Lex(34)

“Lex.” She says warmly, wrapping me into a huge motherly hug and I return the sentimental gesture. Just as I do every week. And as always, I tuck my head down into the crook of her neck and surround myself in the comforting smells of bread, chocolate and vanilla.

I love this woman.

“What can I get cha?” she asks, releasing me, and she reaches down, folding my hand into hers, pulling me behind her toward the displays filled with her latest treats and desserts.

This place isn’t a chain like Starbucks or Tim Horton’s. She doesn’t make the same stuff every week or day; she only makes what her heart tells her. That’s the rules. You get what she makes. No questions asked. For example, if you’re craving chocolate toffee scones and she hasn’t made them, you can request a special order. Most of the time she won’t deny a customer, especially the ones who are her favorites. However, everyone comes for the new treats and she never disappoints in what she offers. It’s always a vast array of breads, candies, chocolates, cookies, cakes, pies, biscotti, croissants, rolls, loafs of bread, and just about anything else you can imagine. She even makes those delectable giant cookie cakes, with the homemade buttercream and fudge frosting. Everything you select is either nicely packed into a cute pink paper bag or a pink box, and all the boxes are tied with a teal bow.

Barbie has owned and operated this shop for the past thirty plus years. Just as Dolly has owned and operated the Dairy Dream for just as long. They both purchased their store spaces at the same time and have been best friends forever. Both of them married their high school sweethearts, right out of high school, and now widowed. Barbie has three kids, two of which help her run her store, and Dolly has a son. I don’t know much about him.

To be honest, I envy them both. They both have remarkable establishments and have been best friends for over forty years. I can only pray that one-day Roni and I will have a similar story, except we will be sharing in the company, not owning separate ones. It’s one of those things you don’t see or hear about every day, except maybe here in Heartfair. It really is an amazing town.

Glancing over the plethora of deliciousness, I hone in on what I came for—biscotti. Knowing precisely what I order she calls for one of her workers.

“Get Lex, two dozen biscotti; One dozen of the salted caramel and a dozen of cinnamon and sugar ones.” She orders, taking out all the guess work for me. She never steers me wrong.

“The ones with the glaze or not?” The young blonde woman, who I think might be her granddaughter, asks,

“With the cream cheese glaze, Oh, and put in two of the nut and seed ones; on the house.” She rattles off and affectionately squeezes me hand.

Turning to me she explains, “Those are new ones I’ve not made before. Lots of people like them. I want you to try. Since you are my biscotti aficionado, I want to make sure I got the recipe just perfect.” Winking at me, she escorts me, by hand, like a child to the register. If it was anyone else but her or Dolly, I might be offended. Not with Barbie though, she’s like another mother to me, or perhaps a grandmother. I’ve never had one of those.

Paying with cash, I give Barbie another hug and as I turn to leave, she says. “Oh, Lex, I forgot.”

Nearly to the door, I turn back around to face her as she strolls toward me. “I thought you should know that there has been quite the interest in you and what you order here.”

Confoundedly crinkling my brow, I evenly ask. “What do you mean quite a bit of interest?”

“There has been three gentlemen inquiring your likes and dislikes, not to me directly, of course. Only a fool would ask about my Lex, directly, but Sally has had some questions. A man with dark hair was in the other day, had a chocolate cherry coke float and flirted a little with Sally. She’s new, so she couldn’t tell me his name. Just said he was asking a lot of questions about you. Being new, she couldn’t answer the questions he posed, except what I’ve already filled her in on. That you own the cosmetics company here in town, you’re one of my favorite customers and always come in for biscotti. Except you’re a day early. I don’t usually see you until Friday.”

“Bob was over…”

Cutting me off with the raise of her hand, she busts out in laughter and covers her mouth. “I heard about that. I hear he and Veronica put on quite the show last night.”

Rolling my eyes and smirking, I nod. “Yep, it was a doozy. A very long one.”

Wiping the laughable tears pricking her eyes with her fingertips, she replies. “I know. Poor Lincoln was in here for his morning coffee and the man was stopped four times from people asking questions. Nosy, nosy, people in this town.” She winks.