Sundae of Surprises

Chapter 8: The Bakery Reunion

By the time Lukas arrived, Emma had dressed in a soft, floral dress with her hair loosely tied back. She stepped out of the guesthouse just as Lukas walked up, his smile as warm as the sunshine.

"Ready for the best breakfast of your life?" he teased, offering her his arm.

Emma took it, laughing. "I'm ready to be impressed."

They strolled through the town again, but this time the streets were quieter, the morning calm still lingering in the air. Lukas led her toward a familiar spot—the bakery where he worked with his father.

"You weren't kidding," Emma said, smiling as she recognized the shopfront. "I knew this was the place."

Lukas chuckled as he opened the door for her. "I had to show you. It's only fair you get the full experience after all that talk about sweets last night."

Inside, the bakery was cozy and inviting, the smell of fresh bread and pastries filling the air. Lukas greeted the older man behind the counter with a wave.

"This is my father," Lukas said proudly. "Dad, this is Emma."

His father smiled warmly, wiping flour from his hands. "Ah, so this is the girl Lukas couldn't stop talking about last night."

Emma felt her cheeks flush. She glanced at Lukas, who looked both embarrassed and amused.

"Dad..." Lukas started, shaking his head with a grin. "Don't scare her off."

His father laughed. "I'm only telling the truth. It's nice to meet you, Emma."

"Nice to meet you too," Emma replied, feeling a warmth in her chest at the thought of Lukas talking about her.

"Sit, sit," Lukas's father urged, pointing to a small table by the window. "I'll bring out some of our best pastries for you to try."

They sat down, and Emma looked around the bakery, admiring the rows of golden-brown breads and pastries displayed on the shelves. She couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort here, as if she was already part of something bigger.

Lukas leaned in, his voice low. "Sorry about my dad. He's always quick to embarrass me."

Emma laughed softly. "I don't mind. It's sweet. He seems proud of you."

Lukas smiled, though there was a hint of modesty in his eyes. "Yeah, he is. The bakery means a lot to him. And to me."

A few minutes later, Lukas's father returned with a tray full of freshly baked croissants, fruit tarts, and pastries dusted with powdered sugar. Emma's eyes widened as he set the tray down.

"Wow," she whispered, her mouth watering. "These look amazing."

"They taste even better," Lukas said, picking up a croissant and handing it to her. "Try this one first."

Emma took a bite, her eyes widening as the buttery, flaky layers melted in her mouth. "Oh my God, this is incredible."

Lukas grinned. "Told you."

As they ate, they continued to talk, sharing more stories about their lives, their dreams, and their families. Emma felt herself opening up more and more, her usual hesitation and guarded nature fading away in Lukas's presence.

"So, what's next for you?" Lukas asked after a while, his tone a bit more serious now. "Are you planning to keep traveling, or...?"

Emma paused, unsure how to answer. When she had first arrived in this town, her plan had been to continue her journey—moving from place to place, never staying long enough to get too attached. But now, sitting across from Lukas in this bakery, she found herself questioning that plan.

"I don't know," she admitted, her voice soft. "I hadn't really thought that far ahead. I was just...wandering, I guess."

Lukas nodded, understanding in his eyes. "Wandering's good. But sometimes, it's nice to have a reason to stay in one place for a while."

His words hung in the air, and Emma felt the weight of them settle in her chest. Was he asking her to stay? Or was it just a casual observation? Either way, the idea of leaving suddenly felt a lot harder than it had before.

Before she could respond, Lukas's father appeared again, interrupting their moment.

"I hope you saved room for more," he said, setting down two slices of cake.

Emma laughed. "I don't know if I can eat another bite."

Lukas leaned back, smirking. "Oh, you can't say no to the cake. Trust me."

Emma looked at the slice in front of her, chocolate with layers of cream, and sighed playfully. "Fine. Twist my arm."

As they dug into the cake, Emma realized how much she didn't want this moment to end. She had found something here—something she hadn't been expecting.