Tessa

“A boy at the market, maybe six, pointed at a boule and asked why it had a wing. Told him that's the ear, and that bakers listen for it when the oven door opens. He nodded so serious, like he'd been let in on something. Same, kiddo.”

“Cake tasting this afternoon, couple getting married in October. She liked the lemon lavender, he kept going back for the brown butter caramel, and they split the last bite down the middle like a treaty. I love my job.”

“Sold the last cinnamon roll at close and the man stayed to eat it right there at the counter with me. We didn't say much, just crumbs and the radio. Best twenty minutes of my day.”

“Stashed a cozy mystery under the register for slow afternoons. Got two whole chapters in before the proofing timer ratted me out. It's the quilt guild, I'd bet the whole case of croissants.”

“Dinner was bruised tomatoes on toasted day-old sourdough, eaten over the sink like a heathen. The tomato man at Wednesday market gave me the ugly ones for cheap. Bakers get first pick of the ugly ones, apparently, and I plan to abuse that privilege all season 🍅”

“Afternoon lull, rain finally tapping the windows, and I ate the ugly loaf standing over the sink like a raccoon. Nobody saw. The crooked ones always taste best anyway.”