The Wolf and Little Red Riding Hood

Chapter One

"The cookies are finished!" Katherine shouted over the loud whirring sounds the mixer made while it stirred the cake batter. She opened the oven and took out two trays of freshly baked chocolate cookies and slid them onto the large silver counter effortlessly as she turned off the timer and closed the oven with a gentle kick. She had a pleased smile on her face and was about to go onto her next task when her friend Sarah walked into the entryway of the kitchen and leaned against the doorframe. She gave Katherine a soft laugh. "You're so enthusiastic. It's not even 8 in the morning and you've been up since the crack of dawn, baking away."

Katherine hummed a pleasant tune to herself as she checked the cookies. "Well I need everything to be fresh before we actually open. Everything needs to be nice and sweet. Besides, I always have plenty prepared; you should know this by now."

Sarah just had a happy smile on her face, knowing how Katherine was with her baking. "Kathy, we haven't even actually opened for the day. I'm sure there will be plenty. We already have leftovers from yesterday that are still perfectly good – you really don't need to over bake."

Katherine rolled her light mocha eyes. "They'll get stale quickly – freshness is key, Sarah." She flashed her friend a quick smile. "You should know that."

Sarah's smile got a little wider. "Yea well, I know you do, at least. Little Miss I've been baking since I was 5."

Katherine scoffed slightly in defense and replied in a sassy, annoyed tone, "Well my grandmother was an excellent cook and she taught me everything that she knew, and now grandfather is trusting me with continuing her business and letting me run the bakery. I'll always work non-stop and make sure it stays in the best shape and I'll take very, very good care of it."

Sarah walked into the kitchen and moved a bowl filled with vanilla cake batter away from the cooling racks. "You can say that again. You've been cleaning this place all weekend. You need a break, sweetie."

Katherine quickly wiped her face with her red apron, getting loose spice and bits of frosting on her cheeks. "Oh, no I don't! After I finish up with these cookies I still need to finish the brownies for that second party, I need to start those next few cake orders, I'll then need to make the frosting for the next batch, and then the tarts are next – there's still so much to left to do before the day ends!"

Katherine swiftly walked over to the front counters which held the all the fresh pastries and quickly looked all of them over. "Well everything seems to be in order. We'll be able to open soon."

Sarah followed her to the front and gestured to one of the fridges in the back room. "Three of the cakes are done...the chocolate ones. All frosted. And I can hear the bell for the cinnamon twists, they must be done by now."

"Alright, I'll be checking them!" Katherine said eagerly and practically glided into the kitchen by the will of the freshly mopped titles, just narrowly missing the sharp edge of one of the tables in the baking area.

"Don't trip, Kathy! The floor's still wet!" Sarah shouted.

"Oh please, I'm fine!" Katherine called with a laugh. She smelled the cinnamon and sugar as she approached the ovens again.

Sarah went the door and flipped on the open sign. "We're open, Kathy. There's no point in waiting for everything to be done, you'll be cooking more anyway as the day goes on." After Katherine gave her a very huffy 'fine' Sarah went to the front counter and started to readjust a few things by the register.

Just then, the small golden bell on top of the wooden doorframe gave a soft, gentle chime as the first customer of the day made their way inside. Sarah rested her arms on the marble countertop and smiled at the beautiful blonde woman that came in with her tiny daughter at her feet. "G'Morning!" Sarah said happily. "Welcome. Anything catch your eye? We have cookies, cakes, brownies – just pick a sweet. Or if you see one we don't have, just name it and we'll be happy to bake it fresh for you."