.” Elizabeth said, turning to look up at him. Her eyes were sparkling in playfulness as she handed him a bag.

“One of yours? I’m honored.” Brian laughed. He took a bite and it was the most delicious cupcake he had ever had. My business is doomed, he thought.

“This is really good Elizabeth. You should open up a business. You’re very talented.” Brian said through a half-full mouth.

“Oh stop…” She blushed and continued. “You know yours aren’t so bad either, though the tent is prettier. That must be your secret!” She pointed an accusing finger at him and he couldn’t help laughing.

“You caught me.” He put his hands up. “Since you’re free and Amy is more than capable of handling the next hour, would you like to enjoy the festival with me?”

Elizabeth’s warm chocolate eyes fixed on his own cooler green ones, and the temperature difference between them must have been what was causing this feeling.

“Yes, I’d like that.” And they headed out into the cold winter night with the other’s warm confections in hand.

They walked a while. Talking, joking, and flirting as they went. When they reached the green’s fountain, they sat on a low concrete wall in the center of the entire festival. String lights were hung overhead in a carousel around them and Brian saw the reflections in her eyes. Every time he thought she couldn’t be prettier, something else happened to make him think it again.

“You know, I don’t think rivals are supposed to hang out like this…” She said dreamily looking up at the lights and evergreens above.

Brian laughed at the insinuation of friendship. “It doesn’t have to be as friends.”

She looked at him. The likeness of her soul seemed to have a conversation with his, unbeknownst to themselves. Before she continued, she looked toward the ground. 

“You can’t be serious. Your bakery has been putting our sure footing here into question. It would be like... sleeping with the enemy!” In her regular over excited fashion, a look of mock horror crossed her face before actual horror set in and she suddenly turned bright red. “I mean...not like that, it’s just a saying…”

Brian laughed, doubling over at her embarrassment, red himself what that implied. When he composed himself to continue, he said “You know, it’s not often you meet someone who does the same work as you with the same passion and ties to family, and is so stunningly beautiful...I like you Elizabeth. I would hate just being a friend to you, no offense.”

She looked up at him with eyes unsure and pleading. “I like you to…”she whispered, and before she could tack on a but, or anything further Brian leaned his face closer. His lips were so close to the very thing that had stunned him so instantly the day prior. He could only imagine what would happen if they touched. He looked into her half closed eyes, to make sure this was something she wanted. She closed the gap between them in a warm Christmas kiss. For a minute the heat between them blocked any chill in the wintry air surrounding them. It was a bubble of pure bliss and Brian couldn’t help but get himself closer and deepen their kiss, shielded under the cover darkness.

Backing away from her reluctantly and looking down at her beautiful face, Brian hated to be the one to bear the news. The night had gotten late and sold out or not, he would have to return and help his employees pack up for the night.

“I have to get back,” he said. Voice husky with emotion.

“Right...me too. I should really get back home.”

“I’ll walk you to your car.” Brian offered and they headed to through an alley between the storefronts to the parking lot just behind. When Elizabeth got to her car, she stopped.

“Thanks for a lovely night. We should really do it again sometime.” She smiled.

“Whenever you’d like.” He returned a warm smile and hers turned devious.

“Here, take my business card. We’ll probably not have anything available for sale until Tuesday but the back has my cell phone number on it. I’d like you to text me tonight when you get home.”

Brian laughed at her cockiness. “Yes ma’am. Maybe even sooner just to talk to you again.”

“Sure, but no texting and driving.” With that, she got up on her tippy toes to kiss Brian goodnight and got into the car. He waved goodbye as she drove off into the night, holding her business card with the cellphone number printed in her handwriting on the back. He had never been so happy to see a business card from them before.