"Sarah, I'm just taking her to the hospital. She doesn’t have any close family here and I'm the only one who can help. Once I’ve taken her to the doctor, I’ll come back to you!" Freddy explained almost as if he was trying to remedy the situation before stepping into the elevator.
As the doors began to close, I raised my eyes and said calmly, "Don't bother. Just take care of her."
It was better this way. At least, he had something when I left.
After Freddy left, I headed to my dessert shop. It was named after me, Sarah's Desserts.
Two years ago, it was an unknown little store. However, now it has a loyal customer base.
Over the past two years, I poured my heart into this business, even participating in numerous domestic and international dessert competitions. Though I had never won a championship, those experiences introduced me to many talented mentors and peers.
Among them, Mrs. Sophie stood out as one of the most encouraging mentors that I had. "Will, you have a natural talent as a baker. As one, you have an extraordinary imagination," she once told me.
"You should step onto the global stage. Learn, connect and let your creativity flourish. Come and visit our academy. On behalf of the school, I invite you to study and exchange ideas with us." Then she handed me an invitation later to the prestigious Lyon Culinary Institute.
I accepted it with a grateful smile, hesitating briefly before replying, "Thank you for believing in me, Mrs. Sophie. This means a lot to me. However, I’m about to get engaged soon and I plan to marry by the end of this year. The timing might be tricky."
"Don’t rush to decline, my dear," Miss Sophie replied playfully and winked at me. "Life is full of surprises and unexpected turns. Our exchange program starts in two months, so you still have plenty of time to think about it. Let me know if you change your mind."
It turned out she was right. With a bitter smile, I sent her the flight details I had just booked the night before.
Then I drove to my daily routine. I informed every regular customer who came into the shop that I would be closing for three months to study abroad. For those with orders scheduled during that time, I apologized refunded their deposits and doubled the amount as a token of goodwill. A few insisted on keeping their orders and requested earlier delivery within the next couple of days. For anything I could manage, I made the necessary arrangements.
The day flew by and before I knew it, the evening sun was casting its golden hues. I had just finished preparing a custom cupcake gift box for a client when they arrived earlier than expected. Since I had not packed the cupcakes, I had to speed up my hands, package the box neatly and hand it over to the customer.
The client was a stunning beauty named Maya Langley. Over time, we became friends, thanks to her frequent visits and her love for my desserts.
Leaning casually against the counter, she spoke with a playful pout, "Sarah you’d better come back soon! You’ve spoiled me so much that I can’t live without your desserts."
I smiled sweetly. "Don’t worry, Maya. For you, I’ll make sure to learn everything I can in the fastest way possible and immediately come back. When I return, you’ll have to let me know if I’ve improved."
It was at that time, Freddy pushed open the door and walked in.
