not any girl

Ste didn't know how to react to Amira, all happy and oh so sincere. He didn't ever remember anyone reacting to his baking skills quite that way. Not really.

It was his brother who got all the compliments on his sourdough and shortbread. But she said she loved the shop and was so glad to meet him.

Ste gritted a grin. Yet she gushed with so many compliments it made him dizzy.

"Please," Ste shook his head, no. "You must'n." Honestly, he didn't know how to take a compliment. Finally, he drew a breath and said a rather casual, "Thank you."

"Oh, no, thank you." She grinned. Her warm hand held on to his for a moment. He tried to pull away, but she wouldn't let him.

"Do you make the wedding cake, every day?" She asked.

Ste shook his head, no. Only a couple times of a month. Sometimes, folks asked for it. It wasn't really an elaborate cake as one might think, but a butter cake with butter icing.

"I like it," She practically winked. "A lot."

"Well, " He winced. "I don't have cake decorating skills. It's just cake. My..my mother's recipe."

"Your mother's recipe." She hung on to every word as if it were gold or priceless. "I wish I could meet her."

Suddenly, a lump of sadness lodged in his throat. He felt the heaviness of tears rising up from his nose. He shook his head, no.

"Is..is there anything else I can help you with?"

She only smiled. "Um, will you be upset with me if come back tomorrow?" She grasped at his hand, a little more.

"Oh, I'd be upset if you didn't." He smiled back as if her happiness was quite contagious.

She shook with a burst of quaint laughter as if they might be best of friends yet.