Chapter Two: Zara
I wake up the next morning a little ashamed of my current position. The T.V. turned off by itself, but there was no way for overindulgence in frosting to be so easily hidden from my morning eyes.
The first thing I do is wash out the bowl and leave it to dry. I check on the cake samples and they’re still safely packed away in the fridge. I leave the kitchen and go to the bathroom to shower and brush my teeth. It’s weird having such an open floor plan, but I know that I can get used to it. My morning get ready doesn’t take me too long and I’m dressed and ready to leave within the hour. I put on comfortable, but presentable clothes. I’m pretty sure I won’t get a job at the first coffee shop I go to, so it’ll be a long day up and down the subway for me. I mapped out routes for myself before driving down. Mom and I had taken a few trips to the city, so I’m somewhat familiar with the subway system. I’m going to start with shops farther away from my apartment and work my way down. Manhattan seemed like the borough to start with and if nothing pans out there, I’ll move on to Brooklyn. I didn’t plan any further because I don’t want to jinx myself.
The subway takes over an hour, but I made sure to avoid rush hour, so the train isn’t too full. I get to the first café and it looks nice. I know I shouldn’t get my hopes up too high, but I make a good product and if I present myself with confidence, it’ll all pay off.
I walk inside and ask the person at the front if I can talk to the manager. They are surprisingly nice and, not too much time later, the manager comes over to me. I explain my situation to the, offering a sample of the cake I made last night. The confidence I had walking in isn’t coming across as boldly as I would like, but I got through my speech and that’s what matters. It’s my first try after all.
“I’m sorry. We already have someone who takes care of all of our baked goods. Thank you for coming in though.” They hand me back the piece of cake I gave them, but I say they can keep it. I leave a little dismayed, but I’m not ready to throw in the towel just yet. Like I said – the first attempt probably wouldn’t pan out. I’ll just keep going until something sticks.
Or that’s how it starts out. Day one was not a success. Or day two. In fact, I went around for almost a month – actually for over a month. Four weeks and no one wanted to hire a baker. No one would even take me on a trial basis. They all had exclusive contracts or established relationships with bakers that they didn’t want to mess with. There were a lot of compliments on how nice my stuff tasted, though… Not that that helped much… Because four straight weeks of rejection is disheartening. It didn’t help that I was running low on money. I mean, I had enough to probably stay another month or so, but I didn’t want to leave the city with zero money in the bank. I might have to find another job just to tide me over. While I don’t have to pay rent on the bakery, there were still property tax and I can’t leave the place empty forever. The city would cry abandonment and make me sell it. My hometown is very big on appearance and a closed off, run down bakery isn’t something the locals will look at with warm smiles…
But I can’t think about that right at this second. I’m on my fifth café of the day. I go inside not expecting much, but not at the point where I want to throw my hands up in frustration. Just really, really close… I go through the usual spiel and we’re at the part where the owner is complimenting me on my cake and I’m just waiting for the ‘but’ at the end.
“This cake is really delicious, but I’m sorry. We don’t need any bakers at the moment…” I nod, not really surprised, but my heart does sink a little. I don’t think I can go to another shop today. I just want to go home and cry into my pillow. A little wallowing is good for the soul every now and then.
My hand has gone up, ready for the ‘thank you and goodbye,’ but Nellie, the owner, stops me.
“Hold on a second. Wait right here.” My eyes go wide because this is new. She disappears in the back and returns not too much time later. “Here’s a number I think you should call. Her name is Ruby and she’s starting a wedding cake business. Maybe she’s still looking for extra help.” I take the card from Nellie, my hands almost shaking. I know it’s a little early to get excited, but this is a new development that might just pan out. Hope is a funny thing because I’m suddenly full of the energy I had when I first moved here. Nellie continues, “The two of us aren’t very close, but she knows me. Let her know I sent you over and you know what…” She pauses while taking something out of her back pocket. It’s another card. She writes something on the back before handing it to me. “Take my card, too. I know I said we don’t need a baker at the moment, but I’d like to stay in touch. I heard there was a girl going around with some delicious sweets and I was wondering if she’d make a stop by my shop. If something else comes up, I’ll keep you in mind.” I’m so happy, I want to cry. While everyone has been really nice, Nellie has been the sweetest by far. I want to hug her, but I’m worried that’s too forward.
“Thank you so much. You have no idea how much this means to me.”
“I have a small clue. I remember when I was starting out. If it weren’t for the kindness of strangers and friends, I would not be where I am today.” I nod, fully agreeing with her. “I also put my cell on the back. I like your initiative and if you’re ever looking for help or just someone to talk too or grab a bite with, don’t hesitate to give me call, okay?” It sounds like she really wants me to call, so I promise to before leaving the shop. I think I may have just made my first real connection in the city. The few weeks I’ve been here, I haven’t made any friends because I’ve been so busy baking and running from café to café. Nellie could be my first real friend in… a while. I could really use one of those.
But before I can get into that, I have to call Ruby. I rush home and put all my stuff down. I take out my phone and the card Nellie gave me. It takes me a few tries to dial her. I’m just crazy nervous. Finally, I dial the number and wait for the pickup.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Ruby? Ruby Gold?” My nerves are already showing and that annoys me.
“This is her.” I smile, but try not to get too far ahead of myself. I give the speech I practiced on the train ride back to my apartment. I probably looked a little odd talking to myself for an entire ride, but I didn’t care. I have to nail this.
“Hi. Um, my name is Zara Coleman and I got your number from Nellie. She said you were starting a wedding cake business and I’m a baker. I can all kinds of desserts. I’ve been baking ever since I was little. My Mom owned her own bakery and that’s where I learned everything. If you’re still looking for help, I can bring some samples of what I can do.” It’s not exactly what I wanted to say – I got a little ramble-y in the middle – but it’s the basic gist. I wait, holding my breath.
“Oh my god, yes!” Her enthusiasm is totally unexpected, but I welcome it wholeheartedly. It’s exactly what I need after so much rejection. Ruby keeps talking with a high energy, “I definitely need help. I’ve got this big wedding coming up and I’ve been scrambling to find an assistant. Why don’t you stop by tomorrow and I can test out your skills?” The amount of relief that washes through my body is insane. My body almost collapses from the release of tension. I can’t believe all my hard work paid off. Well, I can a little bit. Hard work is how you get stuff done. But I was honestly ready to fully give up, to become on the millions of failures. But this opportunity it the light at the end of the tunnel and I will not mess it up.
“I can be there any time you need me to.” I try not to sound too eager, but I’m bursting at the seams. Ruby gives me an address and time. I scramble for a pen and paper, writing down the details furiously.
“Just be here on time and wow me with your culinary skills and the two of us will be golden. See you tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow. And thank you for the opportunity.” We hang up and I do fist pumps into the air while jumping. Then I remember that I have people below and I lie on my bed, pumping with my arms and legs. Kicking with the enthusiasm of a child in a candy shop. I’ve so god damn excited! I want to celebrate until I’m too tired to move, but there is stuff that needs to get done.
So, I stop celebrating and sit up. I need to figure out what to bake tomorrow. It has to be something that’ll wow Ruby. She’s a wedding cake maker, so something white is probably the way to go… or is it? I want to show her everything I can do. I can do an array of things. Maybe each layer is a different flavor – with each flavor complimenting the next. That’s what I’ll do! It will show my range and I can decorate it, so she knows I can not only make it taste good, but also look pretty. Wedding cakes are known for their looks. This is a different direction than I was expecting, but that doesn’t do anything to dull my excitement.
I have to make sure to get enough sleep. I’m a bit of a night owl and if I want to impress Ruby tomorrow, I’ll have to be at the top of my game. No late-night snacking and T.V. watching, just a full eight hours, so I can be up early.
I do bake some celebratory cupcakes, though. One for me and one for my Mom. I eat it for her, however. I feel like I deserve it. After four weeks of baking and striving, all my efforts are paying off. I might just become a professional baker in the city. It sounds crazy, I know, but it’s a very real possibility. I’ll be able to reopen the Baker’s Corner and soon it will be restored to its former glory. Plus, they’ll be a bona fide professional baker working there – me. That’ll hopefully attract people who are swayed by the fancy cafes and diners that have taken over my hometown.
Goodness, I’m much too giddy. I need to get some sleep. I get deep into my covers and dream and about the future.