Sed de sangre {manxman}

8

Chapter Eight - Confrontations Bitch

"How's little Erin doing?" I ask in a hushed whisper holding on tightly to Franks' hands.

Frank is one of my regulars here at the bakery and Erin is his six year old niece who is in a mighty battle against her cancer. Frank is one of the sweetest old men you could ever meet! Ever since I first opened the bakery three years ago he has come in every monday, thursday and friday occassionally bringing Erin with him when she was feeling up to it.

"She's losing the battle Jax and I'm scared she's giving up the fight," he answers his emotions choking him.

"I'll continue to keep her in my prayers and you know I don't pray," I replied giving him a knowing smile as he chuckled. "You hold right there, I'm going to get her an assortment of treats and you tell my little angel I'm coming to see her soon," I ordered giving his hand a tight squeeze of reassurance.

Excusing myself from the table, I grab a massive white take away box, heading into the back I see Schmidt working hard on getting our lunch specials ready.

Putting on some gloves and tongs I pick up some fresh cinnamon rolls, raspberry macaroons, oreo croughnuts, salted caramel cookies and I add in a few red velvet cupcakes.

"You still not going to tell me what happened with you and the bastard yet?" Ignoring Schmidt I begin to tape the box closed and gently slide the box into our takeaway bag throwing in a handful of napkins.

Schmidt had been bothering me about what had happened that day with Valentino and everytime I had told him to drop it  but the boy obviously doesn't understand what no means. I swear sometimes he reminds me of a dumb dog, you tell him one thing he hears another.

I couldn't tell if I was happy or mad at Schmidt disturbing me and Valentino, would I have been able to go all the way with him? Would he be a gentle or rough lover? I can bet everything I own he'd be rough with those broad shoulders, midnight black hair and liquid silver eyes that bored into mine.

Ever since that night I had been avoiding him like crazy, which has proved a harder task than I had originally thought.

"Here you go Frank, you take this with you, send my well wishes and thanks to the nurses and doctors for looking after my little angel," Frank stood to meet me and held me tightly.

Pulling back he kissed my forehead and patted my cheek. "You're a good boy you are, one day you'll find a guy worthy of all your goodness and you bring him to me when you do so he knows who's fists his face will be kissing if he messes with you," Frank was like a grandfather to me, the man was family to me.

After paying the bill and giving me one last wave, Frank was off.

I liked to spend time getting to know my customers, whether they were visitors on holiday, just popping for the first and last time or they were regulars.

Honestly I couldn't ask for a better job, my bakery is somewhere where I feel safe, I can talk to anyone, I'm not scared of anything all of a sudden, somewhere where I feel normal.

It's somewhere I can busy myself to keep myself from thinking about all the problems in the world.

Slipping into the back I decide to help Schmidt and Amy with working on the lunch prep as its almost time for the lunch menu to be swapped for the breakfast.

"Amy, why don't you go help on the bakery floor, me and Schmidt have got this," nodding in agreement Amy slid off her gloves, cleaned her work station and slipped on an apron on her way out.

Taking the box of salad containers I place it on the counter as I take over from where Amy was.

I began to prep the Mac n Cheese salad bowls, glancing at Schmidt from time to time.