Chapter 1

“Charlotte, I can’t believe you actually did it!” my mum smiles at me, tears gleaming in her eyes. “I told you I would, so I did.” I smile back at her, tears escaping my eyes as well. Tears of happiness of course, I finally did it. After 3 years of working part time as an accountant and part time in the bakery I stand in front of, I own my own bakery. It’s much more than a bakery actually, it has everything I ever dreamt of. Small cute tables in different light colours and matching chairs and in the back a wall filled with bookshelves. During summer I could place a couple of tables out front, on the cobblestones of Temple. Flowerpots placed by the window make it feel homey and the curtains give it an old-fashioned look. It is perfect, and most of all, it is mine. After my studies I decided I didn’t want to stay in Belgium much longer, and since I had gotten a job in London it was the perfect time to move, my company provided me with a small studio just out of London, where I live with my cat, Prince and the love of my life, Netflix. I know I studied accountancy and taxes, but deep down I always had the dream of opening my own bakery, and when I found this one, not too far from my office, I instantly fell in love. And after 2 years of coming here daily and talking to the owner, she asked me to help her out on busy weekends and that’s how it all started. Soon after, I asked my boss to start working part time in the accounting department, so I could work more in the bakery and learn more about my true passion, baking and pouring a cup of tea. And it was only last winter the owner had asked me if I would be interested in taking over her bakery. She felt she was getting too old to do this and was ready to close it before I started working there, but she held on, and when she saw my enthusiasm, she decided she would stay until I was ready to make my own dream come true. And – “I am so proud of you, my dear. I know I made the right decision when I see this.” Margaret interrupts my thoughts, startling me when she grabs my arm. She smiles at me and hugs me real tight. It’s a hug only grandma’s can give, and Margaret was my surrogate grandma here in London. I hug her back, the shock wearing off. “Thanks, Maggy! You’re always welcome here. I’m going to miss working with you.” I smile down at her. I didn’t think it was possible to find someone smaller than me, but Maggy is. “Oh dear, Rose and James will be better help than I have been the past couple of months.” She says and waves Rose and James to come closer. Rose has been my best friend since the day I walked in the bakery, she has worked here since she was a teenager but didn’t feel like having the responsibility of having her own business. And I had met James when I took some baking classes to improve my skills. She hugs them too and tells them to listen to me, ‘because I trained her, and she will do great things!’ I blush and laugh at my guests: “C’mon in everybody, let’s have some cake and tea.” I smile, it seems like I cannot stop smiling ever since I cut that ribbon. Yes, I cut a ribbon to open my bakery, I have a feel for the dramatics, and it is something I wanted to do for all my life, it made me feel important. I open the door and smelled the scent of freshly baked cupcakes, macarons, cakes, scones and cookies. I had gone all out since there were people I needed to impress. My old boss for instance, he wasn’t too happy with me leaving the department, saying I was one of his best. But I needed this, I needed this change, I love accounting and it will always make me feel safe. But I need this challenge, I need to know that I can do more than play with numbers and figure out if a company was financially healthy. I need to know if people, who do not know me, will like my recipes. And most of all I needed a breath of air. The stuffy office made me feel sick and the hours I made never fulfilled me enough with glee to be enthusiastic about my job.
After I open the door, I step back and let everyone walk in. I swear I can hear some “Oh’s” and “Ah’s” when they see the counter filled with every pastry they could possibly dream of. I smiled and take the hands of James and Rose before walking in and receiving an applause of all the people I love. A dagger in my heart as I conclude my favourite uncle and his family didn’t bother to come. I clear my throat and ask everyone to take a glass of champagne which Rose had already poured out. I take one myself and smile. “Hi everyone, and welcome to my dream. Fourteen years ago, I had this wild idea to make my own cakes for my birthday, and since then it only went downhill”, chuckles fill the crowd, “or at least that is what my parents will tell you. It was at that moment in time I started dreaming about my own bakery. 9 years ago, I started studying accountancy, which has nothing to do with baking, but I loved doing it just as much. Five years ago, I moved to London to work for one of the greatest accountancy agencies in Europe. And as many of you can remember, I jumped around like a little kid who had just gotten a lolly when I heard I got the job in London.” I smile when I hear a few mumbles, and Emma, my best friend from home, nods so hard I think her head is going to fall off. “Because, to me, London was and will always be the promised city, the city where dreams come true. And how my dream came true! Who had thought that 5 years later we’d be standing here, in my own bakery? I did not, but I am so happy I took this jump and am so glad to do this with you guys, James and Rose. So, I want to propose a toast, to dreams coming true, to best friends working together and to being happy!” I say and put my glass in the air before taking a sip of it. And so does everyone.
Later that evening I’ve already cleaned up and made sure there were enough cakes and sweets to start selling tomorrow. I smile, while leaning on the counter and look around my bakery. My mum, dad, and my mum’s brother’s and their wife’s are talking at a table by the window, my dad’s brother and his wife clearly missing, since the table was laid for two extra people. Omie had tried to make excuses for their absence, but I knew better. My uncle disapproved of my choice, as he had made clear a couple of weeks ago. My cousins and brother are sitting on the couch near the bookshelves and planning their night out in the big city. My grandparents are talking to Maggy. Emma and Rose are whispering in the kitchen, while watching the oven. James is doing the dishes. The other guests have already left. But most importantly everyone is happy and so am I. “You did great, everyone loved it.” James whispers in my ear. I jump, startled. I fake a smile, hoping he does not notice how uncomfortable I am with him being so close to me. He puts his arms around me, hugging me. I stand still for five seconds, before gently pushing him away. I’m suddenly feeling relieved the day is almost over. “I know, my ex-boss even said he understood why I wanted to leave. And tomorrow will be the hard day. Starting tomorrow we have to convince everyone our recipes are just as good as Maggy’s.” I sigh, leaning against the wall. “You know everyone will love it. You took over some of Maggy’s recipes and Maggy already introduced them to a couple of yours. The only thing that really changed is the interior and maybe some of the machines, but in all, the feel is still the same. You’re just a younger Maggy.” He reassures me and I laugh, the last comment does it for me. “Well, thank you James. I take that as a compliment!” “I mean it Charlie; you will do great! And in 50 years we’ll be still standing here baking everything and laughing.” He smiles proudly with a little twinkle in his eyes and I smile back. I know James has a thing for me, but I can’t give him more than I already am giving him. I can’t risk another friendship and James’ is one of the best I have here in London. Plus, my life is complicated enough as it is, with my own business and my cat and my love for Netflix. I have no time to date right now. When the timer of the oven gives out it is done, I jump and pull myself out of James’ grip. I go over to the kitchen and take my raspberry-white chocolate cupcakes out of the oven. I smell them and smile. I’ll let them cool tonight and tomorrow before opening, I’ll drizzle some white chocolate sauce over them and put a fresh raspberry on top. Simple but these don’t need more. I start laughing when I hear the radio playing one of my favourite songs “Hey Emma, put the speakers on, will you?” “Why? Oh, right!” She smiles and puts them on. And in a second ‘What Makes You Beautiful’ blasts through the speakers in the little bakery and my cousins jump and start dancing. Laughing I join them, and so does my brother and best friends. While we’re singing, we dance through the whole bakery, with everyone else watches us. When the song is done, we all get in a group hug. I smile, I never really got over them, they haven’t released a song together since 2016 but once a Directioner, always a Directioner, right? Of course, my room isn’t plastered with their faces anymore and I do not know where they are at any given moment in time, but their music still never fails to make me happy. “Well, on this happy note, I am done for the day and I’d like to go home.” I say to my family and friends and they all nod, they obviously were waiting until we were ready for tomorrow and I don’t think we’ll ever be more ready than we are now. I hug them all and thank them again for coming. They tell me they’ll stop by before they go back to Belgium and say goodnight. I tell James and Rose to be here by half past 7 since tomorrow will be Sunday and we’ll open at 8. I them again for their help today, and the past months. When everyone but Emma is gone, I check the ovens once more, to make sure they are off and dim all the lights. I close the curtains and put the alarm on before closing the door and together with Emma we walk to the underground. Emma is staying with me and helping me with the bakery for two more weeks and then she will go home. When we reach the Underground I smile and sigh. This is the day my dream came true. Now, I need a shower, my cat and an episode of Grey’s Anatomy.

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Kijk, voor mij is het nog niet het einde van de week. Ik moet morgen ook nog werken. Feest!

Dikke kus,

Laure