Page 13 of Cloud Storm

Even when they’re hot, they’re delicious. Thick and not too sweet, just enough to make them perfect.

This jam is incredibly easy to make and provides a fruity tang which perfectly pairs with the almond cake the bride ordered.

This one will be glorious!

“Dang, Ariel,” Katie says. “I don’t know how you do it, every time I’ve tried to make the jam at home it never turns out this good. You have the magic touch.”

“I simply love what I do.”

But I believe in that magic. It happens every time I put a tray in the oven.

Every time a customer leaves this place with a smile on their face.

And it happens every time we deliver our daily contribution to the soup kitchen.

Magic happens to the one who believes.

Katie is a few years older than me, a fierce redhead with lots of talent and a great attitude. We met a few months ago in a shelter for women during the hiring process. After a short interview Roselynn and I made the decision to hire her before someone else did it. Her potential was as bright as the hair on her head. We have yet to regret that decision, and we have a great team here. We started out looking for people to work with us who had the greatest need, and we’ve found that they pay us back by being incredibly loyal, grateful, and hardworking. We’re blessed and happy to have them here.

I always wear Chucks and compression leggings while I’m working. I spend so much time on my feet that by the end of my shift I’m exhausted. I can’t imagine how I’d feel if I decided to wear something fancier. This is me, the real me.

It’s almost eight in the evening when I return home. While baking, my mind was full of ideas. Evil plans to set in motion.

Poor Suit, you’ll never know what hit you.

A bit later, with a tea and a BLT sandwich in hand, I turn on my laptop. I need to do some research, not only succumb to my guilty pleasure. I’m not a logistics genius like my friend, but I can look up the names of the stores in the mall to see their online catalogs. While Roselynn plans to reinvent me as ‘The Perfect Executive’, I prefer having a little control over the situation. After all, it will be me and only me walking down the street in whatever we decide to buy.

With the help of my favorite portal, Pinterest, I pin several interesting looks, fighting the temptation to order them online, right here and now. Two hours later and I’m excited, drinking my tea spiked with two shots of rum, and my debit card is on fire.

I’m sure it will be well worth it.

I haven’t gone over my budget by a single penny and I solemnly promise not to reach the extreme. I’m not that crazy, I’m not going to let them convince me to buy absurd and unnecessary things like a convertible.

That is off the grid.

Although this purple hair of mine in the wind… Now that would look amazing, but with my luck, it’d undoubtedly end up full of bugs and dirt, so I’d get out of the car looking like I’ve escaped from a psychiatric hospital.

Those things only work out well in movies.

???

Two days later, I’m still waiting for the first packages to arrive with the little treasures I ordered. I have my plan mapped out, now I just have to wait for the right moment to execute it.

As a distraction, I immerse myself fully in the new line that we plan to market. It occurred to Roselynn that it would be good to experiment with a pre-packaged line of brownies and cakes to sell across the state and with the experience that I’ve gained over the last few months, I feel fully capable of meeting the challenge. Having the kitchen to work in at home means I can do it after work, because for me baking is a respite, my slice of heaven.

And that dream will become my present, and my future.

The standard will remain exactly the same as characterized by our company from day one, completely natural, organic products with no artificial flavors or additives. Just in case we need them, we operate in a fully certified way by the government and I’m committed by the end of this year to have a completely vegan line of pastries.

So I work hard and rest little. I like to feel the rush of endorphins running through my veins, it’s like a drug. One of the good ones. My life has stopped being dark, now I ride a roller-coaster and yet I’m not afraid to extend my arms and enjoy the speed with which the cart races up and down.

I’ve just returned from my morning walk as I enter the community gardens, feeling really good, when I see my nemesis coming from the other side of the green space. He arrives sweaty, wearing sportswear.

For the first time in my life I’ll admit I sincerely thank Roselynn for giving me what I’m wearing right now. Black calf length leggings. My sports bra is electric blue, short and quite low cut, which means I have some great cleavage on show which boosts my confidence.

What? I have a great rack, and I’m not shy to showcase it.

I admit that dressing well gives a certain sexy halo and I plan to take advantage of it.

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