Confessions of a Pastry Chef

Chapter 3

"Chris" Camryn stood up, beaming. He pulled her into a huge hug. "I made it." She said, muffled by his white chef's coat.

"Only five years later." Chris said they let go, beaming. He pushed open the door to a now empty kitchen. "Let's give you the grand tour, kiddo."

"Wow, they clean up quickly." Camryn was amazed at how spotless the kitchen was. Now that it wasn't packed with people she could finally appreciate its splendor. Four large marble tables, that had just been covered with tiny pastries and flour were now shining spotless.

Chris gave Camryn a quick tour of the kitchen, pointing out important appliances and storage. Camryn noticed that tablets accompanied every appliance and controlled every little detail. The tablet on the oven monitored everything from temperature to "pastry browning level".

"Impressive Chris." Camryn said running her hand over a smooth metal oven. "Nothing like good old Annie's though." Chris gave a small grin. Behind, his more professional, polished look, Camryn could see the hint of the boy she grew up with.

The appliances at Sweet Annie's were old and slow. The lone oven had broken dials and its cooking ability varied depending on the weather outside. Annie Appleton, the wonderful elderly woman who owned Sweet Annie's, didn't even have a cell phone or computer. The appliances at Sweet Annie's had been around since Annie started in 1964, after she moved back from New York to her hometown. Camryn was suddenly drawn into the memory of the tiny bake shop. The kitchen that could only hold a maximum of five people. The sweet, sugary smell that met your nose when you walked in and persisted no matter the time of day. The little bell that clinked over head, and Annie's fat orange cat, Rooster, that slunk around the bakery, picking up food crumbs that he definitely shouldn't be eating. Dozens of cookie jars that lined the shelves and that old yellow oven, that looked like it came out of a 1920s poster. Chris had named the oven Gerald the day they started. Camryn prided herself on mastering the ways of Gerald-- when it was hot outside, croissants should be baked for approximately 12 minutes.

Camryn was brought out of her reminiscing as she ran her hand over the cool metal of a brand new, stainless steel oven. Everything here was new and could be managed with the tip of a finger on an iPad.

"What can I say?" Chris said, resting his elbows on the marble counter. "We're efficient."

Camryn smiled, "I don't know, it was hard to say goodbye to Gerald."

"Gerald." Chris gasped, jokingly. "That old oven is still alive? Cam he was about to die ten years ago. I'm surprised he hasn't burnt down the place." He suddenly stood up excitedly. "I have to show you something, I forgot about it after all these years."

Chris motioned for her to follow him and he led her to one of the large industrial ovens. He pointed to a small yellow magnet with the engraving Geraldine. "Get. Out." Camryn gasped, running her hand over the engraving, "Gerald has a sister?!"

Chris laughed and shrugged, "I had to take him with me somehow. This was the first oven we brought in here. I did get a lot of weird looks at the beginning when I was talking to an oven like it was a person. Not a good way to set an example, that's for sure."

Camryn was reminded of high school when they worked long hours at Annie's, they would be so exhausted rolling pastry after pastry, that they told Gerald all their stories and like he was their friend. Their laughs echoed throughout the empty Sweet Annie's kitchen. 

"Poor Geraldine." She laughed and smiled, "She's so far from Gerald."

Chris shrugged "What can I say. There's distance between them but they will still find each other someday."