Page 7 of Batter Up!

“Well, where the heck are you? Heather said you weren’t working today, and you always work on Thursday mornings.”

Meadow wasn’t wrong. I always worked at Sweet Corner Bakery (Sweeties for short) on Thursdays, but I hadn’t been able to tell my best friend I was leaving. I was a coward, and I hated goodbyes. I also knew Meadow would put her life on hold to come with me, but I wanted to do this on my own.

“Did she tell you anything else?” I asked.

“No. She just said you weren’t in and to give you a call.” Meadow said, “What’s going on, Molly Nicole Green?”

“Ooohhh, you full named me,” I said with a laugh. “I found it, Meadow.”

“Found what?” Meadow asked, and I could hear her chewing something as she talked.

“The perfect building for my own bakery.”

“Where is it?” Meadow asked with her usual excitement in her voice.

“Well….” I said and took a deep breath, knowing how she would react. “Ohio.”

“Ohio?!” I heard her screech, and I had to pull the phone away from my ear. “That's like a million miles away.”

“Oh, stop your dramatics,” I said with a laugh. “It’s only about 500 miles away.”

“And how long of a drive is that?” she asked.

I mumbled an answer.

“What did you say?” she asked. “When did you freaking leave?”

“I left early this morning after the realtor called me last night to say I could look at it today. She said the family wanted to sell it quickly.”

“And you didn’t tell me? I could have come with you!” Meadow complained.

“I know you would have, but your two-year anniversary with Ryan is this weekend. I didn’t want you to miss that. Maybe this will be the year he proposes!”

“Don’t you dare distract me with that,” Meadow said. “I’m giving up on that. Tell me all about this dream place of yours.”

“When I stop for gas up here, I’ll send you the link,” I said as I noticed there were several options for gas stations at the next exit.

“How much farther do you have?” Meadow asked. “I can’t believe you’re making this long drive all by yourself!”

“I have about three hours left of the drive. If I didn’t leave right then, I would have made lists of why I shouldn’t go, and I would have talked myself out of it. Maybe this is crazy…”

Meadow interrupted me and said, “Or maybe you’ll love it and get your dream of your own bakery. What is so special about this bakery to make you leave so quickly to look at it?”

“Well, it has two kitchens in the back, Meadow! I’ll be able to make allergy-friendly items in the second kitchen, so I can offer all kinds of nut-free, gluten-free, and vegan goodies.”

“Girl, you are going to have your very own AF Kitchen! You are so crazy with your nut free stuff. But hey, I got to take advantage of that with all the lactose-free baked items you made me."

"I love that nickname!" I said with a smile. "And see, it wasn't just for him!"

Meadow let out a laugh and said, "So, how many years ago did you meet that boy?”

“I don’t know,” I said quietly.

“Don’t lie to me! I know you know, you know,” Meadow chastised me.

“Okay, okay. 12 years ago. I just felt so horrible seeing him having a hard time breathing, and I’ll never forget it.”

“You’ll also never forget he was your first kiss,” Meadow made a kissing sound and then had to laugh. “Maybe someday you’ll find a guy that will live up to his memory.”

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