You were the One

"Wow Anastasia, the bakery is booming and the pizzas are selling like hot cakes today!!" Mr. James exclaimed, his wrinkled face breaking into a grin as he leaned on the counter of Peterson's bakes

Anastasia chuckled, tying her apron properly which was about to loosen "Oh Mr. James, you are just saying that because you were able to get the last pizza" She said her green eyes holding a teasing glint as she packaged his pizza and handed it to him.

"Ouch I've been caught" he pretended to be hurt, acting like a child.

"But honestly Anastasia, your hands work pure magic. Keep up the good work and in years to come this place will grow more bigger".

"Thank you Mr. James, I will always do my best" She smiled warmly at him and he returned the smile before walking away leaving the counter and walking out of the bakery.

She turned wiping the counter while humming to a tune, the smell of fresh bread and sugar filled the bakery and the afternoon sun shone through the windows making it feel cozy and warm.

It was a busy day but In a good way. The clock ticking and the warm air made her feel at home. The bell rang as a woman with two little children walked into the bakery. "Anastasia you got any muffins left for my kids?" the woman asked smiling tiredly.

"For you and these two little angels...? Always" Anastasia said, bending down to reach the height of the two kids. "So what flavors do my two angels want"

"Blueberry!!" they both shouted jumping happily.

"Blueberry it is then" Anastasia laughed, packaging a bag. "Here is your delicious blueberry muffins. Enjoy and also keep some for your mama"

The kids giggled and the woman who happened to be their mother thanked her "You are a lifesaver and an angel Anastasia"

She smiled at the woman "Any time Mrs. Jones". Mrs. Jones smiled back hurrying out with her kids leaving only the fading sound of the kids chatter. Anastasia let out a slow breath rubbing her temple.

Then came a loud bang from behind her. A sharp metallic sound that didn't belong to a bakery.

Her stomach twisted as she rushed to the kitchen, thick smoke was coming out of the oven, it's doors hanging half broken on one hinge as though it was ready to crash to the floor.

"No, no, no, this can't be happening right now" she muttered almost at the verge of tears. It was the worst possible timing with lunch rush only an hour away.

She called the repairman pressing the phone tight to her ear but it went straight to voicemail, his recorded message came out. He would be unavailable for the next three days.

Her stomach dropped. He was the only one she trusted with fixing her appliances in the bakery and the only one who always fixes her oven even when she couldn't pay right away. She didn't have the money to hire someone else, not now. Three days without him, three days without the oven would cripple her.

The bell rang again. She hurried back to the counter trying to put up a smile for the next customer, but even the forced smile was nowhere to be seen immediately she saw who it was.

Mr. Spencer

He stood in a clean cut black suit, briefcase in hand, eyes holding so much impatience and anger, not to forget his potbelly protruding out. "I had ordered cinnamon rolls for my lunch meeting today and I expected it to be delivered to my office since two hours back, so why hasn't it been delivered yet!!" he shouted

Anastasia flinched "Mr. spencer I am so sorry, the oven broke an hour ago so I couldn't -"

"Not a good enough excuse for my cinnamon rolls not to be ready" His voice resounded in the bakery. "I bragged about your bakery saying that it was the best in town and this is the disappointment I get!?"

Anastasia felt ashamed. She could have had the cinnamon rolls delivered to him since he had placed the order for it earlier today, but she had been so busy and preoccupied attending to customers that she actually forgot about his order and only remembered when the oven got broken.

"Once again I am sorry Mr. Spencer. I can refund your money or you can take any of my other specialties from the counter"

He glared at her and was about to say something else but stopped himself, snatched a pastry and walked away without another word.

Anastasia's shoulders sagged, her hands shaking, but there was no time to dwell on it. The small backup oven would have to carry the bakery for the next three days until the repairman is back, though it meant slower service, fewer sales and plenty of unhappy customers.

The bell rang again but this time it was her older brother Craig walking towards the counter.

"Still working huh?" he asked. Craig was tall and broad shouldered, his brown hair a mess as though he had been tugging it all morning. Putting on an apron he walked towards the kitchen, dropping the backpack containing some ingredients he got at the grocery store needed for the bakery.

"Someone has to, not like I have a choice" Anastasia answered with a tired smile. "where's Chloe"

"Your Princess Is right here!!" came the sweet cheerful voice of their younger sister. Her dark ponytail swinging from left to right, a packet of flour in her arms. "The line at the store was insane" she said while dropping the flour on the counter close to where Craig dropped his backpack.

"Thanks Chloe, I really don't know what I would have done without you two"

Craig smirked "completely hopeless without us that's what"