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After three weeks of stopping at the bakery every morning, Pete found himself searching for Marla behind the counter. He knew her name only because of the nametag she wore, since they never exchanged many words in the morning. She usually had his order waiting for him on the take-out counter and he found himself looking forward to the delicious surprise she packed for him every day. Their only exchange was at the cash register when she thanked him while she gave him his change. No more chipper attitude, which he appreciated. He was usually in and out in less than three minutes. Tops. Today, although his order was still waiting for him as usual, he couldn’t find her anywhere and was disappointed when Megan rang-up his order.
“Marla’s day off, today?” He asked Megan as she handed him his change. She was stunned for a moment that he had spoken, and then answered briefly.
“She never has the day off. She’s in the back helping Betsy.” Pete assumed that Betsy was the boss. He turned and walked out without comment. As he savored the blueberry concoction Marla had packed for him, he berated himself for feeling cheated out of seeing her today. He never realized how much he looked forward to seeing Marla, assuming it was the food that attracted him. Why should he even care who waited on him? He refused to accept that the little town was starting to grow on him. Just the thought of it made his stomach lurch uncomfortably. After his divorce five years earlier Pete was determined to not care about anyone or anything but himself. He had given and given to his ex-wife, Alicia, but it had never been enough. After the divorce he decided that he couldn’t be held responsible for other people’s happiness, so he concentrated on number one. Himself. Vowing never to put himself in that position again, he had transformed himself into a taker instead of a giver. Honestly though, he couldn’t say he was any happier now than when he had been with Alicia, there was just a lot less drama now. He certainly didn’t miss the drama. Finished with his trip down memory lane Pete headed for his office. Finally, he was getting to do some actual police work. He had no idea how much he’d regret that thought in the days to come.