NOTE: I really wanted to write Holly and Gail meeting.
Gail Peck was pissed. While that was not an unusual state for the brash blonde twenty-year-old, today she felt she had a very valid reason for her anger. Gail Peck had a routine. Most mornings she would awake hours before the start of her first shift as a campus cadet at the University of Toronto, shower and dress. She would then catch a ride to Cloud Nine Bakery on the south side of the city. It took nearly an hour to get to this particular bakery, but boy was it worth it.
They served the freshest, the sweetest, the most delicious pastries Gail had ever had the pleasure of inhaling on her morning rides. Her mouth watered just thinking about them. The fluffy fried dough… The homemade glaze… The rich filling… Gail could perform a soliloquy highlighting the hundred various attributes that drew her to the shop. And since she had become a regular, the friendly servers always made sure the best donuts aligned her to go box.
But today, someone had royally screwed up. Today when Gail opened up her box immediately upon receipt she noticed there were only twelve lovely fried and glazed circles of goodness to make her day. Yes, twelve. A regular dozen. That just would not do.
Since she and Dov, the person she had suckered into today's journey, were on the road when Gail finished counting her delicious wares, Gail waited until they made it to the campus station before she changed her plans. Once there, she grabbed the small red Volkswagen Beetle designated for the volunteers and headed back to retrieve her missing donut.
Gail had been inside the bakery more times than even she would admit to the world. She knew the traffic of customers usually slowed around this time since most people were already where they needed to be. She was not surprised to see people cleaning up and putting away items when she entered the small shop. However she was taken aback by the unfamiliar face she saw manning the bakery's counter.
The unfamiliar was female. Gail figured she was about her age or slightly older. Her hair was the sharp shade of coal; it framed her perfectly oval, tanned face in a neat but workable way. The stranger, as far as Gail was concerned, was not looking at the door. Instead she was focused on items she shuffled through inside of a small red plastic box that sat on the counter.
Gail does not know how long she stared at the new server. It was long enough to cause a strange, almost anxious, wave of emotion to flitter through her. It was also long enough for her to be caught by surprise when one of the staff yelled her name in greeting.
Gail turned quickly toward the voice and waved hello. When she turned back to the counter, the face she had been watching so intently was now focused on her. The woman's brown eyes, accentuated by a dark-framed pair of glasses, looked at Gail with a curiosity. Remembering her mission, Gail took a deep breath and casually crossed the room to where the woman stood.
"Hey Lunchbox. I have a bone to pick with you," Gail called out. She held back a smile as the woman's curious expression became one of mild disbelief. The woman looked around the room, making sure she was Gail's target before she responded.
"What can I do for you… Officer?" She drew out the last word as she took in Gail's uniform. Gail could tell she knew the uniform was not exactly a police officer's uniform, but she did not know if it was an official uniform of some sort.
"Not an officer. Not yet." Gail cleared up any misconceptions. When the brunette nodded in understanding, Gail continued.
"I come by this shop regularly, but I have never seen you before."
"Oh, that's because I—" the woman started to explain but was halted by Gail's palm authoritatively signaling for her to stop.
"Be that as it may, every time I come here I order the baker's dozen of my favorite- your chocolate glazed donut. Imagine my surprise when I opened my box of yumminess this morning and discovered there were twelve, not thirteen, little fried circular clouds of heaven to greet me."
The young woman's smooth brow furrowed as she listened to Gail. None of the irritation that had once permeated the blonde cadet actually made it to her voice. It surprised Gail. She was not one to let go of anger easily, yet talking to this mysterious woman seemed to have stilled all of the displeasure in Gail. But Gail still felt the funny almost anxious wave moving through her. Maybe their interaction did not still the displacement. Their talk replaced it with a different unsettled emotion.
"Wait. You ordered a dozen donuts and expected thirteen? They still do that?!" The woman said incredulously.
"It's not called the baker's dozen for nothing," Gail retorted with a smirk.
"Oh I know." The server replied with a nervous chuckle. "It's just that back in Medieval England, you could understand why bakers would go the extra mile to prove that they were giving customers their money's worth." The brunette straightened her glasses and leaned casually with her elbows on the counter as she let her thoughts take over.
"An unscrupulous baker faced worse than prison time for cheating clientele. They could lose limbs, even be killed. It's sensible that bakers in that time period would give more to customers as an assurance that they were fair. But that was then." She scoffed. "The baker is no longer the prominent source of food for our society. Plus with the advantageous discoveries made due to technology and the changes made to the baking process as a whole, it is really no longer necessary for such an old-fashioned display of good will."
Gail Peck stood silently listening, overwhelmed by the sheer number of words the woman had just spoken. Gail quietly watched the expression on the woman's face change to one of sheer amusement at her thoughts to a shy self-awareness.
"Too many words?" She asked. Gail nodded. The woman rested over the counter, looking at Gail as if seeing her clearly for the first time. Her milk chocolate tinted eyes scanned the blonde, analyzing all she could see as if she was storing the information for future use. When she finished she tilted her head and bit her bottom lip as she smirked.
"Sorry about that. I get that way at times."
"Don't worry," Gail said with a shrug. "We all know nerds." The woman's teeth let go of her bottom lip, and she gave Gail a full blown breathtaking smile. So stunning, Gail found herself smiling back for no other reason. She was completely focused on the woman that she had not even noticed she was leaning in closer to her.
"FYI, bakers may not be society's prominent food source, but they are still a big food source to me. And a display of good will is never a bad thing. No matter how old fashion it is."
"Good to know Officer Peck." The woman said reading Gail's name tag.
"Cadet Peck," Gail corrected.
"Cadet Peck," she reaffirmed.
The two women continued to share a smile as the brunette behind the counter nodded. Gail's smile abruptly disappeared when the server stepped back from the counter. She quickly held up her finger to signal that she would return. In less than a minute, she was back at the counter with the most beautiful thing Gail had ever seen. Gail's eyes once again fell on the woman. The second most beautiful thing Gail had seen. The friendly server held in her gloved hand a freshly glazed donut, covered in chocolate and highlighted with colorful sprinkles. She placed it in a small box with a smile.
"This is the least I can do for your help today. It's my first day. I made that mistake with several of the orders. But you are the first person to point it out." She slid the box to Gail. Gail opened it and licked her lips in anticipation. She glanced at Holly and noticed her heated look before she hid it expertly behind a casual smile.
"I am glad you are happy. Your bone all picked?" Gail grinned as she pointed to the box.
"This was all I wanted. Thanks…" She paused not knowing the server's name.
"Holly." The woman quickly filled in the blank. "Holly Stewart."
"Thanks Holly." Gail grabbed her treat and turned towards the door. "I guess I'll see you around."
"Oh, that's a definite." Holly smirked. Gail glanced at her with one eyebrow raised questionably. Holly shrugged.
"You said you are a regular."
"Yes, I am." Gail nodded. She exited the bakery wearing a grin and clutching her box. She started the Beetle, stealing one more glance through the window into the bakery. Gail definitely was looking forward to tomorrow's treat run.