Déjà Date Read Free

“I’ve been having heart palpitations.”
    I gasped. “Oh, Bernie.”
    “You can see now why I’m tripping over my own two feet.” He gestured toward the floor. “I don’t know what to do. The doctor tells me that I need to rest completely for at least two weeks, but how can I relax at all if I’m leaving my beloved bakery in the hands of a virtual stranger?”
    My heart squeezed. “If it’s the doctor’s advice, then you must find a way to rest for the next two weeks. You can’t mess around with health. That’s all there is to it.”
    He shook his head, then sifted through the papers. “In order to relax, I need someone I trust. But how will I find a person like this on such short notice?”
    I bit my lip. Volunteering to run Bernie’s Bakery was the absolute last thing I should do. It wouldn’t pay nearly as much as a job in the business world, which I needed to regain my independence, and it would be a plus if I could afford a place to live where cat hair didn’t coat the carpet. I didn’t envy Ginger having pets, because the pain I’d felt when I’d lost my childhood dog, Checkers, was nothing I cared to feel again. I even kept my distance from her little meowzers so I wouldn’t get attached to them.
    I glanced down at Bernie, who was staring hopelessly at the résumé on top of the pile. Dark circles stood out beneath his eyes, his skin looked pale, and his handsome face seemed to have aged a decade since the last time I’d seen him.
    “I’ll do it,” I blurted, knowing Bernie’s health was at stake. He had always been there for me. Shortly after his wife had left him and moved away with their son (aka: my former best friend), my dad had died. Bernie had come to the funeral, offering to help with whatever my mom and I needed. He’d also sent us a basket of baked goodies every week for a year. He’d been an amazing friend over the years and a wonderful father figure.
    I would not desert him in his time of need.
    His eyes widened as he slowly lifted his gaze to meet mine. “You’ll do what?”
    “I will manage your bakery for two weeks, while you rest and get healthy,” I said, ignoring the look of confusion Mary Ann was throwing at me.
    “Thank you, Melinda.” He smiled, his eyes watering for a moment. “You’re very kind to offer to help, but you have a blossoming career. Your mom has told me about each and every one of your promotions. She couldn’t be more proud of you. I can’t let you sacrifice your success for me.”
    “Apparently my mom hasn’t told you about my current status,” I said, thinking about how odd that was, since she usually stopped in several times each week to grab a cup of coffee and chat with Bernie. “When’s the last time you spoke with her?”
    “I’m afraid it has been awhile since she’s come in. Just like with you. Truthfully, I’ve been a little worried about you both.”
    My brows came together. I hadn’t been coming to this neighborhood because I was trying desperately to find a new job. But why had she stopped coming into Bernie’s? Especially since my mom was the queen of routine.
    I took a deep breath. “My employer laid me off seven weeks ago. I’ve been searching for a permanent job, which I still haven’t found. So it’s not a problem for me to work here temporarily while you get the rest you need. I can start today after I drop by my mom’s house,” I said, my nerves frazzled at the thought of asking to dip into my inheritance money.
    His brows rose quizzically. “Are you absolutely sure it wouldn’t inconvenience you too much?”
    My eyes blurred, touched that he was thinking of me when his own situation was so desperate. “It’s only two weeks, and I’m happy to do it. Really. You remember how much I loved working here.”
    “If you’re absolutely sure.” His expression filled with emotion as he rose to his feet, grabbed my hand, and placed it between his two palms. “This is the answer to my prayers. I’ll pay you