Sweets Bakery

    SWEETS BAKERY

There is a small town in the midwest where life is still simple and quiet, the downtown is full of quaint little mom and pop shops that are always busy. The sidewalks- always filled with people passing people that they know, saying hello then smiling as they go on with their business. This is just how it is here.  Simple, friendly.  Un-intruded by large companies wanting to take over.  The people here own everything that there is and they take pride in that, that is what makes the community what it is.  Partly why our family had stayed here so long, grown to love it.  I love to go into the shops, get to know the store owners.  Some have interesting stories, of course most have been around for decades.  But there is one, this one- her story about broke my heart.   

Lucy and I had been walking down Main Street and we had smelled a sweet smell coming from a small bakery.  Stopping in front of the windows, we peered in.  Looking at each other, we smiled and then grinning, we both nodded like school girls.  Opening the door, the scent of sweet confections hit us so strongly we felt like we had gone to a sugary heaven.  Lucy and I walked over to the cases that held every type of cookie, scone, donut, cupcake-  you name it, it was there. "May I get something for you today?" the woman behind the counter asked.  We both laughed, knowing that there was no way we could make up our minds. "One of everything!" We both said.  She laughed in response to us. "I own this bakery, I know everything that is made, I bake them myself.  Maybe I can help you choose." she told us. "Wow, that is a lot of work." Lucy said to her. "Do they taste as good as they smell?" she added.  "I don't know, I don't eat sweets anymore.  So I couldn't really tell you.  My one employee, Sara, says that they do.  So you would have to take her word." the woman explained to us. We were stunned. How could someone not like what they made? They looked and smelled wonderful. "The double chocolate cupcakes are one of the specialties that we have here." she told us. "And the chocolate peanut butter cookies are the second best seller." Lucy and I decided on the cookies. "My name is Elizabeth Sweets, by the way." the woman added. My curiosity got the better of me.  I had to know.  "Why don't you like sweets? If you don't mind me asking." She looked shocked that someone had asked her. I must have been the first.  I didn't think she was going to answer and immediately felt sorry for invading her privacy.  Then she said, "No, it is okay. It had just been a long time since I talked about it.  We aren't busy, do you want to go over to the table and sit?" She motioned to one of the tables across the room.  We all three walked over and sat down, taking our desserts with us.  "I didn't mean to be nosey.  If you don't want to talk about it, it is really okay." I told her. "Really, it is alright." She began her story. "It was twenty years ago when we opened this bakery." she said as her voice began to crack a little as she took a sip of water.  I had caught the word 'we'.  "It was my husband and I.  We enjoyed this place, it was our life. We opened it about five years after we had gotten married.  But then he got sick, cancer took him away from me a year later.  I couldn't let go of the bakery, it was all I had left of him. But I could never touch another thing I baked from it." she finished with tears in her eyes.  I was so sorry I asked her.  That she told us.  "I am sorry, I didn't mean..." She cut me off, "No, you didn't know.  It was a long time ago.  It is okay, I just miss him still so much.  Thank you for asking, for allowing me to remember." She touched our arms as she got up and walked away smiling.

"Lucy, she seems so sad.  I feel sorry for her." She gave me that look, the one she always does when I want to 'fix' someone.  "I don't know what you think you can do, but there really isn't anything for you to do in this case.  You can't make someone happy if they don't want to be happy." she said to me.  "I know that Lucy.  BUT, I can maybe get her to remember what it was like when she enjoyed the sweets that she had with her husband.  If she had that back, maybe she would enjoy her bakery more." I told Lucy..  All I wanted was for Elizabeth to not feel so lonely anymore.  She has the most wonderful place downtown.  She should be happy there.

I decided that my plan included me getting a part-time job there.  Elizabeth told me I was a natural baker.  I stayed late helping her create treats and decorate for the morning cases.  It was so much fun.  My plan was in full swing.  It wasn't long and I actually got her to taste a special batch of Christmas cookies that I created.  Elizabeth did it without even thinking about it.  A natural reaction.  "These are fabulous!" she said to me, "They will be the special of the day." I grinned from ear to ear watching her finish the cookie, enjoying each bite.  "You do realize you just ate, and enjoyed a cookie!" I said to her.  We both laughed.  "I did, didn't I?" she came over and hugged me.  "I don't know how you managed to do that.. but I have a feeling it wasn't an accident. But thank you!"