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Chapter 9

There's something in the air

Tobias' POV

I walk into the store, not really knowing what to expect. Tris had been in here for hours working really hard. Which was not my intention when I first took her out here. Sure a helping hand is well needed around here. I figured I needed the help and she needed help…. It was a win, win situation. But not slavery. No.

It's getting late and the temperature is beginning to really drop outside. The door chimes in the store ring signaling my presence. I look around the very quiet, very still store. She isn't here? Wow, she did a ton of work here today. What a difference. It looks so festive now.

"Tris?" I called out.

"I'm in here," I hear Tris from the back kitchen. I follow my nose, I smell the aroma of baked goods. I push the double doors open that separate the store and the kitchen in the back. I'm surprised by the sight before me.

"Hey, you're baking?" I ask, worried that my eyes might actually be lying to me.

"I hope you don't mind. I saw this kitchen… And just got inspired."She admits.

"No. Ummm, I'm glad to see it going to good use," I say, trying not to sound too shocked. "Are those chocolate chip cookies?" I notice, my eyes unable to leave the yummy evidence before me. I watch Tris intensely as she transfers the cookies to a cooling rack. She hands me one, without so much of a word, reading my mind. "Thanks," I say in appreciation. I take a careful bite, reminding myself that it just did come out of the oven. My lips let out a moan without permission, when the chocolate chunks touch my tongue. This is delicious. "These are really delicious." I say, as if she doesn't know herself how delicious these things are.

"Thanks. It's my mom's recipe," She says, shrugging her shoulders.

"Well it's official .. You now have a new duty to your list of jobs…." I begin, my voice a mixture between amusement, joking and being serious. I continue, as I take another bite of the now cooler cookie. "Baker." I announce. Because at this point, after having just one of her cookies… I wouldn't have it any other way. Although one thing does occur to me, "Where did you get the stuff to bake them?" I ask.

"I kind of took it from your house," Tris admits, biting her lower lip embarrassed at her actions. The whole scene before makes me want to close the gap between us and help her with that lower lip. I clear my voice instead, looking away from her to gather my thoughts.

"I'm okay with that… If you continue making these." I finally got out. I can't help it, I shove the rest of the damn cookie into my mouth. "How about I take you to the store before we open…. That way you can get anything else that you might need?" I ask. A part of me wonders if it's just another excuse to be around her, to get to know her.

"Seriously?" She asks, bewildered by my question..

"Yes, the smell and the options of different baked goods….Will draw the customers in just for them." I say, trying another path around it. She has to know that nothing says the Holidays like baked goods. Oh by the way, the front of the store looks great. I can't believe you did all that work in one day. It looks so festive.

"Thanks". Tris says with a smile on her beautiful face.

"Well… I have a few other ideas that might help draw the customers in." She begins, her right eyebrow slightly amused.

"I'm listening," I say, letting her know that she has my full attention. Because she does.

It's been a week since Tris told me her ideas to bring in more business. I was surprised at how much knowledge she carried with her when it came to the business. Making the small little changes here and there really made a difference.

Like I told her the next morning we woke up bright and early, we made some breakfast and hit the road. I drove us to the wholesale store that was too far away. I gave Tris full range to whatever she may need for the bakery part of the store. From cookie tins, to smaller boxes, eggs, sugar, and flour. Tris worried about the cost of it all, but I just insisted that she continue to get whatever she thought was best. Knowing deep down that it would pay off in the long run.

"So your talent in baking…. Did it come from your mom?" I asked, as we turned onto another aisle.

"Yeah, umm…. My mom would have me helping her in the kitchen every meal of the day." She explained. "I loved it. She would let me pick what we would make for dessert…" I can see the instant pain in her eyes.

"Is she?" I ask, letting my words trail off. I dread the answer that she is about to give. Obviously whatever her childhood past was, it was a lot more pleasurable than mine.

"She and my dad… Live in New York. They run a shelter for the hungry." She says, giving her attention to the bottles of liquid flavors. She chooses vanilla, lemon, and almond extracts. She places the bottles with care into the cart. As I stand staring at the blonde woman before me. Is it pride?

"When was the last time you saw them?" I ask, trying to work around the real question. How did she get to this point? I want to understand. Help her. I can see the passion that she carries, but I also see a lot of pride.

"About five years ago when I left home." She admits, she clears her throat as she picks a few jars of peanut butter and a few jars of jelly. She moves next to the chocolate chips, settling five bags into the cart. I can see she doesn't want to talk about whatever reason why she left home. Obviously it must still bother her. I decided to drop the subject.

"So what is your plan? What kind of cookies are you making?" I ask, noticing the different variety of products she is adding to the cart.

"Well I thought we would go with a few of the classics of course. Umm…. Chocolate chip, peanut butter, angel thumbprint cookies, but then we can add candy cane cookies, apricot cookies, brownie cookies, and my favorite cream cheese cookies." She answers. I'm impressed by the variety of cookies she has chosen.

"I can't wait to try them all," I admit to her, because they all sound so good.

The next afternoon I was thankful for my friends to come out and help me carry out Tris' other requests. It took hours between customers to get all the Christmas lights put up. It was Tris' idea to light the way to the farm, the turn is so sudden… It makes it hard for newcomers to find their way. I loved the idea…. We even ran with it to the main house. For the first time, the house and the Christmas tree farm were festive for the Christmas season.

I stood back when it was all set up and done, admiring the work we all put into it. Knowing damn well that Lauren would have loved and appreciated it so much.

It was amazing how quickly everyone took to Tris, as if she was always meant to be one of us. Shauna, Uriah and Christina all gravitated towards her, interested in the cookies and baked goods that she was adding to the menu.

"Wow, Four…. You almost look like you finally have your shit together." Zeke said, joining me by the driveway. He handed me a beer, clinking the bottles together before taking a gulp down.

"Well, thanks," I said, tilting the beer towards him. "It was all Tris' idea." I admit.

"She is definitely something… Just what you might need." He said, I turned to him confused by his words… "Don't look at me like that. I have eyes. So does everyone else…" He continues. "Look man, you know I loved Lauren like a sister. She was your everything. When she died… It was like you died too. I don't know what her intentions are, or yours…But I do know that for the first time in a long time… You seem alive again." He finished. We both fell into a complete silence staring at our work before us. I get lost in the moment, wondering about what he said. What it meant.

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