Moonlit Futures

Lexi POV

3 Weeks Later

Poking my tongue out I bit down on it to steady my hand. Getting the cakes in their spots, I stepped back to admire the finished product. Spotting a few flowers that were off I quickly adjusted those and put a few additional things on it. Stepping back I couldn't help but smile. Hearing the door open I grabbed my supplies and put them in the sink. Listening as Dale walked around the cake I heard him grunt a few times. Hiding my smile I started to dry my tools before feeling a slight pat on my back. Turning to look at Dale I caught his small smile. Sticking my tongue out we turned to look at the cake.

"Did a pretty good job."

"Pretty good? Don't you mean a fantastic job." I told him ribbing him in the side. 

"Don't get cocky." He shot out at me with a smile playing around his lips.

"I'm not cocky." I growled at him, smoothing down my apron I prepared my smile. "I'm just confident in my skills." Shooting my smile up at him, I heard him bust out in laughter which made me laugh too. "Ok, ok that sounded bad but it's kind of true. I am confident."

"You got talent kid, don't get me wrong but cockiness leads to mistakes." Sighing I just nodded at him before I turned to finish drying my tools.

"You send that letter yet?" Jostling my tips, I knocked the tray of them into the soapy water. Looking at it with a scowl I turned around slowly.

"It's on my desk."

"Don't you pull that shit with me." He huffed out. "It's been 3 weeks Lexi, you better start moving your ass."

"You trying to get rid of me Dale? If so I can be gone." Fear clawed at the back of my throat.

"You know I"m not saying that. Stop thinking the worst of people and putting words out there I didn't say. Dammit you're frustrating." Slumping onto a stool he started to rub a hand over his face. "You said you were going to send it to your friends and your boyfriend. How long has it been since you talked to them?"

"Not that long." I hedged a bit, looking down at the towel in my hands. 

"You better learn to lie better than that. What happened to confident Lexi? Where is she at? This scaredy cat couldn't have just made that cake with only 3 weeks training. You couldn't have taken this job here and been so trusting that nothing bad would happen to you if you were this scared."

"It's different Dale, I already told you! What if they don't want me around anymore? What then?"

"Then you got a place to come back to here. We will always want you around! Amber and I love you like family. Lorraine loves you like a daughter. She gets worried when she hears you sneaking off into the woods at night, ears like a bat that one. Don't look so surprised. You go there and they kick you out then you know. If you don't go then you live you're whole life not knowing what could have been. Don't you go living a life of what if." Wringing the towel I kind of just nodded at what he was saying.

"It's settled then, mail your letter, tell them you'll be home in a week. You go and if they hate you or you hate it then you come back."

"What?" looking up at Dale I could see tears in his eyes and felt mine starting to brim over.

"Lexi, you owe this to yourself. If you won't do it for yourself then do it for this old soul who just wants to see you happy." Rushing over I hugged him. Holding on we stood like that until the door chime let us know Amber walked in.

"So you're going home then?" She mumbled after seeing us.

"I guess." I mumbled out as I broke apart from Dale and wiped my eyes with my sleeve.

"Pops didn't give you a choice did he?" She asked gently as she came up to hug me. Shaking my head at her I latched on and broke down again. After a few minutes she gently pried my off of her and held out a tissue. Taking it I patted my eyes down and looked around the bakery. 

"I guess I should go pack." Taking in several deep breaths I went to go put my apron away.

"You come by here tomorrow before you leave. I mean it." Dale said leveling a stare at me. Nodding I put my apron on the hook and briskly walked out.