Page 16 of Working For Her Sweet Treats

I close the notes app.

“I can have a menu and estimate to you by noon tomorrow.”

“Wonderful.” Kayla collects the muffin box. “You should come by this afternoon and look at the setup area.”

“I’ll be there.”

“Three?”

“Three works.”

Kayla pays for her muffins, adding two orange-cinnamon coffees to the order after Loralee tells her the flavor promotes optimism and creative energy. I chuckle under my breath but do not correct her claim because selling coffee is selling coffee. Loralee waits until Kayla has crossed the street before turning toward me.

“You said yes very quickly.”

“I know my capabilities.”

“You also said your left eye starts twitching when you’re stressed.”

“My left eye is fine.”

“It twitched while you said that.”

I press one finger beneath it.It’s probably nothing. It is nothing. I will do this.

“I have more than a week to prepare,” I say. “Two hundred items is less than thirty per day if I spread production out.”

“Most baked goods do not improve after sitting for seven days.”

“I am aware of how baked goods work.”

“I thought so.”

I move behind the counter and pull a clean legal pad from the shelf beneath the register. Digital planning has its uses, but some situations require paper, columns, and the satisfying certainty of crossing things off. At the top, I write:

FORGE CREEK RENEWAL CELEBRATION

Under that:

200 ITEMS

Loralee watches as I begin calculating.

Muffins can be baked in advance and refreshed if stored properly, but the cinnamon rolls should be produced as close to the event as possible. Lemon-blueberry muffins would addcolor. Caramel apple would highlight the current weekly feature. Strawberry cream cheese would need extra cooler space.

Apple crisp cheesecake muffins would be perfect for Forge Creek. They’re familiar, substantial, and full of cinnamon. I write possible quantities beside each flavor.

“Do we know whether you’re working that Saturday?” I ask Loralee.

“I can be.”

“I need something more definite than that.”

“I’ll check my chart.”

“Check your calendar.”

“Ava, it’s hard to explain. But they work together.”