Time seemed to fly by, and before she knew it, it was the day before her bakery opened. With so many things left to do, she was glad to have all this last minute help. Rosita was more than happy to work some overtime to get things baked for the diner and the bed and breakfast. She had learned so much from Beth in the past few weeks that she was trusted with certain pastries and desserts. Abe had come in and put up the signs and menu boards and was doing a few errands for Beth, for the last minute items she forgot.

Beth was also lucky that Maggie and her father Hershel came in the night before to lend a hand. Shawn wasn't able to stay longer and he left late last week, but Maggie had phoned saying they would be staying at the B&B for a few days to help out Beth anyways they could.

Although Maggie wasn't the best cook or baker, she did take direction well and she would be able to help by putting product in the display cases and work the till the first day while Rosita and Beth baked.

Beth was most excited about finally getting her coolers stocked with fresh produce and and her refrigerators with dairy. Something about walking into either one and having every shelf covered with food made her giddy.

Her father, well he was just around. He was older and Beth refused to let him do anything but keep her company. He spent most of his time visiting some old friends, like Dale and Rick. Both were very excited for Beth's opening, as were most of the town's people. And ever since Beth got her website up and running, she has been bombarded with emails and requests.

Currently, Rosita, Maggie and Beth were mapping out where all the desserts were going to go in the display cases. They had just finished filling the freezer with her par-baked bread and buns, and her frozen pies. They were trying to figure out the best placement in her L-shaped display, as well as the back wall which would hold the fresh baked bread, buns and muffins.

"You probably want the cakes closest to the till so you don't risk dropping them," Maggie suggested, pointing to the counter right by the till.

"But you want the items that will sell quicker, closest so we aren't running around too much," Rosita added.

"Well I want things grouped together, so all the large cakes and mini cakes should be together and I think the cupcakes will be big sellers so they should be by the till, which means the cakes should be right beside them."

"So the rest will be for the cookies, pastries, pies and chocolates, in that order?" Maggie asked, mentally calculating if they would have enough room.

"Yeah, I think that will work," Beth nodded. Going to the back of the kitchen, she grabbed the display trays she had purchased for the smaller items. "Maggie, put these in there and see what kind of room we'll have for the pies. Might have to keep a few varieties out here and the rest waiting in the back here."

Maggie grabbed the platters and trays and started arranging them to fit properly. Rosita stayed to take pictures of the finished product so they could create a diagram for future use.

Beth went back to the kitchen to continue on her doughs for the pies. She was humming a song to herself when she heard the front door open and heard Maggie yell out

"Daddy what did you do?" Beth immediately ran out to the front to see her father carrying in some flower baskets and hooks. He had a shameless look on his face, as he put them down by the door.

"I was walking down from Dale's and saw these beautiful baskets outside the flower shop. I thought these would look beautiful hanging outside. Abraham said he would help put the hangers up."

"Daddy, you are too much trouble," Beth said, going to hug her father. "They are beautiful and will brighten up this place even more. Thanks."

"No problem, doodlebug." Maggie had been touching the delicate flowers and accidentally cut herself on a thorn.

"Ouch," she exclaimed. clutching her finger in her mouth. She looked back to see the cut starting to fill with blood. "Beth, where's your first-aid kit?"

"Oh, I don't have one down here, I think there might be a band-aid in my bathroom upstairs," she replied, grabbing a paper towel from behind the register to give to her sister.

"Well, I am going to run to that pharmacy and buy you one for down here cause I'm sure you're going to need one eventually," Maggie had wrapped the towel around her finger and left the bakery.

Beth sighed at yet another thing she didn't think about. She couldn't wait for the next few days to pass as she was already stressed to the max. She went back to the kitchen where Rosita had joined her, and continued on her baking.

Once Abe and Hershel had finished hanging the outdoor planters, they called the ladies to come check out their work. Beth was more than impressed with how much more inviting things looked with the flowers hanging over the baskets and the fresh smells that were coming from inside. She happened to take a glance next door at the Dixons which was closed today. She hadn't seen much of Daryl since they had lunch together in Atlanta with her brother. He gave the occasional wave if they saw each other and they talked for a few minutes when he caught her putting the garbage outside but she was so consumed with opening the bakery, she probably missed more opportunities to speak to him.

She felt an emptiness from not speaking to him. They had become so friendly with one another, and probably spoke at least once a day. Even if it was a small greeting or a smile between the two, it was something Beth looked forward to everyday. She wished that she has his cell phone number or something so maybe they could text, but he didn't seem like the kind of guy who would be into random texting with his neighbour.

She was about to head indoors when she saw her sister running down the street, with a bag flailing in her hand. She had the biggest smile on her face, which confused Beth. She went for a first aid kit, what was so great about that?

"Bethie, you'll never guess what happened?" Beth just looked at her confused. "I have a date tonight," she practically screamed.

"You have a date?" Beth was dumbfounded that Maggie seemed to meet a guy after being here for a day and she was still working on getting her crush to go out with her. "With who?"

"His name is Glenn and he bumped into me in the aisle, and it was so funny cause he knocked over a display of condoms."

"Wait, he knocked over condoms and he asked you out?" Beth was trying to contain her laughter, letting a small giggle out by accident.

"It was so cute, he got all flustered and was picking them up and then he just blurted out that he thought I was beautiful."

"Glenn? Glenn said that?" Beth was shocked. She had met him a few times at Dale's and the one time at the barbeque, but he always seemed quite shy and reserved. But she supposed that when a beautiful girl like Maggie was smiling at you, things just came out.

"Yeah, and we were staring at each other and he had a few boxes of condoms in his hand, so I grabbed a box and told him if he played his cards right, maybe we could put these to good use."

"Maggie, you little harlot. You don't think Daddy isn't gonna notice you not coming back to the room tonight?"

"We'll see what happens. Plus Daddy doesn't have a say in who I go out on a date with."

"You are ridiculous," Beth grabbed her sister by the arms and dragged her back inside to keep going on her work.


It was dinnertime when Beth was sitting around her kitchen table with her dad and sister, eating pizza since none of them felt like cooking at that moment. Beth was still going over her lists, timing when everything had to be baked and ready for her 10am opening. She was hoping since it was a Friday morning, that it wouldn't be crazy busy first thing but Rosita warned her that people were really excited so not to get too comfortable with the idea of a slow open.

Hershel and Maggie were of course talking about the farm they had left behind in that hands of Otis, her father's top farmhand. It was a constant business between the crops and animals, that even leaving for a weekend was a big deal. Beth had been used to not going on family vacations as a child. Instead, her mother would take them to Woodbury on weekends, where they would shop and eat.

Almost like he had a sixth sense, Hershel spoke up about his late wife.

"You know, your mother would be so proud of you Bethie. Fulfilling your dreams of owning your own bakery, living on your own. I hope you know that."

"Yeah, I know," she said, pulling her hands under the table and touching the scar that laid on her wrist. It was a moment of weakness on her part but it was constant reminder of what she had done to herself.

"I feel like she missed out on so many good parts of your life Bethie," Hershel became emotional in his words. "She had so many plans for you and she wasn't even around to see them,"

"Wasn't anybody's fault Daddy, that's life. And you have taught us that we need to live each day the best that we can. I know that, Beth knows that and Shawn knows that," Maggie interjected, putting a hand on her father's arm to console him. He placed his hand on top of hers and gave her a small smile.

Beth suddenly felt the weight of the world on her shoulders. The wonderful things that her father and sister had said had affected Beth's mindset on what tomorrow meant. It was her dream to open a bakery but it was through her mother's guidance that she was able realize that. She got up and excused herself, saying she needed to get back to baking and left her apartment.

Instead of returning to her kitchen, she ran outside. She leaned her body onto the building and stared at the sky, feeling the sting of tears forming. This wasn't supposed to be happening. Her family was here to support her and she felt like was something was missing.

She slid down the wall and held her knees close to her body. She felt the tears slip from her eyes.

Daryl was working in the backroom when he heard some noise in the alley. Going closer to the door, it sounded like crying. Not wanting to disturb whoever it was, he carefully opened the screen door and looked around. He was surprised to see the person crying was Beth. Immediately, he felt the need to protect her and he let himself be known.

Beth heard someone clearing their throat and she looked over to see Daryl coming out of his building. She started wiping her eyes and muttered to herself, "Just great."

"Y'okay?" he said hesitantly, unsure if he should be there with her.

"Yeah, just having a moment," she whimpered through the tears. She kept wiping them away with her apron but they still flowed freely. She gave up trying to stop and focused on composing herself to speak. "Sorry if I bothered you."

"Nah, you ain't a bother." He sat down beside her, putting some space between them and grabbed for his smokes in his pocket. He noticed her wringing her hands together, something he did himself when he was anxious. He knew that she would talk about whatever was bugging her when she felt alright to do so. So he lit his cigarette and waited. It didn't take long for her voice to crack with her small voice.

"My mom died when I was sixteen. It was a brain aneurysm. Went in her sleep." She started and stared ahead to the buildings in front of them. Daryl just listened, letting her get her feelings out. "She taught me how to bake and cook and was probably my best friend. This was her dream and I'm crying in a back alley right now cause she should be here."

"She is here, with you, in here," Daryl said, pointing to his heart. Beth looked to him and his heart broke to see her this upset. Her eyes were red and puffy, and her cheeks, wet from the tears.

"It's just not the same. I really want her to be here for this. I didn't even get to say goodbye to her."

"My mom died when I was eight. House fire while she was passed out drunk. I was playin round with the neighbor's kids when the fire trucks came. Everyone rushed to my house. There was nothing left of her. Just ashes."

"Oh my goodness, that's terrible." she sympathized with him.

"I kinda felt the same way when me an' Merle opened up our shop. I think she would have been proud to see her two sons finally making something of themselves."

"She would be proud." In the silence, they were both able to reflect on the memories of their mothers. Both knowing the pride they would feel for their children in this moment

"I remember the last thing I ever said to my mom was asking if she was going to get out of bed that day. She said, 'don't worry bout me Daryl, I'll have your favorite supper on the table when you get back from being outside.'" Daryl pondered that moment, it forever being etched in his brain.

"Last thing I ever said to my mom was that I wanted chocolate cake for breakfast," she giggled. Daryl looked at her confused. She laughed a little harder this time. "It was a secret joke between me and her. Every night before I went to bed, she asked me what I wanted for breakfast. And every night, I told her I wanted chocolate cake for breakfast," Daryl was able to laugh along with her this time. "I don't even think my dad knew about that. He is a bacon and eggs kinda guy and would probably scoff at the idea of cake for breakfast."

"Did you ever get cake for breakfast?"

"Yeah, the day I turned eighteen, I was already in college so I went to the store and bought a giant cake and ate it all day long. Best day ever!" Beth felt better getting out her frustrations. She was able to laugh and remember the good times she shared with her mother, rather than the regret of her not being there. She started to get up and dust herself off, and Daryl followed.

"I guess I better get back in there, those cakes don't make themselves," she said, staring up at Daryl. He smiled and turned to go back towards his door when he stopped.

"Beth," he called out, turning around to catch her opening her door. She stopped to let him speak, their eyes meeting. After a few seconds, he sighed.

"Good Luck tomorrow," He internally was kicking himself for not having the courage to just ask her out already but he also knew, this moment wasn't about that. They both had shared something so deep, that he felt closer to her in a way. This was about letting go of those regrets and moving on. She smiled, and whispered thanks to him before going inside. Daryl stood there a moment longer, finally knowing what he needed to do.


So the bakery will be opening in the next chapter, which means that Beth's mind can turn onto more important things...LOL.

The wait is almost over, I promise!

Brandy and Carla, thanks ladies!