Over Him ✔

|Chapter Twenty-Seven|

Copyright ©2022_Over Him ✔ written by OluchiHelen. Dedicated to blackpennedwriter
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•Cherry's pov•

Half bathed in paint and exhausted, I gingerly make my way down the metal ladder I'd propped up against the wall, bringing along with me the empty can of paint and the old paint brush which needed replacing. At this point I couldn't feel my calves anymore.

Placing the empty can next to the ladder, I toss the paint brush into it and stretch out my aching muscles and joints which were beginning to feel taut.

Narrowing my eyes up at the scorching hot sun, I wipe the beads of sweat across my forehead with the back of sleeve, mentally reminding myself that this shirt wasn't going to be worn again until I had it washed.

Staring up at my two hour work in satisfaction, I wipe off any wet paint that may still be on my fingers against my already stained jeans before heading inside the bakery which was as good as empty. With today being a public holiday nationwide, Evelyn had decided to let them team off for the next two days, giving me the time to repaint as I'd initially promised her.

If only I'd kept my mouth shut, I wouldn't be here under the hot sun scrapping off old paint and repainting.

"You can take a break. I'll take over from here." I glance over at Daniel who is busy watching me from the counter. He wasn't exactly new here but he was always busy with college, just like me, so a lot of people barely ever saw him.

Today he was keeping me company.

"Sure. The paint cans are outside. I'm done with the second wall, two more to go." He nods, pressing his lips into a thin line.

Heading for the kitchen, where all the baking happens, I turn on the tap and attempt to scrub off the paint from my fingers. They really were stubborn. After ten more minutes of scrubbing, my fingers finally look somewhat better, although I couldn't say the same thing for my clothes which were a mess. Thankfully I had showed up in my car.

I dry my sore hands on a napkin, toss it into the bin and head into the main part of the restaurant where, seated on the counter was a box of doughnuts. Evelyn had allowed me to take whatever I wanted out of the storage room to feed myself and I thought that was probably one of the reasons why Daniel was also here but at least he was putting himself to work.

Plopping down on the only chair behind the counter, I relish in the sweet feeling of pain easing off my back and calves, rolling off in waves. Bringing the chocolate doughnuts I'd been eyeing for days to my mouth, I bite down on it and take a small sip of the Coca-Cola drink in my other hand.

This was the life.

From the see through window, overlooking the parking lot, to my left, I silently and absent mindedly watch Daniel brush against the walls where I'd chipped off the old paint. Deep down I was happy that the bakery would finally be repainted. The cafe had been repainted last month and now it was the bakery's turn.

The colours Evelyn and I had chosen were cream and brown with a bit of white here and there. I knew that by the time we were done, the place would look almost brand new. The interior part of the bakery was pretty much new. We'd changed the tables and the chairs. A new TV had been propped up against the wall above the counter for everyone to see.