Page 46 of Breathless With Her

Zoey stepped forward, her hands out, and I shook my head.

“No. Don’t come at me, or I’m going to start crying again or harder, and I don’t have time for that.”

“Okay. We’re going to clean this up. We’re going to make lists. And we’re going to figure this out. We’re fine. Everything’s going to be fine.”

“Okay, yes, I totally believe you. But first, come on, let’s get out of the fridge and, you know, out of this water because you’re starting to make sounds that only dogs can hear at this point.”

“True.”

“Oh God.”

“Darling? Erin?”

“Mrs. Murphy!” I said, pushing past Zoey and giving her a quick squeeze on the shoulder as I went to one of my neighbors. My shop neighbor, who sold pies. Actually, she was two buildings down, and our businesses didn’t conflict with each other. I did mostly cakes and cupcakes and brownies. She did pies that she sold in the store rather than made-to-order like I did. We sometimes sold stuff together and worked with each other for different functions. I loved her to death. And for some reason, I just wanted to cry on her shoulder. Mrs. Murphy was in her late sixties, pretty, slender, and looked at least twenty years younger than she was. She had her hair bundled up in a bun on the top of her head. Her glasses were big and wide and the style that now fit the fashion, even though she had worn the same type when they weren’t so in style.

“I was walking past this morning with my coffee and saw the outside of your building. Oh my God, darling. What can I do?”

“I don’t know yet. But I might need your help. I have a cake due tomorrow, and I just don’t know what to do.”

“Well, first, you’re going to call your insurance adjuster. And then you’re going to come over to me, and we’re going to get what you need done in my kitchen. I don’t have all the pans that you need, but the water doesn’t seem to have gotten to that side of your space, so we can move them over to mine, and we’ll get it done. Between you and me and anyone else we can pull in from our staff, we’ll get you set up. You just do what you need to do. Because you are going to be amazing.”

“I don’t...I don’t know what to say,” I said, my voice coming out in that high-pitched squeak again.

“You helped me when I broke my leg and couldn’t keep up with orders. You worked day and night to make sure that I kept my business. And I’m going to do the same for you, young lady. You understand me?”

I couldn’t say anything. Instead, the tears threatened again, but I refused to cry. Because if I cried, I wouldn’t stop. And I needed to be stronger than that.

Zoey pushed past me and hugged the older woman.

“You’re amazing, Mrs. Murphy. Okay, let’s get this done. I’m going to call into my store and tell them I’m not going to be in today.”

“You own the store, Zoey. You can’t do that.”

“I own the store, so maybe I can do exactly that.”

“I can’t ask that of you.” I didn’t want to take her away from her business. This was my problem.

“I can do whatever the fuck I want. And I know that look in your eyes. You’re thinking that this is all your fault and your mistake, or some crap like that. And you’re just going to shut up about that because I love you. This was an actual weather phenomenon. An actual and literal act of God. So you’re going to shut the fuck up. And you’re going to do what I say.”

“I thought you just said that I was the boss of this place. You can’t just take over.”

“As soon as you breathe and stop freaking out, you are going to be your own damn boss.”

“You know, I would chastise you both for your language, but I’ll allow it for now,” Mrs. Murphy said as she smiled at us.

I pulled my head out of my ass and rolled my shoulders back.

“Okay. Let’s do this.”

“See? Your voice is already lowering a bit, dear. Now onlysomedogs can hear you.”

I flipped her off, cringed as Mrs. Murphy shook her head. And then got to work.

It took five hours. Five hours of dealing with phone calls, adjusters, emails, and crying brides.

But we were going to make it work.

Amelia had shown up during her lunch hour, complete with subs and sodas and chips for everyone, and rolled up her sleeves to help me with the fondant. While dealing with phone calls on my Bluetooth, my laptop in one corner, I baked my heart out.

---