Page 39 of Whisk Me Away
As the days turned into weeks, I found myself questioning everything. Was it selfish to hope for a miracle when the odds are stacked against us? Should I prepare for the worst instead of clinging to false hope? But then I looked into my mom's eyes, filled with a quiet strength that refused to be extinguished, and I knew that giving up was not an option.
I may not have all the answers, and the road ahead may be long and difficult. But as long as there's breath in my mom's lungs, I’d never stop fighting for her. She was my rock, my guiding light in the darkness, and I'd do whatever it took to see her through this storm.
“Go," Mom whispered.
Mia had arranged multiple interviews so I could hire someone to run the bakery when I'm not able to be there, but now that the day of the interviews was here, I didn’t want to leave.
"Mia can handle the interviews, Mom. I don't need to go in,” I assured her.
My bakery was in capable hands with my best friend at the helm. She has lined up very good candidates with potential.
"I don't want your dreams to fall apart because you are spending your days worrying at my side,” Mom chided.
"The bakery is fine. My dreams aren't going to fall apart, and my time is best spent at your side. I will never regret this time spent with you,” I gave Mom a mock glare, pretending to be outraged.
"Yeah, Mom. Stop trying to get rid of us. You're stuck with us no matter what you say,” Eden chimed in.
Eden was currently painting Mom's nails in the prettiest pale pink. I had just finished braiding her long brown hair so it was out of her face.
"Either way, I will be fine for a few hours while you interview people to run your bakery. I've got Eden, and Dad should be back soon. Go,” Mom gave me her stern look, letting me know there was no room for arguments.
I let out a defeated sigh, "Okay, but I'll be quick. Eden, let me know if I need to pick up anything on the way back."
"Got it. Good luck!" Eden called as I pulled on my jacket and slung my bag over my shoulder.
"Thanks. I'll be back soon! Love you, Mom," I said before rushing out the door and down the porch steps.
Once in my car, I pulled out my phone and called Mia. While I waited for her to pick up, I backed out of my parents' driveway and headed to Whisk Me Away.
"Hey, K. How you holding up?" The kindness in Mia's tone wrapped itself around my heart, causing my breath to hitch.
"Good as can be expected," I replied. "I’m headed to the bakery for the interviews. Thank you so much for setting these up for me." I changed the subject, wanting to avoid opening Pandora's box of emotions.
Thankfully, Mia must have known I couldn’t handle talking about this right now, so she accepted and ran with the subject change.
"Of course! I’m happy to help. I was still planning on meeting you at the bakery to help with the interviews."
Part of me wanted to argue with her and tell her I didn't need her with me, but I also knew that no matter what I said, Mia wouldn't take no for an answer.
"Thanks, Mi. I'll be there soon." I hung up, tossing my phone on top of my bag in the passenger seat.
As I finished interviewing candidates for the bakery, I couldn't help the feeling of excitement that bubbled within me. Aspen stood out like a beacon of warmth and determination among the promising applicants. From the moment she walked in with her son, it was evident that she exuded a kind of sincerity and passion that was infectious. Aspen was new in town, but her genuine smile and the way she spoke about her aspirations for the bakery's future melted away any reservations I had.
What struck me the most about Aspen was not just her impressive resume but the genuine sparkle in her eyes when she spoke about her son and her dreams of providing him with a stable and nurturing environment. Her son, a bubbly little boy with a mischievous grin, was a testament to Aspen's nurturing personality and her ability to juggle responsibilities with grace. Despite her challenges as a single mother, Aspen's determination to get back on her feet and create a better life for her son was palpable.
It was clear to me that Aspen was the perfect fit to run the bakery. With her son starting kindergarten, she had the flexibility to dedicate her time and energy to the shop during the day, ensuring that it thrived under her care. But it wasn't just her availability that made her ideal. Her warmth, genuine passion for baking, and commitment to excellence convinced me she was the one for the job.
I felt confident that while I spent time with my mom, Aspen would hold down the fort here. Mia also promised to stop in and help out whenever she had free time. Amidst the chaos of my life, this was the small dose of hope I needed.
CHAPTER 27
BRANT
It'd been two weeks since I sat in the hospital waiting room for hours, hoping for some kind of update on Barbra. When Pastor Walter came out and asked me to help Karis, I was on my feet and across the waiting room in a heartbeat.
I’ll never forget walking into that hospital room. Seeing Barbra in the bed, she looked so small and frail. Karis had been sitting on the side of her bed, grasping the sheets until the knuckles on her hands were white. Her breathing was erratic, and the sight of it broke something in me.
Holding her in my arms, I felt her body relax the slightest bit before she followed my instructions to breathe. It was the second panic attack I talked her through that day. If I went my entire life without seeing her in that state again, it'd be too soon. The feeling of helplessness that overtook me was unbearable.