Sweet Awakening (Complete Story) by Andrea O'Hanlon

Sweet Awakening Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Another week has gone by. This time I wake up in a sweat and my chest is tight. I am alone in my room. I rub my hands on my eyes hoping to wipe the images away. It has been a month since my parent died. This weekend I am alone. Paul is traveling again this weekend. He has been traveling a lot. He has been merging his buildings into one building that he owns. No more renting is his goal. I roll over and decide it would be a good time to text Paul good morning. I haven't texted him for two days. I feel bad but with the nightmare and work. I have been going to straight to sleep when I get home. We have been on and off texting each other. Sometimes I get frustrated because he keeps asking if I am ok. I tell him of course I am. I still haven't told him about the guilt and nightmare. I think he is noticing something is wrong. I think my frustration are coming across in our conversations. Lisa is also noticing changes in our conversations. She is texting more too. I haven't really been answering either one.

I open the shop two hours later. Kelsey comes in an hour later to help. She has been taking on most of the work lately. She walks in and smiles at me. "Good morning Christine." I give her a small smile and wave back. "Good morning." Kelsey take a serious look at me. "You still haven't been sleeping have you?" I shake my head no. We work on the treats. Kelsey talks about her weekend plan with her boyfriend. How they will spend a night in a hotel for valentine day. I forgot it valentine day this weekend. Today is Thursday February 13th. It will be a busy day. The customer start rolling in right as I open. Thankfully, we made extra Valentine day heart boxes. I will have to give Kelsey a bonus for all the help she has given me. As the day wears on. I am getting more agitated. Kelsey tries to stay between me the overly anxious and excitable customer. "I would like the all caramel heart box please." I try to smile apologetically. "I am sorry we just ran out. I have a half caramel and half milk chocolate truffles." The man looks upset. "Oh no. I always get an all caramel box for my wife every year. She adores your chocolates." "I am so sorry, sir." That isn't what the man wanted to hear. I can see he is getting angry. "But you always have extra all caramel! How could you be out! Last year you had extra stored in back. Is there any back there that you are hiding?" The man is peering behind me like the chocolate will magically appear. "No sir there is not. I have ran out of all them too." I am trying to be polite but this customer isn't getting it. We are all out. The man is yelling at me, but I have shut him out. He is causing a scene. Kelsey is looking over. I can see she is trying to hurry with her customer so she can come help. "I need you to leave now." The man slams his hand down on the counter. He almost cracks my glass case. Now I am angry too. "LOOK! There is no need to be trying to break my case. I am out of caramels. It is not my fault you are coming in here the day before Valentine Day to get your wife a gift. Now PLEASE LEAVE." I am now screaming at the customer. The man is shocked. Kelsey comes over and direct me to the back of the store. "I will handle out here. How about you go make some sweets?" I walk to the back of the shop. I hear Kelsey explain that I have been stressed since my parents died and the half and half box is free. I might have lost some customer today. I stay in the back until we close.

It is Friday morning at 7am. I am already at the shop making sweet for the day. It is Valentine's Day. The busiest chocolate day of the year. I came in early so I could make sure I have plenty for today. We are opening at 8 am today. At 7:45 I hear the back door open. I hear two voices talking. Kelsey and April come in the kitchen. "I hope you don't mind. I asked April to come in to help today. Today is always the busy. I thought extra help would be useful." I stare shocked at her for a moment. I know she is trying to be helpful not hurtful. Especially after yesterday outburst. I want to tell her I can handle it but a wave of fatigue hits me. I had only slept three hours last night and then came back here. I smile weakly at her. "That is great you two run the front and I will box back here if that is ok." Kelsey gives me a great big hug and whisper in my ear. "I was here for when Scott died and I am here for you now. In no time life will resume as normal and we will miss them every day without the tears." I hug her back grateful that she is with me.