The Bakery that Brought Us Together

Chapter 1: The Bakery

As the plane descended Valerie Sinclair looked out the window to her left. The fluffy white clouds were lifting revealing the outskirts of Paris, France. Her friend's adoptive sister, Isabella poked her head over the seats in front of her. "Almost there!" She whispered excitedly, brushing her ginger hair out of her face. Valerie nodded as she and her mother exchanged glances. Moving to Paris and opening a bakery had been her mother's life long dream. When Valerie's mother, Rosemary, and her friend's mother, Selena, were children in school they would bake together and joke about opening a shop. Selena became a teacher and Rosemary worked at a restaurant and they both saved and saved and saved until they found a dirt cheap but in good condition shop in Paris with two apartments over top. It was perfect. Valerie's friend Camila and her sister Isabella would stay in the second floor with their mother, Selena. Their father chose to stay back in Toronto. It was complicated. Selena and their father claim to have fallen out of love but in Valerie's opinion no one really falls out of love. There is usually more to the story. Camila and Isabella's father works for the postal service, he manages one of the stations, he started a romantic relationship with one of his co-workers, Micheal. Selena and her husband Carlos never acknowledged it but the move to France was their separation. Valerie's friends had foreseen it and it didn't surprise them when their mother said it would be just the three of them moving. Selena was not the only one with complications with their partners, Rosemary fell head over heels for Alexander Baker who panicked and moved across the country and disappeared when he found out she was pregnant with Valerie. She was 21 years old and the only person who stayed by her side was Selena. Camila was the spitting image of her mother except for her glasses. She poked her head beside her sisters, "How long from the airport to the bakery?" Camila asked tucking her curly dark hair behind her ears. "About a 30 minute train ride."Selena informed her from the aisle seat beside her daughters. "Train ride? How are we supposed to carry all of our bags?" Isabella complained. "We'll manage." Selena said softly. Valerie chuckled to herself, they had packed their entire wardrobes before meaning each girl had suitcase and a duffel bag tightly packed. Isabella had one extra for her dance clothes. She was going to train at the Soubonnes elite dance academy for for a year. Camila and Valerie were not sure what they would do this year. They finished high school last summer and have had a gap year to work and now to assist in managing the bakery. Valerie planned to go back to school at some point but was unsure when that would be, her mother encouraged her to go to university or college after she chose to drop out when she had Valerie. Rosemary had wanted to stay in school but the judgment she faced and the worry that she wouldn't be there for her child stopped her.
Rosemary and Selena had moved in all of the furniture two weeks ago so that when their daughters arrived everything would be ready. When they finally reached their destination it was evening, the street lamps had been turned on and illuminated the pink and white awning over the empty glass window. The apartments above were covered in a dusting of vines, the beige stone was topped with a dark grey roof. "C'est beau!" Exclaimed Isabella swinging open the door and dragging her three bags inside. Valerie and her mother climbed the 181 stairs to their apartment. It was dark inside, Valerie grappled to find the light switch stumbling over boxes in the process. Once she felt the switch click the room brightening with golden light. In the corner sat a small kitchen with quant wooden cabinets and marble counter tops, Rosemary had begun to unpack having put some of the glasswear in the drawers and cabinets. Connected to the kitchen was a larger living room which consisted of a small grey couch and lounge black leather chair from their old apartment. Valerie wouldn't miss where she used to live, the downstairs neighbours fought constantly, beside them a family of five in a one bedroom never slept and above them were some 20 year olds who partied non-stop and left the faucet running so that her ceiling got water damage. Anyways her best friend was coming with her so she didn't have anyone to miss. Especially not her old boyfriend, he was obnoxious, to her relief he broke up with her when she said she was moving two months ago. She placed one of her bags down on the chair and sighed, this was her life now. " Your room is that one." Her mother said indicating to a white door that was slightly open. Rosemary proceeded to turn in the other direction and enter a room across the apartment from Valerie's. Gingerly she pushed open the door, her bed already was covered in sheets and was pushed into the corner of the room in front of a window. A light breeze floated through the open window billowing the curtains and revealing a petite balcony. Valerie groaned, her mother had a habit of forgetting to close things. She crowned over the bed and reached for the handle, before she could close it the view caught her eye. Beautiful buildings surrounded the window and partially obstructed by the Eiffel Tower. The metal shimmered in the glowing sunset. Valerie grinned admiring the view. "Valerie!" Came her mother's voice from the living room. "I know you probably want to start unpacking but what do you think of going on a promenade to see the city before it gets dark?" Hee mother asked, she liked to use fancy words like promenade and debonair. Valerie leaned on her doorframe, " Sure can Izzy and Camila come as well?" She asked. "Of course let's go find Selena. " Rosemary said turning away and reaching for her phone on the kitchen counter. Valerie shrugged on a navy sweater and headed downstairs to locate her friends.
They gathered inside the bakery. The shelves were empty, this weekend they would clean and prepare the shop for opening on Monday. " I say we do a lap around the Eiffel Tower and be back for dinner at 7." Selena suggested glancing down at her watch briefly. Valerie loved how causally they spoke of these French monuments she had dreamed of seeing, this was going to be her daily view. Valerie's mother nodded at her friend. "Good idea." She agreed, and they left the bakery. As they strolled down the street they discussed the name of the bakery. Suggestions had been made but no agreement had been reached. "We have to pick before Monday if Val and I are going to paint the lettering on the windows." Isabella stated. "I stand by my idea." Camila declared putting her hand up. "What was it again?" Rosemary asked. "The Sweet and Salty Bakery." Said Camila. Selena tilted her head side to side indicating she wasn't sure if it was the right fit. "Not everyone speaks English in a French City." She explained. "Translate it to french, maybe it would be better." Valerie offered. "What would it be then?" Her mother asked. "Boulangerie Sucrée et Salée." She answered. "That's much better." Selena agreed. "Looks like it paid off for you to take French in school." Rosemary chuckled putting an impressed hand on her daughter's shoulder. "Alright we will make the sign tomorrow." Isabella said smiling at her friend.