Bittersweet

Friendly thief

EMILIA'S POV

I pushed open the bakery door hearing the familiar jingle of the bell above my head informing Mrs Miller of my presence before my nose was instantly invaded with the sweet aroma of Mrs Miller's baking.

The bakery was located right on the edge of the street, it was small and quaint but created a sense of comfort for all those who came, with the floors tiled black and white like that of a chessboard and each table a different colour of the rainbow, the chairs were placed systematically around each round surface. The walls were littered with all types of art, from oil paintings to sketches, each masterpiece unique in its own way. The smell of coffee hung in the air as I looked over at the fresh batch made on the counter as well as an assortment of muffins of all flavours. I walked over to the appetising looking setup, turning on the lights in the process and bringing the room to life, the small lanterns that had been hung all across the deep blue ceiling provided a small amount of light creating a calm and relaxed atmosphere. Mrs Miller had refused to re-paint the baby blue counter despite the paint chipping off in multiple spaces, she claimed it created a retro vibe which was what she had wanted all along. My fingers trailed along the edge of the counter, stopping at the gumball machine located at the edge, it must have been recently filled with gumballs as the clear top was bursting with colour waiting for some eager child to come bouncing in with loose change. I turned back around doing an overview of the store from behind the counter, it provided space for everyone to enjoy themselves and to feel comfortable, one of the many reasons I regarded it as my safe haven. The smell of the freshly baked goods cocooned you making you feel as though you were completely sheltered from the real world while being ever so free.

My eyes landed on my favourite seat which was located right by the large window facing outwards showing the busy streets of the dainty town. Being located close to a train station meant seeing an insane variety of people each and every day, some dressed in business suits their faces stern and professional while others wore holiday outfits laughing wholeheartedly as they went on their way, we'd even had a circus posse come through just before getting back on the road for a show, we were fortunate enough to have been shown some of their incredible tricks one of them which had included Mrs Miller graciously being thrown into the air, her apron flapping about like the wings on a bird. I could sit there for hours watching as people of all ages and faces walked by each with their own stories to tell, some were ready to create memories while others were returning to share the ones they'd already experienced

"Hello?" I called out walking further behind the store "Mrs Miller?" why did this feel so much like a horror movie scene, I did not wake up this early just to be killed with a spatula, but then again there were worse ways to go and maybe my killer would even be kind enough to let me lick the batter off first.

I hesitantly entered the small kitchen located at the back, wielding a fork in one hand while the other held a spoon. The pantry door was slightly ajar making me aware that someone else was definitely present. Holding my weapons of mass destruction tightly I pulled open the door thoroughly and jumped in.

"AAAAAAH!!!" both I and Mrs Miller screamed in unison.

"What are you doing you Emilia dear? You almost gave me a heart attack" she sighed in exasperation as her hand was placed protectively on her heart

"I called out for you but you didn't answer, I thought you were a burglar" I laughed following her outside as she left the pantry.

"And what were you planning on doing with those?" she said pointing her head in the direction of my hands which still held the cutlery her eyebrows raising questioningly while her mouth quirked upward pulling her thin pink lips into a smirk "roast me over an open fire once you were done?"

"Nope. I was thinking more the oven." I replied playfully, setting them back down behind the counter. She laughed before turning in my direction

She looked back up at me, all traces of humour leaving her freckled face, she tucked a strand of hair behind my ears before her hand came to rest on my cheek her slightly wrinkled hand told an array of stories all at once. Gone was the playful, mischievous old woman. Her kind grey eyes met my own reflecting her sympathy for my position. She let go of my face before running a hand through her grizzled grey hair.

"Don't ever fret before coming to me Emilia my dear, I will always be here for you ready to pick you up when you fall down, you're practically my daughter at this point and I'm your cool hip mom who's house all the kids want to come round" She looked at me her face holding a powerful message and her eyes conveying all the emotions a caring mother would have.

"Thank you, Mrs Miller, I really appreciate it" I answered wholeheartedly "And.....seen as you are in such a caring mood last week I accidentally dropped your David Bowie mug anditaccidentlybroke!" I rushed the ending wincing as I stepped away from her. My feet had somehow become one of the most interesting things on the planet at that point

"Oh, honey I know. Who do you think took the lid of the blender off while you were searching through the fridge" she laughed her eyes twinkling with amusement before she sauntered off back into the pantry

"It took me so freaking long to get the watermelon out of my hair" I yelled out after her retreating figure. My mouth tilted up in a smile, that woman may have been old but boy was she a force to be reckoned with.

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So here's a late chapter 3, what do you think of Mrs Miller? personally, I want her to be my Grandma...

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Remember all criticism is constructive.... unless it's not, in that case, eat shit.. ha just kidding, or am I? you'll never know