Love, Amor, Amour

《Chapter 2》

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Cookie Crumbs is your average five-star family business, great business all seven days of the week. It does help that the family is bilingual. The only employee that isn't related to them is Alden Carmichael, but since he had a good reference, is a family friend's son, a shareholder's reference. Alden needed money for university, therefore causing his mother to lend him a hand in finding a job. He got along great with the Valdez family, more so Mina than Geoffrey.

Geoffrey wanted to knock his teeth out for always hitting on his older sister. Of course, Mina paid no mind to Alden's advances; even if everyone and their mommas saw how good looking of a young man Alden is. Nevertheless, Mina didn't care. Much to Geoffrey's delight, as much as James, their father. Mother, Margarita, sings a different tune than the alpha males of the family.

"Mina, I hope you have a good excuse for being tarde hoy." (translation: late today.)

Those were the first words out of Margarita's mouth as the bell chimed on Mina's arrival. She waved a hand and hugged her mother.

Stepping back she told her mother, "Harvey didn't wake me up and I think he was playing with my alarm clock again." That cat did find joy in any object with buttons and lights.

"Really? Are you sure you didn't just oversleep because you were out with Heidi el domingo en la noche?" (translation: on Sunday night.)

Her mother adored Heidi, it was just the nights out drinking she didn't approve of. That and the fact neither of them had settled down with a "hombre guapo" as she says. (translation: good looking man.)

"You know very well que no me gusta Sunday drinking, that is God's day..besides, ustedes nunca van á encontrar futuro esposos en esos tipos de lugares." (translation: you'll never find future husbands in those types of places.)

Mina shook her head and refrained from rolling her eyes at her mother, old habits die hard. "I know mom, and we weren't drinking." A sip of Heidi's Coke vodka didn't count. "Just catching up."

She knew better than to argue with her mother on the husband topic. She didn't have two hours to continue that conversation, which is how much time she will spend talking about it if Mina did argue.

"Good, now go put on your apron and serve the top floor por favor." (translation: please.)

Mina changed into her black apron with her initials etched in cursive magenta. Taking a notepad and sticking a pen behind her ear she climbed to the second floor of the bakery and began taking orders. The top floor looked a lot like a loft where people could relax or get some work done much as she does sometimes. The main floor looked like a normal bakery setting but with more tables, chairs, and booths. There was also a small stage to the side where the talented can ask to perform or book gigs a couple of days a week.

"Welcome to Cookie Crumbs, I'm Mina. What can I get for you this afternoon?" She smiled a sugary sweet smile, reserved for the bakery's customers and took out her pen.

"Hi, kitten," The young man closed the menu that was covering his face and placed it on the table, revealing a mischievous smirk.

Those tattoos, I should have known; Mina thought as her smile dropped and she frowned. Alden loves her facial expressions and tries to get as many as he can on a daily basis.

"What are you doing here Alden? It's Monday" Alden didn't work Mondays or Fridays unless he needed the money. Mina comes by every day even when she doesn't work weekends.

"I came to see you of course, did you miss me this weekend kitty?" Alden Carmichael was the biggest flirt she ever met, he even flirted with her mother when they first met him. He pulled the, "You must be her sister." pick-up line.

"Not even a little, now what would you like to order?" Mina doesn't understand Alden's behavior, shouldn't he mature as he grows older.

He has been working at Cookie Crumbs bakery for over ten months now, and yet he still acts as if we just met him.

"That might not necessarily be true, for all you know your drunk self may find me to be insanely attractive and without my amazing self-control we could-"

Mina cut off his babbling with a sharp look. "That's it, Alden, I'm getting you your usual and you are going to leave."

"But-"

"Do I need to pull you by the ear like your mother does, hmm?" Mina questioned him with her arms crossed, enjoying seeing Alden immediately cover his hears like a frightened child. His ocean blue eyes taking an alarmed look, momentarily.

"Fine, you win kitten" Alden sighed out as he followed her to the counter for his usual, a slice of pound cake and a banana berry smoothie.

That's another reason the bakery is so successful, the delicious smoothies that are mainly only served in malls, around here.

"Here you go and your total is nine - eighty-five" She handed him his to-go bag. She accepted the cash and gave back exact change. "Here is your change, smoothie, and have a nice day Alden."

"I'll see you tomorrow kitty, good luck with your essay" Alden laughed as she groaned and threw her head back in despair. Just when procrastination was at it's best, he had to remind her.

That night, she couldn't get a wink of sleep in. Tossing and turning until the bed sheets were suffocating, she rolled out of bed as her doorbell rang once before the knocking started. There was only one person that did this on occasion.

"Sis! Long time no see!"

The locks of ruffled brown hair and dilated hazel eyes on that tan human being were definitely her brother. And that was a lie, they saw each other three days ago.

"Shh! Keep it down, I have neighbors you know" Mina whispered but scolded her little brother as she ushered him inside her apartment. She sat him down on the three-seater couch and blew out a breath.

"Why are you drunk, Geoffrey?" He always did this when he was drunk, come to his sister's so that their parents didn't find out he has been out past curfew and drinking at a party. But, what Mina didn't get was why tonight. Geoffrey never gets drunk on weekdays, he was taught better than that.

"I'm n-not drunk" He smiled at his sister with false innocence but his hiccups reeked of alcohol.

"Geo.." Mina sighed and took off his shoes one by one. She made room pushing the coffee table forward for the mattress and got him a pillow and blanket. As soon as he came out of the bathroom she gave him some water. Made sure there was a bucket next to him as he fell asleep like a rock. "..qué voy hacer contigo.." (translation: what am I gonna do with you.)

Mina kissed her brother on the forehead and went back in her room. She decided she'll get answers from Geoffrey tomorrow morning. After moving around a bit, Harvey came to lay at her feet when she finally got some sleep.