UNSPOKEN

1

Have you ever had that feeling when a familiar smell or taste brings you back to a specific time and place of your life? Well, for me it was him. Out of all the bakeries in the Hamptons he'd chosen my bakery. Jackson Bardwell was sitting at my bakery and every single cell of my body knew it. My heart reacted and my eyes looked for him the minute he sat down at the table far back in the corner. I hid behind the kitchen wall, took a couple of breaths and sneaked a second look to the table where he was. There they were the same disheveled dark brown hair and stubble of 5 days that haunted me during years.

"C'mon Marion, you are stronger and wiser" I said to myself as I tied a black apron to my waist. Why did Alexa's kid have to get sick today? She would've taken my place and I would never ever had to see him again. I took a deep breath and walked out to take his order.

"Hello Jackson" I said with confidence. At least I thought I sounded confident. He had his head on his hands; he seemed worried. I kicked myself mentally for knowing all his little tells still. He looked up confused that someone was using his name.

"Marion Galloway" he said with recognition on his black eyes. He almost smiled and I couldn't help but smile back. "How are you?" he got up and hugged me. Yep, he took me back to a time where I was naïve and stupid; a time filled with adventure and new things. I hugged him back a bit longer than necessary but only because he still smelled of carelessness and fun.

"I'm fine" I shrugged and saw him sit back down.

"You work here?" he asked looking around at the bakery. I shook my head.

"I own the place" I smiled with pride.

"You made it" he seemed genuinely happy for me.

"Kind of" I look around a bit "I'm still short on staff but I am getting there"

"You made it" he repeated in a whisper and looked down at his hands. He seemed off. His hair was all over the place like I remembered but he was wearing a suit. He seemed as if he had been wandering around for days.

"Are you ok, Jackson?" I asked putting my hand on his shoulder. He looked up and smiled

"I should've stayed here... with you Mar" I decided to ignore the way my heart beat faster for a few seconds.

"What for?" I smiled jokingly "You would've been in the back chopping tomatoes" he nodded and looked down again.

"What can I get you, then? Coffee? Cake?" I took my pad to scribble down whatever he had to say.

"Do you bake any of the stuff in here?" he asked looking up again.

"Everything you see" I grinned happy that he remembered I could bake.

"Muffins?" he asked straightening on the chair.

"Blueberry, Banana, Carrot and Espresso" I said looking at today's muffin menu that was in the wall just above the coffee station.

"Espresso, definitely espresso" he grinned and I noted down the muffin.

"Drink?" I asked smiling.

"Surprise me" he said covering his chin with his hand.

"Surprise and muffin coming up" I said and turned around to the tiny kitchen in the back of the bakery where I spent most of my days. I leaned against the wall and took 3 or 300 deep breaths. Jackson Bardwell was my everything 8 years before but he didn't feel the same way about me. We had this sexual chemistry that could light on the bonfires in the summer and we got along perfectly, we did everything with the other in mind and maybe, just maybe we loved each other but we never went further than that, a friendship with lots of sex. Life got in the way and he never came back for the summers. I stayed back living off my trust fund and trying to make my dream of having my own bakery come true. I still thought about him from time to time. What we had was special even if it had no labels and now he was right there in front of me with all his glorious handsomeness and remembering tiny details of someone he used to know. I sighed, grabbed a tiny plate for the muffin and out I went to the counter where I warmed up the muffin while taking quick glances towards him. He definitely seemed worried and I could tell he was a bit emotional by the way he ran his hand through his hair; maybe that's why the hair was all over the place. I prepared his drink and took it to him.

"Espresso muffin and a peach shake" I said placing them in front of him. He smiled a very weak smile. "The shake is for the worry that is eating you away" I said and he looked up and shook his head.

"You still know me, Mar" He took a sip from the shake and nodded "and you still rock at everything you cook. Please sit with me for a while" he said motioning his hand to the chair in front of him.

"What's wrong, Jackson?" I asked placing my elbows on the table and putting my chin on my hands. He only shook his head and took a bite of the muffin.

"Ok, then, why are you back?" he looked up and shook his head again. "C'mon, you have to give me something, anything" I said smiling and he took another bite of the muffin.

"I'm running away" he said once he swallowed the muffin.

"From?" I asked

"Life" he shrugged and finished his muffin. "are you happy, Mar?" he asked and I had to think about what he was asking. Was I?

"I'm content with my life" I shrugged " happiness is something that passes by too quickly, I think" he nodded "You?" he looks up to me

"no, I'm not happy nor content" He takes a sip of his shake "I have no idea what that is"

"That's what you are escaping from then?" I asked and he nodded.

"I doubt you are going to find that in the Hamptons" I said taking the empty plate and glass

"You found it, didn't you?" he asked hopeful. I shrugged.

"I worked for it, I guess" I said looking out the window. It was almost closing time.

"You deserve it, that's why you found it" he said standing up and handing me a bill.

"It's on the house" I said smiling up at him. I almost had forgotten how tall he was.

"Take care Marion Galloway" he turned around and walked to the door.

"Good bye, Jackson" I said with a sigh as I saw him walk down the street through the bakery window.