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caramell0w · 6 years

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Sugar and Spice Chapter 1

Since you guys are the best, I am going to give you a sneak peek of my book that comes out next week. This is all of chapter 1 of my book! If you want to order a copy (99 cents, come on and help a girl out) you can buy it from any of these links:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2MW0F66

Kobo: https://bit.ly/2PifTjx

Smashwords: https://bit.ly/2MW0Kqq

Books2read.com: books2read.com/u/4DlNlA

Books2read and Smashwords have a few other websites they partner with so check those out for additional places to purchase (including Barnes and Noble and Ibooks)

Chapter 1

The funeral is over and everyone is still in disbelief that she is gone. She was too young, too healthy to be ripped from our family so soon. Aunt Sheryl was the one constant in my life; I could count on her for everything since my mom passed away during my freshman year in high school. Aunt Sheryl made everyone around her smile, and she had a true talent for making the best baked goods around. I have no idea how I am going to manage this all without her.

Two days after we buried her, I’m sitting in her attorney’s office, listening to the reading of the will with her husband, my Uncle Rob.

“Finally, to my darling niece, Kaylan Santine, I give you complete control and ownership of Little Sweet Shoppe. She has always been good to me and I know she will do wonders for you. Make me proud and keep her in the family.”

“What?” I almost choke on my water, so I place the glass on the table in front of me. “I know nothing of owning a bakery! I don’t even know how to bake that well. Why isn’t she leaving it to you, Uncle Rob?” I ask, panicking.

The attorney hands me the will so I can read it myself. I read it once, twice, three times before handing it back and leaning into the fabric chair. How could she do this? What was she thinking? I’m shell-shocked as I sit here, staring straight ahead, before my uncle waves his hands in front of my face.

“Kaylan, are you still with us?” Uncle Rob asks.

“Yeah,” I whisper. “Why not leave it with you or sell it? Why leave it to me?” I turn my full attention to Uncle Rob, my eyes pleading for answers.

“You were the only one she trusted with the store that is family. You worked there for many summers throughout high school and college. You know the ropes. When we were putting this will together a few years back, she was adamant that you take control of the shop.”

I take a deep breath and slowly exhale, my mind racing, trying to think rationally about this, how to make this work. There are people who work in the bakery that know the ropes, and I could buy some books on how to do it…

“Uncle Rob, what if I can’t do this?” I look at him, my eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

“Kaylan, your aunt had all the faith in the world you could do this. I’m too old to take on something like this, and she couldn’t bear to see it close. She felt the shop was too important to the community and refused to sell it to a chain store. She wanted to be able to keep small businesses around.” He reaches forward and places a reassuring hand on my knee. “Please try. If things really start going south, we can look into other options, okay?” he asks, a small smile playing on his lips.

I stay silent for a moment, letting the words sink in. “Okay.”

“Great, now that’s settled, here are the keys.” The attorney drops a set of three keys on a ring into my hand. “She owned an apartment upstairs from the bakery as well. The rent of the apartment is included in the rent for the shop. I need you to sign here.” He points to the blank line on the paper.

“She had an apartment?” I look at my uncle and he shrugs.

“News to me, sweetheart.”

I sign on the line and gather my belongings to leave the office, Uncle Rob in tow.

“Don’t be mad at Sheryl,” Uncle Rob says, patting my shoulder.

“I’m not mad at her. I just don’t understand her! Baking was her passion. I just worked there because it was a job and she let me eat stuff that wasn’t sold at night,” I scoff lightly. “What am I gonna do? She has employees and bills and everything else. I mean, did she handle all the finances or did she have someone to do that?”

We walk out into the sunny street and begin making our way toward the parking lot across the street.

“She has someone, a nice guy. His name is Dan. He’s been over with his wife and kids for dinner a few times. She also has someone who comes in and helps her bake in the mornings and another girl who helps with the front during the day. How about I take you over there this weekend and you can meet everyone? They are reopening on Saturday. I’ll do the introductions, and you can start getting a feel for the place.” He smiles, trying to reassure me.

“What about my job? I already have one of those with benefits and everything. I can’t uproot my life in the city to move out to the suburbs. What about Kevin?” I feel myself start to panic again thinking through all the changes that are about to happen.

“We’ll figure it all out. Now, go home, get some sleep, and I’ll see you in a few days, okay?” he asks, pulling me into a tight embrace.

“Yeah, I’ll see you in a few days.” I hug him back, but I’m not feeling any better about the situation at hand.

Getting into my car, I decide to drive over to the shop to have a look around. I park my car in front of the shop and get out to peer into the window. She wasn’t into technology, and the shop relied on people coming in to pick up their orders. She refused to have a website, insisting that it took away too much of the charm.

I press my face against the glass and smile, remembering all the summers of tasting the sweet treats and helping customers as they raved about how amazing everything tasted. Aunt Sheryl has, had, a way of resonating with people; she could make a room light up just by being in it. The shop has been closed since the funeral. She was well known in the community, as was evident by the turnout at the wake and funeral.

I look around at the chairs on the small tables, and the drink cooler to the right. Everything is exactly as it was the last time I was here. I close my eyes, picturing the happy customers coming to pick up treats for dessert or for a party. The shop was so full of life, and I can almost hear the bell over the door and Aunt Sheryl’s infectious laugh as she filled the cream puffs. Concentrating hard, I can smell the sugar in the air, the sweetness just enough to put a smile on someone’s face when they open the door. I ponder going in for a minute to have a look around but think better of it at the last second.

I open my eyes again to see the shop still empty and the lights still off. I groan inwardly as I think about how to run this place. First things first, I have to go home and talk with Kevin.

Tagging some friends: @theimpossibleg1rl @siren-kitten-his @katiew1973 @suz-123 @diinofayce @learisa @avenger-nerd-mom @princess-evans-addict @jewels2876 @loriwrites (I can never remember your other user name when I do this girlfriend) @devikafernando @tilltheendwilliwrite @4theluvofall @stuckyfox @lostinthoughtsandfeelings @221bshrlocked @winterwitch611

#sugar and spice #new release #it comes out next week #please pick up a copy #let me know what you think

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