Page 12 of Playoffs & Promises

She finishes filling the first tray with the pre-measured dough balls and moves onto filling the second tray.

"Well blue ribbons don't pay your bills, and it's messing with your aura."

"And what about your aura?" I ask her.

"Oh it's good. My horoscope promised I'd have a sparkling day today if I avoid negativity."

"Well I can't argue with that," I tell her. "I think we'd all be much happier without negativity."

We work together moving through the regular menu of items and at some point Isa turns on music and we belt out the song lyrics together. When seven o'clock rolls around, I have one round of bread out, and the cupcakes have sat in the chiller long enough they are ready to be frosted. The radio DJ pauses songs to remind people that they need to submit their ideas for naming the hockey team's new machine.

"You should decorate the cupcakes for that," Isa suggests.

"You think?" I ask, unsure. "We have a lot of hockey menu items already."

Between the Left Wing lemon items to use up the lemons, the Right Wing Raspberry Tarts, the Center Cranberry Muffins, and so on, half the bakery menu has been renamed to include something hockey.

"Lean in," she says. "Besides people like options."

"I don't have time to make a lot of flavors before opening."

"Frost them differently?" She suggests."Just pick two for today, if it's popular, pick two different ones for tomorrow."

I look at the buttercream frosting and take a moment to look up the voting site the radio mentioned. The Glacier-nator image is an ice monster-looking thing, while the Ice Bear is a fierce polar bear very similar to the team's mascot. Ideas form for how to make themed cupcakes without much difficulty. The other names on the list would take more effort and time. I pull out some molds I use for birthday cake orders.

Five minutes to opening I have half a tray filled with vanilla cupcakes I'd transformed into cute polar bears using white marshmallow frosting with coconut flakes and chocolate for the nose and eyes. The other half of the tray is filled with chocolate cupcakes topped with white mint flavored frosting. I'd then melted clear mint hard candy pieces into a sheet, and when it had cooled, broke it into pieces that I stuck into the frosting so each cupcake had a few pieces poking out. The technique was similar to one I used for an ice princess-themed party my aunt had thrown for her five-year-old granddaughter last year.

Isabella brings out the last tray of blueberry muffins for the front display, and we are ready for opening. She sets the muffins down, and looks around. She's worked here long enough now that I can see her doing the quick double-check to make sure everything is in place. Bringing her in to work with me was one of the best decisions I've made since opening. Her eyes stop on the hockey treats display and I know what she is thinking even before she says it.

"There's no lemon bars," Isa says, turning to go to the back and get them.

"It's okay Isa. They're not out because I didn't make them."

"Is it because of the cupcakes?"

"No. I just didn't feel like making them today."

She looks at me with concern. "Are you feeling sick? Do you need to go home?"

Shaking my head, I stop her as I hold up my hand. "I'm fine. I've just decided it's time I actually stick to promises I've made."

"Oh..." She drags out the word. "I see. This is because of Lou."

"Yes and no, but speaking of him, I'm serious. He gets nothing."

She nods her head and the expression on her face tells me she isn't taking my words seriously.

"I'm serious Isa."

"Serious, like you want tacos but pizza's good?" she asks. "Or serious, like that time Bianca put glue on her hair because she ran out of hairspray?"

"Break out the industrial glue level of seriousness."

Her eyes go wide and she nods. "Yeah, okay. He won't get so much as a crumb out of me. What are you going to do about your friends?"

Letting out a deep breath I shrug. "I'll tell Lia and Nate. At least Hannah's moved."

"Are you ever going to try and talk to him about it?" She asks me.

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