Page 88 of Friends That Heal Us
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
VIOLET
“This is nice of you,”Cami says, staring over the Chinese takeout I have on the table in the bakery.
“You three have been such a huge help I wanted to do a dinner for everyone,” I reply, while opening the last container.
Cami and Brianna have been coming in every evening to be trained. In the evening, they come in to bake what needs restocking for the next day. Both of them being in culinary school has helped a lot because they picked up on everything quickly. And Liv has been a huge help during the day when the bakery is open.
All the girls gather around the table, serving themselves each a little of everything. There is a local Chinese spot close to here that I’ve been wanting to try. So, I ordered that for tonight. I serve myself and take a seat. We’re all sitting around the table quietly eating.
“Thanks for staying later, Liv. I thought it would be nice for all three of you to meet,” I say smiling over the table. Liv usually leaves before the other girls get here. So, they haven’t had the chance to meet yet.
“Of course.”
The room falls painfully quiet. We’re all waiting for someone else to speak first, which I feel like it should be me.
I shift in my seat. “So, Cami and Brianna, did you two know each other before here?”
This is a question I have been wanting to ask because they seem to know each other more than they’re letting on.
Brianna swallows the lump in her throat and says. “Yes.”
I stare between the two of them, and there is an awkward guilt planted on their faces.
“Oh, did you two know each other before school?”
Cami looks at Brianna before looking over at me. “Yeah. We’ve been friends for a while.”
I don’t quite understand the guilty faces. “That’s cool.”
Both of their faces shoot over at me. “It’s okay?” Brianna asks.
“Is what okay?”
“That we’re friends working here and we didn’t tell you.”
“Why would that matter?”
Cami shrugs her shoulders. “Places rarely like hiring friends together.”
My lip curls down in confusion. I guess I can see why. Maybe in some cases if the friends aren’t mature enough to work together. “I don’t mind, unless it becomes a problem.”
“She’s a cool boss,” Liv says.
A huge smile wraps around my face and heart. I’m glad Liv sees me that way. I was worried I’d end up being one of those bosses employees dread—someone they can’t fully be themselves around. But with Liv, it doesn’t feel like she’s holding anything back. She’s naturally bubbly and outgoing, anyway. I’m still getting to know Cami and Brianna, but so far, things feel good.
“Thanks, Liv.”
“How long have you two been friends?” I ask.
“Since we were babies,” Brianna answers.
“Pretty much since birth, actually,” Cami adds while smiling over at her friend. “Our moms were best friends growing up, too, and then they had us.”
My eyes widen—not because they’ve been friends since birth, but because it pulls my thoughts back to my childhood friends. I want to tell them to always look out for one another, but I know not all friendships end up the way mine did. It still amazes me to think about what my friends once meant to me compared to what they mean now. It’s nice to know that their parents stayed friends after all these years and even raised kids together. I thought that’s what Rya and I were going to be. It’s crazy how something so simple can drag my mind back to everything.
“Wow, that’s something that they’ve stayed friends, after all these years,” I say with more truth behind it than they will ever know.
