CHAPTER 2
It was almost time to open the bakery, but Beth really didn't want to stop searching for Barkley.
She'd stayed up most of the night worrying and doing her early morning baking so she could be
out at first light. Thankfully no one had removed her flyers and a few of the shops that had
already opened agreed to post them at their register or in their window. All of the neighbors that
up until now she had only seen or chatted with briefly seemed more than willing to help, which
made Beth feel less alone.
Glancing one last time at her watch, Beth called Barkley's name a few more times before turning
and rushing back to the house. She prayed someone would see the flyers and call. She had
been tempted to forget about opening, but it wouldn't look good to close the shop after being
open only 2 days. Besides, today was the first day she would interview for a possible assistant.
Until that was done, she was on her own. She'd put almost everything she had into the house
and shop … she had to find a way to make it work. Beth sent up a short, heartfelt prayer and
bravely trudged inside to open up.
She barely had time to shed her coat, pull her long dark hair back into a scrunchie and wash her
hands before the bell on the door indicated her first customers had arrived. Evidently the boxes
of complimentary fried pies and pastries she'd delivered to a few of the surrounding businesses
the day before had paid off. The stream of clients was not overwhelming, but steady until well
past the lunch hour.
To the people who visited her shop, her smile was bright and her southern drawl gentle and
melodic. No one guessed that just beneath the surface was a deep pain … a darkness that had
cost her everything just a year before … her family … her friends … her home … everything but
her life. Beth had always sparkled to those around her. Her family adored her and her friends
couldn't help but be charmed by the way she made everyone feel important and interesting. She
had been more than happy with her ordinary life because she found so much joy in the little
things. Her simple small-town life had been practically perfect, because she had chosen to make
the most of every day. But for the past year the dawning of each new day meant another day
alone … another day to live with the horrible memories of the night when it all changed.
Only in the past few weeks when she could finally go out in the fresh air without worrying about
being found had she been able to really come to terms with the fact that her old life was gone.
And somehow, even though she never thought it possible, Beth Parker had managed to start
seeing the joy again … at least a little. She'd fallen in love with the old house immediately when
Detective Taylor showed it to her. He'd liquidated everything she'd owned and through his
contacts in the Witness Protection Program, had managed to transfer the title of the house into
her name without draining her bank account dry. He'd also interviewed prospective contractors
and was there when they first started to renovate the house … and when her beloved pet Barkley
appeared on her doorstep, she knew he'd broken all the rules bringing him into her new life. It
was the first time she'd smiled in a year, and somehow with each passing day as the shop began
to take shape, it became the first of many that would somehow make it's way across her face.
And now, with the shop open and some kind of future beginning to rise out of the ruins … Beth
finally felt like she could make it. It wasn't the life she and her husband had planned … but it was
a life. And if only to defy the ones who took so much away from her, she was determined they
would not crush her will to survive.
It was after 2 when her third prospective assistant walked up the stairs for an interview. She
glanced at the clock on the wall and sighed. There hadn't been any calls about Barkley and
neither of the first two applicants had been people she thought she could work with.
Beth watched through the window as a small woman who appeared to be in her late 50's stepped
onto the porch and moved to the door. She watched as she crossed herself and whispered what
appeared to be a prayer before coming inside.
"I am Esperanza Ricci" the older woman said with a thick Italian accent as she extended her
hand.
"I'm Beth Parker. We spoke on the phone. Would you like to sit down?" Beth motioned to one of
the small tables near the front window. But Esperanza shook her head.
"First I would like to see your kitchen." She replied. "I will know if this is the right place for me
when I see your kitchen."
Beth was taken a little aback. It was evident that it was now she who was being interviewed by
Esperanza and not the other way around. But there was something about the woman she liked
so she led her through the door and into the shop kitchen.
Esperanza walked to the work area in the middle of the room and peered closely at the racks of
fried pies that were cooling. She inspected each of the ovens and took notice of the deep sinks
and drying racks for the pots and baking sheets. Beth stayed out of her way as she looked inside
the cooler and in the cupboards. It was obvious this woman knew her way around a kitchen.
Neither woman spoke for several minutes as Esperanza made herself at home. As Beth watched,
she couldn't help but wonder if she would pass whatever test she'd inadvertently stepped into.
The bell over the door indicated a customer had entered the shop and Beth started to go assist
them, but Esperanza put a firm hand on her arm and stepped past her.
"May I help you?" Esperanza asked the young man who was peering into the glass cases,
obviously overwhelmed by the selection.
Beth couldn't help but smile as the woman offered to let him sample a few things … all the while
making his decision that much more difficult. Five minutes later she was boxing up more items
for this one customer than for any two Beth had helped earlier in the day.
The young man had no sooner walked out the door than Esperanza turned and gave Beth a
knowing smile. "I think we will work together well … si?"
Beth knew Detective Taylor would lecture her if he ever found out how she'd handled this, but
even without interviewing Esperanza or asking for references, something in her gut told her this
woman was exactly what she needed.
She smiled "But Esperanza, you haven't heard what I can afford to pay."
Esperanza smiled. "You have a big house, and I heard from your neighbor that you live alone."
Beth was a bit surprised that the woman knew that much about her, but then remembered that
the older couple across the street was Italian. "Yes, I live alone … for now."
"Would you consider letting me live in one of the rooms you aren't using as part of my salary?"
Esperanza asked.
Beth was surprised again by the woman's request and took a moment to try and think about her
reply. She hadn't seriously considered tenants just yet, and in fact she was in the middle of
putting a fresh coat of paint and making repairs to the empty rooms. The entire third floor and
half of the second were empty. Of course if Esperanza lived there … then the two of them could
share more of the baking and preparation, which would become more important as the months
went by. Beth's eyes drifted to the gold band on her hand as she tried to imagine what her
husband would want her to do. He wouldn't want her to try and do this alone, she was sure about
that. After a long silence Beth looked up at the woman and smiled. "I haven't had time to furnish
all of the bedrooms, but they do have a new coat of paint and curtains."
Esperanza's face lit up and she moved to embrace the young woman, who had missed the warm
touch of friendship for so long. "I have my own furniture and can have it delivered tomorrow."
Esperanza chose the two rooms at the back of the third floor. They connected with a large door
that slid into the wall between them and would allow her to have her own living area separate
from her bedroom. It was almost 4 when she left to make preparations, promising to be there first
thing in the morning to begin work.
Beth smiled as she watched her go. The chiming of the clock in the other room alerted her to
how late it was getting. Already the light was fading and people were beginning their journeys
home. Deciding that she'd accomplished enough to merit closing early, she locked the shop door
and changed into jeans and a sweater. Forwarding calls to her cell phone, Beth started out to
look for Barkley.
It was almost time to open the bakery, but Beth really didn't want to stop searching for Barkley.
She'd stayed up most of the night worrying and doing her early morning baking so she could be
out at first light. Thankfully no one had removed her flyers and a few of the shops that had
already opened agreed to post them at their register or in their window. All of the neighbors that
up until now she had only seen or chatted with briefly seemed more than willing to help, which
made Beth feel less alone.
Glancing one last time at her watch, Beth called Barkley's name a few more times before turning
and rushing back to the house. She prayed someone would see the flyers and call. She had
been tempted to forget about opening, but it wouldn't look good to close the shop after being
open only 2 days. Besides, today was the first day she would interview for a possible assistant.
Until that was done, she was on her own. She'd put almost everything she had into the house
and shop … she had to find a way to make it work. Beth sent up a short, heartfelt prayer and
bravely trudged inside to open up.
She barely had time to shed her coat, pull her long dark hair back into a scrunchie and wash her
hands before the bell on the door indicated her first customers had arrived. Evidently the boxes
of complimentary fried pies and pastries she'd delivered to a few of the surrounding businesses
the day before had paid off. The stream of clients was not overwhelming, but steady until well
past the lunch hour.
To the people who visited her shop, her smile was bright and her southern drawl gentle and
melodic. No one guessed that just beneath the surface was a deep pain … a darkness that had
cost her everything just a year before … her family … her friends … her home … everything but
her life. Beth had always sparkled to those around her. Her family adored her and her friends
couldn't help but be charmed by the way she made everyone feel important and interesting. She
had been more than happy with her ordinary life because she found so much joy in the little
things. Her simple small-town life had been practically perfect, because she had chosen to make
the most of every day. But for the past year the dawning of each new day meant another day
alone … another day to live with the horrible memories of the night when it all changed.
Only in the past few weeks when she could finally go out in the fresh air without worrying about
being found had she been able to really come to terms with the fact that her old life was gone.
And somehow, even though she never thought it possible, Beth Parker had managed to start
seeing the joy again … at least a little. She'd fallen in love with the old house immediately when
Detective Taylor showed it to her. He'd liquidated everything she'd owned and through his
contacts in the Witness Protection Program, had managed to transfer the title of the house into
her name without draining her bank account dry. He'd also interviewed prospective contractors
and was there when they first started to renovate the house … and when her beloved pet Barkley
appeared on her doorstep, she knew he'd broken all the rules bringing him into her new life. It
was the first time she'd smiled in a year, and somehow with each passing day as the shop began
to take shape, it became the first of many that would somehow make it's way across her face.
And now, with the shop open and some kind of future beginning to rise out of the ruins … Beth
finally felt like she could make it. It wasn't the life she and her husband had planned … but it was
a life. And if only to defy the ones who took so much away from her, she was determined they
would not crush her will to survive.
It was after 2 when her third prospective assistant walked up the stairs for an interview. She
glanced at the clock on the wall and sighed. There hadn't been any calls about Barkley and
neither of the first two applicants had been people she thought she could work with.
Beth watched through the window as a small woman who appeared to be in her late 50's stepped
onto the porch and moved to the door. She watched as she crossed herself and whispered what
appeared to be a prayer before coming inside.
"I am Esperanza Ricci" the older woman said with a thick Italian accent as she extended her
hand.
"I'm Beth Parker. We spoke on the phone. Would you like to sit down?" Beth motioned to one of
the small tables near the front window. But Esperanza shook her head.
"First I would like to see your kitchen." She replied. "I will know if this is the right place for me
when I see your kitchen."
Beth was taken a little aback. It was evident that it was now she who was being interviewed by
Esperanza and not the other way around. But there was something about the woman she liked
so she led her through the door and into the shop kitchen.
Esperanza walked to the work area in the middle of the room and peered closely at the racks of
fried pies that were cooling. She inspected each of the ovens and took notice of the deep sinks
and drying racks for the pots and baking sheets. Beth stayed out of her way as she looked inside
the cooler and in the cupboards. It was obvious this woman knew her way around a kitchen.
Neither woman spoke for several minutes as Esperanza made herself at home. As Beth watched,
she couldn't help but wonder if she would pass whatever test she'd inadvertently stepped into.
The bell over the door indicated a customer had entered the shop and Beth started to go assist
them, but Esperanza put a firm hand on her arm and stepped past her.
"May I help you?" Esperanza asked the young man who was peering into the glass cases,
obviously overwhelmed by the selection.
Beth couldn't help but smile as the woman offered to let him sample a few things … all the while
making his decision that much more difficult. Five minutes later she was boxing up more items
for this one customer than for any two Beth had helped earlier in the day.
The young man had no sooner walked out the door than Esperanza turned and gave Beth a
knowing smile. "I think we will work together well … si?"
Beth knew Detective Taylor would lecture her if he ever found out how she'd handled this, but
even without interviewing Esperanza or asking for references, something in her gut told her this
woman was exactly what she needed.
She smiled "But Esperanza, you haven't heard what I can afford to pay."
Esperanza smiled. "You have a big house, and I heard from your neighbor that you live alone."
Beth was a bit surprised that the woman knew that much about her, but then remembered that
the older couple across the street was Italian. "Yes, I live alone … for now."
"Would you consider letting me live in one of the rooms you aren't using as part of my salary?"
Esperanza asked.
Beth was surprised again by the woman's request and took a moment to try and think about her
reply. She hadn't seriously considered tenants just yet, and in fact she was in the middle of
putting a fresh coat of paint and making repairs to the empty rooms. The entire third floor and
half of the second were empty. Of course if Esperanza lived there … then the two of them could
share more of the baking and preparation, which would become more important as the months
went by. Beth's eyes drifted to the gold band on her hand as she tried to imagine what her
husband would want her to do. He wouldn't want her to try and do this alone, she was sure about
that. After a long silence Beth looked up at the woman and smiled. "I haven't had time to furnish
all of the bedrooms, but they do have a new coat of paint and curtains."
Esperanza's face lit up and she moved to embrace the young woman, who had missed the warm
touch of friendship for so long. "I have my own furniture and can have it delivered tomorrow."
Esperanza chose the two rooms at the back of the third floor. They connected with a large door
that slid into the wall between them and would allow her to have her own living area separate
from her bedroom. It was almost 4 when she left to make preparations, promising to be there first
thing in the morning to begin work.
Beth smiled as she watched her go. The chiming of the clock in the other room alerted her to
how late it was getting. Already the light was fading and people were beginning their journeys
home. Deciding that she'd accomplished enough to merit closing early, she locked the shop door
and changed into jeans and a sweater. Forwarding calls to her cell phone, Beth started out to
look for Barkley.