I stood there in shock. She looked exactly the same just a different outfit. She looked at me with the same horrified and surprised look I had. Soon she snapped out of it. "Yes? Can I help you?" I couldn't say a word; I just stared at her.
"Uh…" I shook my head slightly. "Yeah…uhm.."
"I'm guessing you came in here for something sweet? This is a bakery after all." Her voice was the same and something shot through me.
"Yeah, I do…I mean," I cleared my throat. "I have a thing for apples." God I sound like an idiot. The woman smiled and chuckled.
"Well everything in here has something to do with apples so you're in the right place. What can I get you?"
"An apple turnover would be nice." What was it about this woman that made my body react like it was. The woman was gorgeous. Her dark brown eyes and curvy body made my body react in ways I hadn't felt before. I watched as the brunette glided across the floor and placed a fresh apple turnover in a box and walked around the counter.
"It's an old family recipe. I do hope you like it." As my hands touched the box a flash of her handing me a box just like this in a house crossed my mind. "Are you okay?" I took the box in both hands.
"Yes…I'm fine. I need to go…my son's in the car." I watched her a moment before turning on my heels and walked out the door. As I got in the car, Henry watched me.
"Are you okay?" I placed the box on his lap and stared at the shop. "Mom?"
"Yeah I'm fine." We drove home in silence. I couldn't stop thinking about the woman from my dream and then here she was in real life. Was Regina her name? She didn't say anything about me knowing her name so she must have thought I heard it from whoever I heard about the bakery from.
That night after Henry went to bed I tried to sleep but couldn't. I kept thinking about the woman from the bakery. There was something about her that seemed like I knew her from somewhere; not just my dream. The dream, it felt so real. The emotions I felt in it were overwhelming. I felt like I knew her from somewhere. The last time I looked at the clock it was close to three in the morning.
"Mom. Mom. Mom!" I jumped as Henry shook my shoulders. I groaned and turned over. "I know you're awake."
"What's up kiddo?"
"I have to be at school in fifteen minutes." Oh shit! It's Monday! I jumped out of bed and threw on jeans, a shirt, shoes, and my jacket. We got to Henry's school three minutes before the bell.
"Sorry Henry. I didn't sleep last night." He smiled and laughed.
"It's okay. I'll see you at home." I watched as he ran towards the school. Henry loved school. I hoped that wouldn't change when he went into high school in a few years. As I drove home I was pulled towards the road that led to the bakery. I hadn't had coffee yet so I gave into the urge. Who knew, maybe the bakery had coffee too. As I drove up, the same car was parked off to the side. That must be Regina's. I walked in and looked around. There were several different cookbooks on a table. As I thumbed through them I thought of the dreams I had. They were all flashes of Regina and I. We were under a large tree and I had a chainsaw, I was kneeling beside her as she looked down at a hat, or us running into the hospital and seeing Henry in a bed with monitors around him. It was safe to say the last one scared me shitless.
"How was the apple turnover?" I jumped and almost dropped the book. I spun around and there she was.
"It was fantastic. Very homemade tasting." She smiled.
"That's what I aim for. Especially since I hand make them myself every day." She glanced down to my hands and back to my face. "Do you cook?"
"I do but nothing like this." I held up the book. "The lasagna recipe sounds awesome."
"It is. The red pepper flakes give it a little kick." There was an awkward silence between us. I couldn't help but bite my bottom lip and look at the floor a moment.
"Uhm…how much? For the book." I didn't like this feeling but at the same time I liked being around her.
"Fifteen dollars. It costs a lot to self-publish books these days."
"Alright." I followed her to the register and pulled out my debit card. "My card reader is down. I can only accept cash for now." My stomach dropped. All I had cash wise was ten bucks.
"Crap. All I have is ten. When will your card reader be fixed?"
"It should be fixed by tomorrow. I called the manufacturer this morning when I found out. I can put the book behind the counter for you if you'd like."
"That'd be nice. I'm Emma by the way." I held out my hand. When our hands touched I saw flashes of us hiking through a jungle.
"Emma? Are you okay?" I let go of her hand and blinked the confusion away.
"Yeah. I'm fine. Thanks. I'll be back tomorrow…for the book." I turned on my heels and started for the door.
"I have fresh coffee in the back." I stopped. "It's slow until the lunch rush so I bake and drink coffee till then." How did she know I liked coffee? I turned and started towards her.
"Magic words. I've not had any yet today so I definitely can't say no."
"You never say no to fresh coffee." She murmured the sentence and I barely heard her.
"What?" I followed her into the back where all the baking ovens and cooking stuff was.
"Nothing dear. Would you like cream and sugar?" I took a seat on one of the bar stools by the coffee maker.
"Cream and sugar are good." I watched as she poured two large cups of the rich smelling liquid.
"Nectar of the Gods," a slight smile crossed her lips. I hesitated as she handed me the cup. I always have said that. Not many people know that phrase.
"Thanks." I took the cup and brought the cup to my lips. I inhaled the steam and could feel my body come alive and relax at the same time. Regina took a seat on a bar stool on the other side of the coffee maker and we sat there in silence.
"So, what brought you back today?" The question threw me off and I had to think of something quick.
"I wanted to tell you how good the turnover was. Henry and I ate the whole thing last night." There was something in her eyes when I said Henry's name. Pain maybe?
"Your son? You said yesterday your son was in the car." Oh yeah. She has a good memory.
"Yes. Henry's my little prince." There's that pain again. I better change the subject. "How long have you been in business?"
"About a year now. Not many people know about this place. How did you find it?"
"I heard about it. Can I pour me another cup?" Regina smiled and gave me a nod.
"As long as you pour me another cup." I took her cup and poured coffee in them. She took her coffee the same as I did so I fixed it as well. "You heard about this place? Well I'm more popular than I thought." She took the cup from me. "Thank you. Well I have been called Queen of the Apples."