Meia released all the onomatopoeias she had in stock as she advanced beside her mother to express her pain while Royal and Kenya hurried in front. Belle Ange giggled; the last child was the only one who could without being scolded.

Callum felt sorry for the kids but also for Thandie as he imagined how she struggled to meet her children's needs. The man pushed the thoughts of the mother away and headed back inside to watch how the first batches of cakes sold off. He focused on his business. His date didn't invade his mind until lunchtime when Adele sent him a message on Oppo.

I can't wait to meet you. The message added pressure on Callum's shoulders, and he suddenly wondered what to wear for his rendezvous. Callum wasn't sure anything in his wardrobe would seduce the woman. He usually wore a white tee and dark-rinsed jeans. Many thought the man never changed his clothes when Callum just bought the same product repeatedly. There something told him he should put in an effort. Callum wanted something classy but casual that showed his investment in his appearance without making it seem like he placed his life on the line. Caitlyn advised a Japanese ready-to-wear brand, saying it had the everyday items he sorted when Callum called.

Callum hated shopping for anything other than food and ingredients. Thus, the man hurried to choose. He brought two pairs of trousers, new undies, three linen shirts, and a few new tees.

"Are you okay, Callum?" Liz asked when he saw the man enter his office with a few shopping bags.

"Yeah, why?"

"It's just that you seem a little let's offbeat compared to your usual self."

"What do you mean by offbeat," Callum asked.

"Well, you keep smiling at yourself. Don't get me wrong; a smile is always welcome. It's just, Did something good happen? Can we hope for a pay rise anytime soon," Liz said, trying to catch a glimpse of the contents of his bags.

Callum chuckled nervously. There wasn't a day when Liz didn't taunt him concerning the salary, and like on all those occasions, Callum avoided the subject, "I'm good; I'm just a little anxious. I'm going out tonight," he replied, and hurried to put the bags away.

Liz was the first person he recruited when he opened, and she was also his oldest employee. The woman was like a mother to everyone, including Callum. Hence, she was one of the rare people Callum opened up to.

"With friends?" Liz interrogated.

"With someone," Callum replied with a solemn tone and an expression that said don't-try-to-fish-for-more.

"Ohh, that's great, Callum," Liz replied with a knowing smile.

Callum's eyes darted, "I think I should cancel."

Liz frowned, "why love, it's good to go out. Get some fresh air, enjoy, don't overthink it."

"Easy for you to say."

"No, Callum, it's plain simple. Relax. It's not like you're going to marry her."

"I didn't say the person was a woman."

Liz lowered her gaze, "I didn't know you were in the closet."

"Liz."

"Callum," Liz replied with the sardonic smile she used when customers ran on her last nerves before regaining the motherly aura she was known for to give Callum a little pep speech, "Listen, just be yourself. If your person of interest doesn't like you as you, then there's no loss."

Callum didn't see anything else he could do except give a nod, and Liz returned to the counter.

"That was one long peeing pause," Irene said when Liz joined Keisha and her at the bakery's counter.

"I was with Callum," Liz replied with a grin.

"Look at her. You'd think she got a raise," Keisha said as she placed the last batch of Paris Brest in the display window.

"I got better than that. I think our boss has got a date."

"Nooo," Irene gasped and came closer, "who is it?"

"Dunno," Liz replied and moved passed her colleagues who followed her. All wondered what type of woman could please their taciturn boss. None had ever seen him with another woman than his sister. Irene and Keisha had the firm intention of making Liz talk, but customers entered, and all found themselves occupied.

Callum stayed in the office to finalize the next month's schedules. The man was happy to have something to keep him away from his staff and further interrogations concerning his date. It was around 3 PM that he chose to take a cigarette break.

The bakery was empty, Liz had finished her shift, Irene was on her break, and Keisha profited from the calm and Callum's presence to take a quick pee. It wasn't a bother for Callum, who usually cut his pause to step in if ever someone entered in quiet moments such as these.

And as always, Callum was about to leave for his cigarette when someone tried to enter. The shock of the collision had Thandie take a few steps back.

"Sorry," Thandie exclaimed.

Callum was too startled to react immediately but managed to mutter his apology.

What was she doing there?

Was she really going to enter?

Callum stepped away from the door to let Thandie in and closed the step behind her. She advanced along the display counter. There was a wide range of cakes and pastries. Thandie took her time to read the labels and descriptions.

What was the pastry Meia had asked for again?

The morning scene had haunted Thandie's day. She felt like the worse mother on earth. Moses had them used to a life without deprivation; they were too young to understand the financial situation their father left Thandie to handle.

While Thandie discovered the bakery's catalog, Callum stood stunned. He still couldn't believe Thandie had entered the bakery as if he secretly wished she did. The man couldn't remember the last time Thandie came because it was a first. She always stood outside for an unknown reason. The man slicked his hair back, thinking Thandie's infamous next time was finally there. He got ready to walk behind the counter when Keisha took the position," don't worry, Callum. I'll take it from here."

The man stepped back, feeling silly.

"Hello, how can I help you?" Keisha asked.

"Eh, emㅡ," Thandie still hesitated.

Keisha hated when customers did this, especially when there was a queue. There, she tried to hold back from rolling her eyes as Callum watched the scene.

Why didn't he go on his break? Keisha thought.

The salesperson found herself blushing for no reason and decided to help Thandie in her purchase to flee her boss's gaze, "are you looking for something in particular?"

Thandie smiled, "my kids love sweet stuff. They come here everyㅡI mean, they love this bakery, and I don't usually enter."

Keisha nodded at Thandie's affirmation and waited for the punchline while Callum went behind the counter and began to fill a bag.

" ㅡI know they like donuts; my daughter said something about vanilla and creamㅡ. Can you help me?"

"Well, we haveㅡ," Keisha began, only to stop speaking as Callum stuffed a bag filled with four vanilla custard oatmeal donuts. "Well, we have these Vanilla custard doughnuts," Keisha said, showing the bag.

"That's it, yes, it's what she asked for."

The clock stroke 3 PM, and Callum saw Thandie smile for the first time.

"Do you fancy anything else?"

"No, I'll just have the doughnuts."

"Okay," Keisha took the tweezers and counted, "four doughnuts to go."

Thandie's eyes darted and bounced away from Callum's gaze as she said, "Em, no, sorry, I'll only take three."

Keisha proceeded to take out one from the bag and recalculated the total.

Callum wanted to intervene and tell Keisha to let Thandie buy four for the price of three, but he didn't know how Thandie, and notably Keisha, would interpret the gesture.

Keisha was a beautiful woman. Callum had caught her watching him multiple times because he did the same. The patissier even thought she liked him at one point, but Callum burnt the thought he considered inappropriate. The man refused to show staff such interest. Callum felt the same about the employer and employee relationship as for the taboo of teacher and pupil. Still, the scene made him uneasy.

He decided to go out for his break. Thandie followed a few seconds after. The baker had never been close enough to observe her height. She was tall and thin. Callum noted she never wore makeup since her husband's disappearance.

Some would say Thandie had given up on her feminity, while Callum thought that perhaps she had found a new freedom. The man couldn't help but feel what he imagined was admiration for her. She cared for four kids when he felt incapable of taking care of one.

The woman went on to pick up Belle Ange before going home. Royal, Kenya, and Meia came home a little later to find their surprise.

"Yay," Kenya gasped.

"Wash your hands first," Royal ordered, slapping his sister's hand from the bag.

"Oh, thank you, mummy. You're the best," Meia yelled when she discovered the pastries.

Thandie smiled, one would think she exaggerated, but the few words her children pronounced brightened up her day. At least she was the best in someone's eyes.