Page 27 of Baking With A Ghost

"I'm honoured you even ask, you know." She pulls off a chunk and slips it in her mouth and I wait for her verdict.

"I love the sweetness. I taste a tart lemon and a sweet, is it cherry? Then it transitions as you chew and it's like… bread and walnuts?? It's more savoury than the last you tried. But there's something a little off. Maybe too heavy on the cherry?"

She eats the rest of the slice though, so it's not a complete write off.

"You said the same thing I was thinking. It's close but not quite right. I'll have to wait for Simon and see what he thinks."

I don't even realize I've said his name until she asks me who he is.

"Oh? Who's Simon? He must be very special if you're asking for his opinion on this. Who is he?"

Her expectant smile makes me think fast.

"Oh, ah, a friend. We… met online. He's been a great help."

"That's fantastic! I love that you're meeting people, even if it is online. You'll get this recipe down pat soon, John. I know you will."

I help Mary to her car. She doesn't need it, but I know she appreciates it. Her bag isn't heavy and she's more than capable of opening her own car door, but sometimes I’m just compelled to go that extra step and assist someone. Old fashioned customer service is more than just a gesture, it's a connection, and I have that with Mary.

"Thank you, John. I'll see you next week."

As Mary drives off, I return to the now quiet bakery to prepare for tomorrow.

And to wonder where Simon is.

John

Soulmates

Ismackmyhandon the offending alarm and lay back, staring at the beams in the ceiling.

I've been sleeping like shit since talking to Mike about meeting Simon. Not because I'm nervous, but because I'm afraid of making a mistake. Where has he been all week?

Does he somehow know I've asked Mike to do this and doesn't want to? Is that why he's been silent this week?

I walk to the bathroom to step into the shower and notice my laundry, still in the dryer and not folded, something Simon has been doing for me. My chest hurts with something I've not felt for a long time. Grief. The very thought of Simon vanishing, maybe never to return, pulls on my heart more than I expected.

When I moved here, it was to chase a dream and build not only a business, but myself. I wasn't looking for someone or something else. I just wanted to be happy and pursue my dream without judgement. But Simon was providing me comfort I hadn't realized I wanted so badly. Support in his tiny gestures that I'd never been given before made me miss him more than I should.

With my shower ended, I stand on the mat, idly patting myself down before wrapping the towel around my waist and tending to Snowball's food before she meows loud enough to wake up the neighbourhood. What is it with cats and their demands to be fed like four legged royalty?

With the lady of the house appeased, I stride towards my bedroom to get dressed, but a tug on my towel stops me.

"What the heck did I… "

My own words trail off when I notice I'm in the middle of the room, not near anything to catch my towel.

"Simon?"

I stand, breathless, waiting and hoping he's here and I haven't been ghosted by an actual ghost. When nothing happens, I continue on to get dressed. When I flick on the overhead light, the one I avoid because it's always too early for that kind of brightness before caffeine, my heart jumps and lodges in my throat.

A newspaper article sits on my pillow, opened to an article about a couple talking about how they met in a chat room and have been happily married for five years. A single sentence has been circled.

I never thought I'd find my soulmate.

Air whooshes out of me as I sink to the bed and stare at the article.

"You think I'm your soulmate?" My voice is a whisper in the empty room, but renewed optimism over my decision to meet Simon comes flooding back.

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