Protect Me(4)
This past March, Avery gave birth to my other nephew, Ryder. He looks just like Maddox with his dark hair, yet with Avery’s blue eyes. On Sunday, I got to roll around on the floor with him. He’s so close to crawling it’s not even funny. I can’t wait to sit back and watch when he officially becomes mobile and starts terrorizing their home.
As I approach the heart of downtown Rivers Edge, I see the lights already on inside of Purely Sweet, the small bakery that my mom started almost two decades ago. Mom recently decided to step back from the business, turning it over to my little sister. I haven’t stopped in to say hello lately. When Mom worked the morning shift, I always stopped on my way home from work to steal a cinnamon roll and a cup of decaf. With Avery still learning the ropes, I’ve tried to give her some space, especially because she’s not exactly a morning person. Plus, I’ve been so damn exhausted lately that I thought it’d be best to just bypass the bakery all together and head home to pass out. I know she’s looking to hire someone to open the store for her. Her plan is to work the midmornings and afternoons while the kids are in school or daycare.
I yawn again as I pull up in front of the bakery. It’s barely six-thirty in the morning and the front door is still locked, though it should be unlocked any minute. I head down the block, around the corner, and down the alley towards the back entrance.
When I reach the back door, I wrap my large paw around the doorknob and give it a push. I’m instantly assaulted by the scent of vanilla, sugar, and coffee. Mom’s recipes for sweet rolls, cakes, and cookies are legendary in this town. Avery made no changes to the menu or the recipes. Hell, she grew up on these recipes that have been in our family for generations and wouldn’t change a measurement a fraction of a unit.
I step through the doorway and walk into the large, warm kitchen. The small stereo over the sink is playing some twangy country crap, but I don’t see Avery anywhere. I walk through the kitchen and head towards the front where the display cases and a handful of small tables are located. Just as I start to push through the swinging door and into the front room, I hear a small noise behind me like a floorboard squeaking. I slowly start to turn around when…Wham-O! Something very large and very hard slams into the side of my head. I turn around fully, wondering what in the hell just happened, when I catch another solid blow to the back of my skull. Pain vibrates through my entire head and down my body causing me to drop to my knees instantly.
“What the hell!?” I shout. I stare at the blurred figure in front of me. It’s definitely a woman, but for some reason, I see three of her.
The woman drops the pan on the floor, terror written all over her beautiful face, and starts to back away. She’s ready to bolt, I can see it even through the haze. She’s shaking like a leaf, her bluish gray eyes filled with fear.
I shake my head to try to clear the fog and reach out for her. She turns and runs towards the back door.
“Wait! Who the hell are you? And where the hell is my sister?” I ask as I give my noggin one final, firm shake.
The woman reaches the back door and stops. She doesn’t turn around right away, but I can tell that my questions have got her wheels turning. “Who are you?” she asks as she slowly turns towards me.
I push up off my knees and slowly stand up. I’m instantly dizzy from the sudden movement and start to lean heavily to the right. Fortunately, the doorway keeps me from kissing the concrete floor.
“My sister owns this place. Who the hell are you?” I ask again.
“Oh my gosh,” she declares with wide, surprised eyes. Her petite hands both go up to cover her mouth as the shock starts to take hold. She slowly starts to walk towards me, still hesitant with her steps as if she’s afraid I’m going to attack her. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t know who you were, I swear!”
The woman finally reaches me and hesitantly touches her hand to my forearm. Electricity shoots through my hyper-aware body as the sensation of her touch takes hold. I stagger, again, but this time, I don’t think it’s from the blows to the head.
“Come over here and sit down,” she says as she leads me towards the closest chair. I drop my large body down onto the hard chair and lean my elbows on the table, cradling my throbbing head.
“Name?” I ask through gritted teeth.
“Lia,” she whispers and the sound of her voice, her name, washes over me. “I just started here a couple of days ago. This is my first time opening up in the morning without Avery,” she continues, her voice shaky as she comes down from the adrenaline rush.