Chapter 12 - Worth the Trip

Saturday mornings were always the busiest.

By eight o'clock, the shelves that had been full less than an hour earlier already showed empty spaces where fresh bread had disappeared into eager hands. The warm scent of butter drifted through the bakery, mixing with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee.

Emma tied another paper bag closed before handing it to a regular customer.

"Have a wonderful weekend, Mrs. Greene."

"You too, dear."

The bell above the door chimed again.

Another customer.

Without looking up, Emma greeted them with the same cheerful voice she used every morning.

"Good morning! Welcome—"

The rest of the sentence caught in her throat.

Daniel stood just inside the doorway.

He wasn't wearing the button-up shirt she'd seen on their first date. Instead, he wore a simple navy sweater with dark jeans, one hand tucked casually into his pocket.

For a second...

Emma simply stared.

Daniel smiled.

"Good morning."

"You..."

She blinked twice, making sure she wasn't imagining him.

"What are you doing here?"

"I came to buy bread."

Emma folded her arms.

"Did you?"

"I did."

She narrowed her eyes.

"Really?"

Daniel tried to keep a straight face.

"...Mostly."

A laugh escaped before Emma could stop it.

"I knew it."

"You knew what?"

"That you didn't come all this way just because you suddenly wanted bread."

"I wouldn't underestimate good bread."

Emma shook her head, smiling.

"You planned that answer."

"Maybe a little."

Behind her, Mrs. Alvarez cleared her throat.

"Emma."

Emma turned around immediately.

"Sorry."

"We have customers waiting."

"Oh!"

Her face warmed with embarrassment.

"I'll be right there."

Daniel smiled to himself as Emma hurried back behind the counter, apologizing to the next customer before wrapping another loaf of bread.

For the next fifteen minutes, he simply watched.

Emma moved through the bakery with effortless confidence.

She greeted every customer by name whenever she recognized them.

She remembered who preferred whole wheat over white bread.

She patiently answered questions about ingredients.

When an elderly man struggled to carry two large bags, she walked around the counter to help him to the door without being asked.

A little girl no older than five stood on tiptoe, trying to see the pastries behind the glass display.

Emma crouched until they were eye level.

"Which one looks the happiest today?"

The little girl pointed at a cinnamon roll almost as big as her face.

"That one."

Emma laughed.

"I think that's a very good choice."

Daniel found himself smiling.

This Emma wasn't different from the one he'd met at the café.

She was simply...

More.

More confident.

More relaxed.

More completely herself.

He hadn't realized how much he wanted to see this side of her.

Mrs. Alvarez quietly approached his table with a cup of black coffee.

"I didn't order this."

"It's on the house."

Daniel looked up.

"Thank you."

She smiled kindly before glancing toward Emma, who was busy arranging another tray of bread.

"So."

Daniel laughed under his breath.

"She says that a lot."

Mrs. Alvarez looked amused.

"I wasn't talking to Emma."

"Oh."

"You must be Daniel."

He blinked.

"...She mentioned me?"

"Not by name."

Mrs. Alvarez folded her arms.

"But I've worked with Emma long enough to notice when something changes."

Daniel glanced toward the counter.

"What changed?"

"She hums while she works."

He looked back at Mrs. Alvarez.

"She didn't before?"

"Not once."

Daniel smiled quietly.

"I didn't know that."

Mrs. Alvarez's expression softened.

"Neither did she."

For a moment, neither of them said anything.

Then Mrs. Alvarez nodded toward the counter.

"I think she's finally free."

Emma looked over just then.

The bakery had grown noticeably quieter.

Most of the morning rush had passed.

She walked over carrying two small paper bags.

"You waited."

"I told you I came for bread."

She raised an eyebrow.

"So you keep saying."

Daniel accepted one of the bags before looking inside.

Several warm salt breads rested neatly together.

"They're still warm."

"I took them out of the oven not long ago."

He looked up.

"Thank you."

Emma hesitated before holding out the second bag.

"And..."

"This one's different."

Daniel accepted it carefully.

"Different how?"

"I made those myself."

He looked from the bag to Emma.

"You did?"

She nodded.

"I wanted you to try them."

The moment the words left her mouth, she felt her cheeks grow warm.

"It sounds stranger when I say it out loud."

Daniel smiled gently.

"I don't think it does."

Emma looked away, pretending to straighten the napkin holder on the table.

"I promised I'd let you try my salt bread."

"You did."

"So..."

"I finally kept my promise."

Daniel carefully opened the smaller paper bag.

The smell of warm butter escaped immediately.

He tore off a small piece while Emma watched him with folded arms.

Well...

Tried to look casual.

She wasn't.

Daniel took a bite.

He chewed thoughtfully, taking his time.

Emma waited.

And waited.

Finally, she couldn't take it anymore.

"Well?"

He swallowed before looking at her.

"You were right."

She blinked.

"About what?"

"It was worth coming all this way."

Relief spread across Emma's face before she could hide it.

"Really?"

He nodded.

"Really."

She smiled.

Not the polite smile she gave customers.

Not the embarrassed smile she wore whenever Lily teased her.

This one reached her eyes.

Daniel thought it might be his favorite one yet.

"You know," Emma said, "I was expecting a much longer review."

"I was busy eating."

"So that's your review?"

"It's very convincing."

She laughed.

"I suppose it is."

Daniel reached for another piece.

"I should've bought more."

"You've barely finished the first one."

"I'm planning ahead."

Emma shook her head.

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"You should."

They talked for another few minutes, mostly about ordinary things.

Emma asked whether he had any plans for the rest of the weekend.

Daniel admitted he hadn't thought that far ahead.

She told him about an assignment due the following week.

He listened with the same quiet attention he always did.

Eventually, Emma glanced toward the kitchen.

"I should probably get back."

Daniel followed her gaze.

"I won't keep you."

He stood, gathering the paper bags.

Emma walked with him toward the door.

Just as he reached for the handle, she noticed a small streak of flour near the sleeve of his sweater.

"Oh."

Daniel stopped.

"What?"

Without thinking, Emma reached up and brushed the flour away with the tips of her fingers.

The movement lasted only a second.

But it brought them unexpectedly close.

Emma froze.

"So... apparently I got flour on you."

Daniel looked down at the clean sleeve before looking back at her.

"I suppose you did."

"...Sorry."

His smile was soft enough to settle the embarrassment almost immediately.

"I don't mind."

Neither of them moved for a heartbeat.

Then Daniel quietly cleared his throat.

"So..."

Emma laughed.

"You still haven't found a better transition?"

"I'm trying."

"I don't believe you."

"Fair."

He smiled.

"Are you free next Saturday?"

Emma didn't even pretend to think about it.

"I am."

"Good."

He opened the door, the morning breeze slipping into the bakery.

"I'll see you then."

"I'll see you."

Daniel stepped outside before turning back one last time.

"Oh."

Emma looked up.

"Thanks for the bread."

She smiled.

"You're welcome."

This time, as he disappeared down the street with two paper bags in his hands, Emma watched him a little longer than she meant to.

Only after he was gone did she realize something.

She had never asked where he had been before stopping by the bakery.

For some reason...

She had a feeling it wasn't anywhere nearby.