Diffrent Now

Chapter Six - Bakery fun and Death

Ethan and Ace were the first to wake up. Shortly followed by Lily. The tension was strong in the air, both Ethan and Ace watching each others moves with the silence in the air like thick blanket covering the three. Lily continued her normal routine until it finally became unbearable. 

"Cut it out." Lily ordered, causing the two men to look away from one another and back at her. "I am sick of this. Whatever differences you may have get them sorted. I am going to the bakery to check on Lyla and fill some orders. Then I am going to check on Jane since I haven't seen her in a few days. When I come back in 3 hours this will be sorted. Do I make myself clear?" 

"Yes." Ace and Ethan answered, fear surrounding them. Lily could be scary when she was angry. Lily nodded and walked out. Already being dressed she collected her keys to her crappy car and got in, driving as fast as the speed limits would allow. It was times like this that she missed her old life, full of speed and freedom. Freedom that she hadn't felt in years. Lily sighed and all too soon she had reached her bakery. 

"Morning Lil." Lyla greeted, she only 15 but needed more money to help her mother raise her little brother. Lily was proud of the girl for taking on so much at a young age. Occasionally Lyla would bring her brother, Owen, to work. Of course Lily doesn't mind since she loved kids. 

"Lily!" Owen yelled. Immediately Lily felt guilty, she should've opened up the bakery herself, not dragged both Lyla and Owen out of bed at such an early hour. 

"Hey Owen." Lily smiled, easily picking up the four year old and placing him on the table. "I hope your being good for your big sister." 

"Yes Lily." Owen smiled, revealing his mouth with missing teeth. Lily smiled and wondered what it would've been like to be a happy four year old but quickly pushed the thoughts away. They were unhealthy and shouldn't be had. What happened had already happened she couldn't change it now. 

"Good boy. I have a new recipe for you to try." Lily smiled. "Do you wanna come help me?" 

"Yes!" the young boy exclaimed, easily jumping off the table and rushing into the kitchen. 

"Thank you." Lyla smiled. "He's a good kid just has a lot of energy." A sad chuckle left Lyla's lips. "But I wouldn't want him any other way." 

"Tomorrow I can babysit Owen for you and your mum. You must both need a break." Lily offers. 

"Oh no I couldn't..." Lyla starts only to be cut off by Lily. 

"No Lyla really. I have a few friends in town and we'll be going out for the day tomorrow. It'll be my honor, no charge of course. I'll even give you a raise." Lily partly joked despite knowing that she would give Lyla a raise either way. She deserved it, she put every spare hour she could into this place.  

"Okay. Thank you Lil." Lyla smiled. 

"Abby will be here for the lunch rush then you'll have the rest of the day off." Lily instructed, a smile crept onto Lyla's face but before she could say anything else Lily walked into the kitchen where she was greeted with Owen's smiling face. 

"What are we making today Miss Flower." Owen asked, Miss Flower was a nickname given to Lily by Owen for when they were cooking. Owen's nickname while cooking was Mr Flour because he always some how got covered in flour. Of course Lily would clean him up. 

"Well Mr Flour, we will be making Samoa Dessert Lasagna." Lily happily exclaimed. Together they worked together, well mostly Lily doing everything but at times Owen would weigh out ingredients and help Lily help them and of course Owen got covered in flour so while it was baking Lily cleaned him up and they went to talk to Lyla while they waited. Soon a loud buzz was heard from the kitchen informing them that it was ready. 

Owen waited at a table in the front while Lily took out the three deserts she had baked and took them to the waiting Owen and Lyla. Lyla gave her a thankful smile as Lily placed the paper plate in front of her before going and joining Owen at a table and placing his own in front of him. Owen wasted no time in digging in, adorable almost moans came out of the small boys mouth making both Lyla and Lily giggle. 

"This tastes amazing." Lyla complimented. 

"Thanks Lyla, it's a new recipe I'm playing with." Lily thanked, now starting to eat her own. "I still feel like it's missing something." She frowned before taking another mouth full. 

"What if you added some vanilla and maybe some lemon?" Lyla suggested. A smile formed on Lily's face the more she thought over the idea. 

"That could work. Thanks Lyla." Lily smiled. The two continued chatting with Owen occasionally trying to add bits to their conversation. Which of course didn't really have anything to do with whatever they were talking about but they still entertained him. 

"I have to go." Lily announced. "I need to check on Jane and deliver her usual. Owen why don't you come color in my office while your sister works." 

"Lil, you don't have to. You won't be in there and what if..." Lyla attempts to protest although she secretly loved the idea. She hated worrying about her younger brother. 

"No Lyla really it's fine. Just make sure you lock my office before you leave." Lily smiled. "Come on Mr." Owen skipped to Lily's office happily, it was at the back of the shop and rather quite. It never really had many files since Lily mainly did her paperwork at the studio, it only really held money and a few contracts to do with her expansion that she would probably have to put on hold now. "You can sit in my big chair today. Just be a good boy for your sister, yeah? Tomorrow you can spend the whole day with me." 

"Really?" Owen questioned, his eyes growing bigger in an adorable way. 

"Yes of course silly." Lily smiled. "I'll see you tomorrow." Lily finished after setting him up with his multiple coloring books and pens.  Lily walked out her office with a smile on her face, soon she is greeted by a great full looking Lyla. 

"Thank you. You do too much for us I swear." Lyla exclaims. 

"No Lyla. I'm doing what any good person should do." Lily explains, not wanting a thanks for what she was doing. She was only helping Lyla in the way she had wished she had been helped. 

"Still thank you. Here's Jane's order." Lyla smiled, holding a box out to Lily who quickly took it and thanked Lyla in return before leaving the bakery, getting in her car and driving the short distance to Jane's house. She felt much better now then she did this morning but she still wanted to go faster then the speed limits would allow. Lily groaned but thankfully the journey ended quickly and she soon arrived outside Jane's house. Jane was a lovely women with a heart of gold but none of her children would come and see her. They would always claim to be busy and such which disappointed Lily, she would love for her mother to still be alive. Sadly that wasn't possible, her father had killed her mother long ago. 

Lily walked up the path to the cottage Jane owned. It seemed like a nice place to live and raise a family, the street was a quite street where no crime ever really happened. This was rare in London which made the house that much more expensive. Lily knocked on the door the way Jane usually preferred, the smell of death filling Lily's senses making her frown. She hoped she was wrong. It had been a long time since she had smelt death. 

"Jane." Lily called out, walking into the unlocked home. Jane would be given a heart attack if she were alive. But unfortunately soon Jane's rotting corpse came into sight. A gasp left Lily's mouth and the box full of yummy treats fell to the floor. Once Lily came to her senses she called the police. The circumstances of Jane's death seemed rather normal and this brought Lily some hope. Hopefully the old lady had joined her husband somewhere in death and they were happily together. Although Lily believed none of this she still imagined it. 

All too soon the police came and hurried Lily away from the scene, Jane's body being stuffed into a body bag and Lily standing silently. Lily had been used to this but the memories of her mothers body, of her fathers angry expressions filled her mind. Everything in Lily's body begged to be let free. She was done pretending. Lily had to get back some of her life as Lola, she couldn't deal with her emotions anymore. They were building and bubbling now. Lily was angry. Oh so angry. And how would Lily deal with her anger? She would become Lola once again. But this time she would be stronger, braver and above all better.