Thanks for all the comments/follows/favorites. I am glad you guys are enjoying it. I did something a little different for this chapter. Looking at things from the Baker's perspective. Hope you enjoy.
After some thinking, and a lot of nagging by Red, the Baker decided to teach her how to bake. She had been doing well tending the store so the Baker thought she could handle it. They already had a few lessons and Red was doing great at the sweets but not as good on the bread. So for tonights lesson he decided to focus just on the desserts. He would be glad having her cook some so he would have more time to spend with his son. He wanted to make sure his son had a strong role model, unlike him. Cinderella had been taking care of him most of the time but she needed a break, even thought she didn't mind taking care of the baby.
On the previous lesson the Baker had taught Red how to make chocolate chip cookies. They were delicious and the Baker decided they were good enough to sell. Red had been excited that her food was good but the Baker thought she was a little disappointed she couldn't keep the cookies all to herself. Although when his back was turned he saw her take some. He thought she would eat them all but he saw her sneak one to Cinderella and a couple to Jack, and of course a few for herself.
But this lesson he decided to let Red choose what they were baking. He hoped he would not regret this decision.
"So what would you like to try and make?"
"Carrot Cake" she said frankly.
"Really? Why? It doesn't seem like it would be your sweet of choice."
"We have all these nice carrots we don't' want to waste. And I've never had it before and it's good to try stuff you haven't tried before. And …" she trailed off and started to blush.
"Okay let's get on with it"
Red smiled and they began their work. He basically told her how to make it while she listened to his instructions. Of course she never followed his directions completely she would usually add her own twist to it. The Baker was fine with that. It was the mark of a good chef.
While they were baking he thought it would be a good time to talk to her. They were family now, all each other had, and he wanted her to feel welcome to talk to him whenever she needed. But he really didn't know what to talk to her about so he started the conversation with one of their common interests, food.
"So I noticed those chocolate chip cookies you made sold very well"
"Yes they did. People seemed to really enjoy them and they sold out by the end of that day. It's great that we are getting more customers."
"Yeah, most people have been trying to get back to their old lives." He thought of his wife. He missed her more than he ever imagined he would. He thought about her every day. Why did she have to go? Was he going to be a bad father? But he knew it was not the time to think about this and tried to put it out of his head till later.
"How did Cinderella and Jack like the ones you stole for them?"
"You saw that?"
"You're not as sneaky as you think you are. Plus you are a food thief so I kind of expected it."
"Hey." she said aggravated placing her hand on her hips. "I made those cookies I deserved to have some"
"Yeah you did." He laughed.
"But they did like them. Cinderella said they were some of the best sweets she had ever had. I mean they weren't the best but they were pretty darn delicious." She exclaimed smiling at her work.
"And Jack?"
"He was super excited to try them since he never really had any chocolate before. He seemed to like them. But I suspect he doesn't have as big of a sweet tooth as I do. But he did thank me for stealing them for him." She explained with a small smile.
"Thieves have to stick together I suppose" the Baker remarked.
Red glared at him and he thought she was going to get mad but she decided to joke with him instead.
"Your just jealous my sweets are just better than yours" she told him giving a smirk. "But seriously, thanks for teaching my how to bake."
"No problem. You're a natural"
"And, for taking me in. I don't know what I would have done if it wasn't for you. I don't know what any of us would have done."
"You're welcome" was all he could say. He wasn't sure what he should say. He was just glad she was happy here and he might be able to help her after all the losses she had suffered. Maybe he could be a dad. Maybe he just needed to try and help the children the best he could and it would all work out in the end. He could wish that at least. He didn't want to ruin the nice moment they were having or make her feel embarrassed so he just continued helping her bake.
She finished the cake and the Baker had to admit it looked pretty good even if it did have carrots in it. That night at dinner they decided to serve the cake for dessert as a surprise for Cinderella and Jack.
"Okay so for tonight we have a dessert that Red made" the Baker announced at the end of dinner.
"Is it some more of those amazing cookies?" asked Cinderella.
"Nope, carrot cake." exclaimed Red as she brought it out to the table.
"Brilliant, my favorite." said Jack excitedly.
Carrot cake was his favorite dessert? That was a coincident. Or did Red know he liked it?
The three of them tried the cake while Red waiting anxiously. That was odd. She would usually be on her second piece by now. He knew she wouldn't like carrot cake. So why did she insist they make it?
"Good cake Red. Although carrots and cake might be a weird mix." Cinderella spoke honestly but not trying to offend Red.
"That's fine." She said. "Never hurts to try."
The Baker thought that was weird. He thought she would have been a little upset that Cinderella didn't really like her cake. She also stilled seemed really anxious and nervous. He saw her side eyeing Jack, like she was waiting on his response from the cake. Why didn't she just ask him what he thought of it? She was rarely so shy. Jack had not spoken because he was still shoving cake into his mouth and hadn't seemed to take a breath since he started eating it.
"This cake is amazing Red!" Jack exclaimed giving Red a big smile. "I mean the chocolate was nice but this is so good. Definitely your best."
Red was beaming from ear to ear.
"Thank for making it for me." Jack said as he grabbed another piece." How did you like it? I told you it was good."
So she did make it for Jack. He saw Red finally get herself a piece and taste it.
"It's alright" she said still smiling." I mean it's no chocolate masterpiece but it will do."
It seemed that she had made the cake to impress Jack, but why? Those two always seemed to be in competition with each other so maybe she was just proving she was a really good baker. But then the Baker thought about her blushing from earlier and how she really wanted to make that carrot cake. Maybe she had another reason for making the cake. The thought made him smile.
