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How could she ever work in a toy shop if she thought children were annoying and whiney?
    Her next interview was in five minutes. Payton walked in with four minutes to spare dressed in jeans and a Tootsie Roll T-shirt. The girl was about the age Ellie was when she’d left home. Though, Payton looked much younger with her freckled face and blond hair in a pageboy cut.
    Trying not to judge a book by its cover, Ellie suppressed her excitement. “What are your qualifications?”
    “Well, besides being a cashier for two years, I have a Barbie collection and love kids.”
    Whoo hoo! “Can you start in a couple days?”
    “The sooner the better. My other job went out of business.”
    Ellie grinned. “You’re hired.”
    ***
    Nervous, but confident in what he was doing at the same time, Jacob grabbed Ellie’s gift and headed out the door to her grand opening. When he pulled up to the store and saw the customers with their children lined up at the door, a sense of pride washed over him. He’d done everything Ellie had envisioned. But finishing the job was bittersweet . He only had to convince her to go on one date with him. The rest would be a piece of cake.
    People piled into Oliver’s Toys & Treats. Jacob stood back until the last customers had wedged their way into Ellie’s shop. Curious, he watched through the window as children dragged their parents from toy to toy, then their eyes would light up when they saw all the colorful candies on display. Ellie’s vision was a success. The smile on Ellie’s face was one he’d never seen. She really was in her element. She didn’t even reach up to twirl her earring once. Ellie bent down to the children’s level and looked them right in the eye when she asked them what kind of candy they wanted to sample.
    When a little girl tugged on Ellie’s shirt and pointed at a doll all the way on the top shelf, even when there were dozens of dolls exactly the same right below it, Ellie just smiled, nodded and got a ladder to get the precise doll the little girl had pointed at. His heart warmed. Ellie Oliver was just as sweet as her candy.
    ***
    It was hard not to notice Jacob ease into the crowded shop with his hands behind his back. He walked around as if trying to decide what to purchase when Ellie knew he was really here to see her. The grand opening was a huge success. Giddy about all the customers and the children’s reactions when they walked in, Ellie tried to ignore Jacob standing in the corner. As she scooped jelly beans, gum drops and gum balls, she could feel his eyes on her from across the store.
    When she caught a break, he strolled over. “Congratulations.” He pulled out the gift bag he’d been hiding behind his back. “This is for you.”
    Ellie looked at Jacob and then at the pink bag he was holding out to her. “Thanks. I’ll open it later.”
    “Can I come by when you close? I’d like to buy you a cup of coffee at Ginger Snaps.”
    Ellie shrugged. “Okay, I guess.” She looked at the gumball machine clock on the wall. “Six o’clock.”
    Jacob smiled and turned to leave.
    Without thinking, Ellie grabbed his arm. “Thank you. For coming, I mean.”
    “You’re welcome.” He winked.
    The ringing phone grabbed her attention. “Oliver’s Toys and Treats.”
    Silence.
    “Hello? Oliver’s Toys and Treats.”
    Heavy breathing.
    Ellie’s heart threatened to pound out of her chest. She slammed the phone down. Just a wrong number. That was all. Maybe from now on she’d have Payton answer the phone.
    ***
    Ellie counted the register and waved bye to her employee. “Help yourself to a bag of candy.”
    Payton grabbed a few chocolate turtles from the bin. “Thanks, Ellie.”
    “Sorry we had to work so hard today. I’m sure the buy one get one free grand opening sale brought in more people than normal.”
    Payton shrugged. “I like to stay busy.”
    Ellie wiped down the counter top. “Great. Well, I will see you tomorrow.”
    No sooner had Payton walked