Scarlett, the Found One

Chapter 47: Scarlett

I stepped into the bakery, greeted immediately by the warm, inviting scent of freshly baked bread. Ruth welcomed me with a broad smile, her face lighting up as I entered. "Good morning, Chrissy! Where's your girlfriend?"

"She's resting until work," I replied, glancing around the cozy bakery. The air was rich with the aroma of dough and spices, making my stomach rumble slightly.

Ruth nodded, her smile softening. "I'm happy to see more people from different backgrounds visiting our town. It makes this place feel more alive."

Her words seemed sincere, but they also carried an underlying weight. She continued, her voice dropping slightly. "You know, my daughter Paula... she might be a 'girl-lover.' I'm just waiting for her to come out and tell me herself. My late husband, he was a bit of a bigot. But I hope Paula feels more comfortable now."

I listened intently, feeling a mix of sympathy and awkwardness. "That's... that's really brave of you to be so supportive, Ruth."

She gave me a warm, reassuring smile before assigning me my first task of the day. "Your first job is to roll out the dough. Do you have any experience with baking?"

I shook my head, feeling a bit nervous. "None at all, actually."

Ruth laughed softly and called out to Paula, who eagerly came over to help. "Paula, why don't you help Chrissy?"

Paula smiled at me, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I'd be happy to. Come on, it's easier than it looks."

As she guided me through the process, I couldn't help but feel a sense of camaraderie with Paula. Despite the awkwardness, there was something comforting about being in this small bakery, learning something new and connecting with people who seemed genuinely kind.

"Do you actually like baking, or is this just a summer job for you?" I asked Paula as we rolled out dough side by side.

Paula smiled, her eyes lighting up. "I love baking. I hope to take over the shop once my mom retires."

Curiosity got the better of me, and I couldn't help but be blunt. "So, whydoes your mom think you're a 'girl-lover'?" I used air quotes, and we bothlaughed at the outdated term.

Paula's laughter had a hint of relief in it. "Well, I do find women very attractive. But I've never had a girlfriend. Or a boyfriend, for that matter. I spend most of my time here at the bakery, especially since my dad passed away."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," I said awkwardly, not sure how else to respond. I didn't do death very well.

"It's okay," Paula said, giving me a small, sad smile. "It was tough at first, but this place... it keeps me busy. Can't be sad when you're baking SpongeBob cupcakes though, right?"

We continued working, kneading and rolling dough, chatting about our lives in a way that felt oddly normal. I made sure to be cautious, giving away only the bare minimum about myself. I told her I was traveling, that my girlfriend and I were on a bit of an adventure. It was vague enough to be true without revealing too much.

"What's it like, traveling around like that?" Paula asked as we worked.

"It's... freeing, I guess," I said, choosing my words carefully. "But it can also be scary. Not knowing where you'll end up next. Or worse – who you're gonna run into. I've met too many weirdos on the road so far.

Paula nodded thoughtfully. "I can see that. But it sounds exciting too."

I hadn't thought of how exciting our misadventures may sound to someone who makes bread all day. If I weren't me I'd probably think this was exciting too.