Operation: Threads of Connection

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Anya's POV:

Today is my first day of work! Bash had sent me a text last night saying his grandmother would be more than delighted to have me help her out. I am beyond nervous, but I am excited. I get ready to go to school, packing some extra clothes to wear afterwards.

"Anya, come eat breakfast!" Mama yelled out. Oh great, whenever Mama yells breakfast time, it means Papa isn't here. Please God let me survive this morning. I've taught Mama a few recipes that even she can't mess up. Hopefully she stuck to something simple, like toast or cereal, I thought as I hurried to the kitchen. To my surprise, I was greeted by the smell of freshly cooked food that actually smelled delicious.

"Good morning, Mama!" I said, trying to sound cheerful despite my nervousness.

"Good morning, Anya! I made pancakes today," she replied with a proud smile. "I followed the recipe you gave me exactly."

I looked at the table and saw a stack of golden-brown pancakes, perfectly cooked. Relief washed over me as I sat down to eat. "These look amazing, Mama! Thank you."

As we ate breakfast together, Mama asked about my plans for the day. I told her about my first day at the bakery and how excited I was to start working.

"I'm sure you'll do great, Anya," she said encouragingly. "Just be yourself and work hard. They'll love you."

After finishing breakfast, I grabbed my bag and headed to school. The day seemed to fly by as I attended my classes, eagerly anticipating the end of the school day. During lunch, I caught up with Becky and Damian.

"Good luck at the bakery, Anya!" Becky said, giving me a thumbs-up. "You're going to do amazing."

"Yeah, good luck," Damian added, looking a bit awkward. "Just don't mess up too much."

I laughed, appreciating their support. "Thanks, guys. I'll do my best."

Finally, the school day ended, and I made my way to the bakery. As I walked in, the warm, sweet aroma of freshly baked goods greeted me. Sebastian's grandmother, Mrs. Blackwell, was behind the counter, arranging a display of pastries.

"Hello, Mrs. Blackwell! I'm Anya," I introduced myself, feeling a bit nervous.

Mrs. Blackwell looked up and smiled warmly. "Ah, Anya! Sebastian told me all about you. Welcome! We're so happy to have you here."

She showed me around the bakery, explaining my tasks for the day. I would be helping with baking, decorating pastries, and serving customers. As I got started, I found that my nervousness quickly faded away. The work was enjoyable, and Mrs. Blackwell was patient and kind. A lot of these pastries were some I cooked myself in club. My favorite was the peanut butter cheesecake Mrs. Blackwell had cooked. It had a nice smooth consistency, and the peanut butter flavor was perfectly balanced with the sweetness of the cheesecake. I made a mental note to ask Mrs. Blackwell for the recipe later. As the afternoon progressed, I found myself growing more confident and comfortable with my tasks.

Mrs. Blackwell occasionally checked in on me, offering tips and guidance. "You're doing wonderfully, Anya," she said, smiling warmly. "You have a natural talent for this."

"Thank you, Mrs. Blackwell," I replied, feeling a sense of pride. "I've always enjoyed baking, so this is a lot of fun for me."

As I continued working, the door chime rang again, and I looked up to see a familiar face—Bash had come to visit.

"Welcome in- Oh hi Bash!" I say giving him a warm smile.

"Hi there Shortcake, sorry I couldn't meet up with you earlier today, Henderson was giving me an earful about my uniform," He replied rolling his eyes.