♡

Upon having entered the bakery at an earlier hour than usual had her begging for coffee this morning. She went in through the back door with her key and started a cup amount on the brewer. Try as she might, Mina knew she wasn't getting enough sleep lately. Less than her usual six to eight hours, since she sat at her desk at night jotting down random words. Just this morning she had read what had been a schedule that turned into the food pyramid. She was most likely still thinking about her upcoming dinner with Elijah, or more importantly, what it was he was going to cook.

As she took a sip of her freshly brewed coffee her father passed by with a tray with something else fresh as well. Her father set it on the counter and gave her a "good morning" and a hug. She asked him about his day so far and when he would take some time off for himself to just relax. He told her he was fine, as always swore that he was as strong as an ox. A vacation was like an unknown term to him, but she was hell-bent on convincing him on it even if she had to pack his bags for him. She was worried that his work ethic would betray him someday, but they agreed to have some time off when the catering business was at a stable condition.

Just as they finished with that mention he told her that her mother was talking to their new client at the moment. Her presence would be much appreciated.

She knew it was a familiar person who sat across from her mother when she stepped into the front of the bakery. The woman did manage to stand out in this environment with the way she was dressed to impress, the word upper class came to mind. As she grew closer she caught the woman's beautiful clear blue eyes.

"Misses Li-"

"Margarita, I thought I told you to call me by my name?"

"Emrie, sorry. I just got too excited with the gratitude it would bring my family to cater to yours as well." Her mother's smile was lit like a thousand watts went into brightening the room. She jumped when she saw Mina next to her and grabbed her hand with too much force to expect from a petite woman.

"Oh, this is my daughter I mentioned."

When the woman turned to face her whole attention to her something dawned on her. Apparently, she herself had made an impression on this woman but not enough to remember her name. "Hello, I believe we've met, Mia?"

"Mina and yeah I think we have. It's a surprise to know you're our new client," She tried her best not to let the dislike she felt show within her words. It was a silly thing to feel after only being called by the wrong name but she couldn't help it.

"Emrie is the host of the wonderful charity I told you, she has a heart of gold I said, now sit over here and I'll be right out with the sweets."

Her mother wasted no time to skip back to the kitchen after she squeezed Mina's hand as a sign to sit in the seat she abandoned. She sat and was greeted with a smile as Emrie looked in her direction once more.

"I wanted to thank you, I know I didn't get a chance to when we left the hospital so abruptly."

"Oh, it's okay," She had got caught by surprise twice now, her brows shifted up before they lowered and she brushed it off like it was no big deal. Still, she was curious as this would lead to who she thought about now more than a minute ago when she was standing.

"You were the only person that kept Jean Noel sane for those few weeks during therapy so I'd like to thank you for it. I don't need to guess how much of a pain in the butt he can get after a while, so I'm glad I found you to say it in person."

Emrie was really good at keeping eye contact when speaking. She could tell that Emrie really meant all of what she said. Mina grinned at how highly regarded she'd been. She certainly hadn't regretted the time she spent with Jean Noel, even if she begged to differ the first week. She had dubbed him as Mr. Grumpy for a reason. Now that she had learned his full name, she felt it had a nice ring to it.

"You're welcome. I guess he was a bit much to tackle at first but since he's walking again I'm sure he's perfectly sane."

They laughed together and just as it had died down her mother came back with a full tray on her mitten covered hands. In about an hour or so Emrie tasted and loved the samples of what would be catered at their charity auction. As the host, she chose to have the event at her residence so she had brought her tablet to show what resembled a blueprint of the house. She went into detail about the placement of the different baked goods she ordered. Mina knew it was a very big order for this kind of event but the organization was impeccable in such a grand home.

"And after I'm going to let you set up around the gazebo, tomorrow the chairs and tables will already be in place, you'll be the last to set up because I don't want any mishaps for this event, it is very important to me and my colleagues."

Mina absorbed all the information towards the event, even took notes in her phone just in case they needed them tomorrow. Her mother beside her still smiling and nodding away, it was adorable. The pressure was on now with only one day left for a last-minute review over everything.

"In any case, if I don't answer the door my husband will be there to help you and there will be some kids at the event, mostly teens though so if you see a girl walking around with her face stuck to her phone don't be surprised," Emrie chuckled with mirth in her eyes.

"Oh," Mina was even more so anxious for tomorrow and couldn't push away the small voice in the back of her head asking to see Jean Noel once again.

"Alright, that sounds like a plan."



Mina looked at her reflection one more time in the mirror before she decided the feather earrings were too much for tonight. It was a slow drive to his apartment for their date and she couldn't lie about how she felt while driving. The thrill of feeling like a teenager who was about to go to her boyfriend's home to be alone, but she composed herself before entering the building. It was more giddiness because it was the first time someone other than family or who she considered family had invited her to a home-cooked meal.

He made something simple for the most part, chicken ravioli, and he knew how much his girlfriend loved chicken. It was a great dinner, then when they took out the dessert with no warning there came the buzz from the door. They simultaneously looked at each other, then at the door when it buzzed again asking each other telepathically who was on the other side.

"Did Xavier come back early?" She asked as she set down a cup of cranberry juice, a choice she made after not seeing any wine on the table.

"I don't think, he said he had to work late," Elijah looked up at her smiling, "Plus, he always has his key on him. Check for me?"

Mina told him what she viewed from the peephole was a very tan guy with black slicked-back hair and maybe someone else she couldn't tell if they wanted to come in. On Elijah's behalf, she unlatched the door although she did see the hesitation in his words.

"You're sure?"

He nodded after he finished setting the dishes in the dishwasher and dried his hands. He was next to her the second the door was opened. The tension appeared like a gust of wind through the threshold where there stood a businessman in a suit as tall as her and a woman who was swallowed by his shadow.

"Kent, what are you doing here?"

"Hello, Elijah I thought you got my message as to why I'm here." The businessman replied not affected by the cold tone Elijah just took on, or so it seemed.

Mina had never seen or heard this side of him before and it was kind of unsettling. At the sight of the feminine hand intertwined with the man's, he visibly bristled. She was beginning to get curiouser and curiouser by the second.

"No, so why don't you tell me. Now."

"Rent. Last times rent Eli, don't you remember?"

"Right," She saw how he clenched his jaw then turned his back and walked into the living room. "I remember it, alright."

Kent walked in without a care in the world with the woman's hand tucked in his, forcing her to come inside. Mina closed the door without taking her eyes away from the couple. It was obvious they weren't welcomed and yet here they were. Elijah stood rigidly in the middle of the room with his arms crossed in front of him. Mina leaned on the door and watched quietly as they exchanged heated looks. She didn't care that Kent ignored her or the timid stare she got from the woman at his side. Things were about to get interesting and she wasn't about to miss it.

The woman, Barbara, was here with Kent, Elijah's previous roommate, who came to pay back borrowed money. The last rent Kent had to pay his previous landlord which he could not do on his own. So Elijah paid both halves of their rent before Kent was kicked to the curb. At the moment that was explained, Mina figured out exactly who Barbara was in this equation. Although with the way Kent was dressed it was hard to believe he didn't have the quantity of cash to make rent.

"I would've given it to you earlier but you didn't get back to me last week," said Kent after he provided the excuse of the music industry's unpredictable ups and downs. He was presently a junior agent for a music label.

"I was sick."

"Oh," Kenny nodded once and looked away at Barbara.

"Can I use your bathroom?"

"Yeah," Elijah answered, his voice came out as if the ice he was spitting just now had melted at the light sound of her voice.

"Let me check if there's enough hand soap in there," Mina quickly intervened, not exactly lying but not only to leave the room filled with testosterone.

Barbara whispered behind her as Mina led her to the bathroom's open door even though she was pretty sure the woman knew where it was, "He likes ginger tea when he's sick, I don't know if he mentioned it."

Mina only had a chance to blink at her direction after she checked the hand soap dispenser and Barbara disappeared into the bathroom. Standing in front of the door like a statue she accidentally listened to the noise of vomiting, which made her immediately shift away. When she heard the flush before the sink faucet come on, she made silent steps to the hallway but then she stopped. She turned around and waited for the door to open.

"Barbara, are you okay?"

It was the caretaker in her that couldn't walk away. Her conscience heard it as a call for help and she cursed herself internally for it.

Barbara came out looking upset and almost sick in the face, "No, I feel like crap, but I'll be fine. Thanks for asking."

As she straightened up her blouse rose just above her jeans and walked away, Mina caught sight of something. The rear left side had a particular stamp logo that she'd seen enough times without counting. All her cousins on her father's side had worn the logo at some point because they were all dedicated aunts and mothers. Those jeans were from Bay Baby, the most common clothing store for purchasing maternity wear.

She surveyed Barbara, her intuitive mind fought with her respectful manners, "I've worked alongside too many nurses to not know there's something going on as to why you came here, but it's not my business to question you."

When the guests left Elijah stayed seated on the couch less than talkative. Mina searched the kitchen cabinets for what she thought might cheer him up. She boiled water and added the sliced ginger, then poured two cups. With sugar, she set them on the coffee table and told him the reason why she made the tea.

"Nice to know she cares," The sarcastic response did not suit his now woeful features. "She seemed a little meek from how she used to be, I'm surprised she told you."

"Well Kent looks like a young Elvis Presley with a bad nose job," Mina tried to lighten the sour mood and earned a half-assed chuckle.

As the evening dragged on, the atmosphere had changed and was uncomfortable so she decided to go home.