up for you later. What can I
make you to eat?” Storm told her she wasn’t hungry. “Well, too bad. I’m going to make you
something and you’re going to eat it. You can pick or I can make you something I like.”
“A sandwich. But I really am not hungry. I’m…I hurt.” Aunt Lynn told her that she knew
and kissed her on the cheek as she moved by her to the large refrigerator.
Aunt Sally came into the kitchen with a cash bag and receipts. She looked like she’d been
run through the ringer.
“That nice Mr. Harrison helped me out, but I don’t want to have to do that again. I was over
six hundred dollars in the hole until he showed up. Then poof, there it was.” Storm was terrified
to think that they’d only made that much in the three days that she’d been down. At this rate,
they’d be lucky if they made it for another two months. “Yesterday wasn’t so bad. But Mrs.
Harrison did the paperwork then. And Lynn did it the first time. You’re going to be happy to
know that I’m quitting as the cashier, too. Those things scare the beeswax out of me.”
“I’ve heard the word shit a few times, Aunt Sally.” She huffed at her and sat down across
from her. “How has Danny been working out? Or has he stopped coming?”
“Danny has been here every day and is doing a fine job. And we hired another man that
came by, too.” Aunt Lynn sat beside her and put a sandwich and chips with a large glass of tea in
front of her as Aunt Sally continued. “Mr. Harrison interviewed him for us. Such a nice man. Did
you know that he and his wife have been helping us out, too? Bri, we’re to call her that, she’s
been trying her hand at baking. And she’s done a fine job, but I think she and Ordan have had the
most fun working the front for us. Lynn and I have been baking things and then selling them,
too. I forgot how much fun it was. But I can see why you took it over for us. It’s a lot of hard
work for a couple of old women.”
“Neither of you is old. I’m really sorry that I had to put you through this. I hope you kept
track of what they worked. I need to pay them, too.” Aunt Lynn shook her head. “Yes, I do. I
don’t know how well we did, but we can’t owe people like them money.”
“You did very well. Extremely well, as a matter of fact. And we kept track of the hours and,
believe it or not, they only wanted pastries in trade. Ordan has a real sweet tooth, and Bri wanted
breads for her Sunday dinners with her family.” Storm was looking over the books for the last
three days and looked at Aunt Lynn.
“Is this right?” She nodded and smiled. “We made twenty grand in three days? What the hell
were you selling that was worth that much?”
“Well, it’s not all pastries. Your aunt and I did a few tricks on the side. It was sort of fun, but
men are such pigs.” Storm stared at her with wide eyes until she laughed. “You should see your
face. No, it’s not that. We sold that old cabinet in the back, the one you wanted to use as a
display. The man gave you eight thousand for it. I know that I should have asked, but he made us
a deal. We can go to his shop and get some tables and chairs for out front, and he’ll sell them to
us for half price.”
“What kind of shop?” Her aunts said they’d been there and it was nice. “An antique shop?
And he just happens to have tables and chairs for us?”
“Yes. Why are you always so suspicious of people, darling?” Storm didn’t say anything, but
they seemed to understand. “We’re going to go over there tonight and pick out five sets if he has
them. That way when our customers want to have a seat, we can let them.”
Storm didn’t tell them to be careful. Her aunts might be elderly, and they might seem a little
off at times, but neither of them would be taken advantage of, and no one would pull the wool
over their eyes. If the man was thinking to take them for a ride, he was going to be in for a huge
surprise.