𝙎𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨 ✔️

Chapter Four

Marinette was not going to walk in to her new job on Monday without a solid game-plan. She knew that she and Emma were basically strangers, meaning Marinette wanted to make this day-no, scratch that, this week-as painless as possible.

She had spent the weekend preparing. After she had a nice long chat with Alya, trying to pick her brain for information on Emma, she proceeded to stalk the internet for bonding activities. In the end, Marinette had to trust her instincts and made a list of the activities she had done with Manon over ten years ago.

"Ok, Marinette," she said to herself in the mirror as she dressed in nice yet comfortable clothing. "You can do this. It will be like babysitting Manon: hard the first time but progressively easier." She grabbed a hair-tie then twirled her hair up into an easy bun. "Just make it one day at a time. One day at a time."

She took in her appearance once last time, giving the girl in the mirror a nod of approval before grabbing her precious necklace off her nightstand. She held it tight, feeling the bite of the diamond dig into her palm and the tip of the heart dig into her finger. It seemed almost pitiful to put her wedding ring on the sterling silver necklace Nathaniel had given to her back when they were teenagers, yet, Marinette knew the ring couldn't go back on her finger. She had removed it as a symbol to herself that she was no longer married. That Nathaniel was truly gone. While it stung so badly, it somehow made the days easier.

With a sigh, she shoved the ring down her shirt front and felt the cool metal rest on her skin right above her heart. Then, she grabbed her oversized red purse from her closet and went down into the kitchen to finish preparing for the day.

"Good morning," her mother chirped before shoving a plate of pastries towards Marinette. "Are you ready?"

Grinning, Marinette snatched a pain au chocolate from the plate before giving her mother a side hug. "Nearly. Just need a few more things."

"I'm so excited for you," Maman said for the umpteenth time in the last few days.

"I know, Maman," Marinette said as she pulled a collection of different containers out of the pantry.

"And I'll keep my fingers crossed this works out."

"I have them crossed, too."

Maman's smile grew brighter. "You have no idea how happy I am to hear that."

Marinette's grin turned teasing. "You know, Maman, you could have kicked me out if you hated having me around that much."

Her mother chuckled. "You know what I mean. I'll forever be your mother and want you to be happy. Without a bottle of wine influencing it."

"That was one time!" Marinette cried.

Her mother laughed.

Marinette rolled her eyes. After chucking all the containers into her bag, she headed down to the bakery, her mother's parting "goodbye" echoing down the stairs.

She slipped into the bakery storage room, taking out the containers one by one and filling them. She double-checked everything before realizing she had forgotten the card. She bounded back upstairs as quickly as she could, snatched the pink card off her desk, then hopped back down the stairs to the door.

She got to her car, grabbing the handle and pulling only to realize it was locked. Rolling her eyes, she stomped back inside. She tossed the door open

To see her mother standing there holding a glittery ladybug charm that kept all her keys together.

Marinette flashed a sheepish grin before taking the keys and thanking her maman.

"Just like old times," her mother said, shaking her head with a smile. "Have a good day."