Perfect Hubby Perfect Stranger

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My name was Annie and I was tired of living. Everyone told me life wasn't always easy and I shouldn't blame myself if mine was a struggle. So, everyday, whenever I woke up, I told myself it wasn't my fault my father abandoned us. It also wasn't my fault a man broke my heart and left me pregnant with his child. I sighed and took my eyes off the letter in my hands. Everything changed the moment I decided to travel out of LA. I folded the piece of paper, it was so old that it might tear if I wasn't careful. It had been four years since he sent this letter. I should have burned it a long time ago, I know I should. Everything written there were empty promises.

I kept the envelope in my clutch and tried to focus my attention on something else. I brought out my phone and checked the time.

"Ma'am, aren't you getting down now?"

I raised my head and saw the bus driver looking at me. "Yes?"

"We are at the last bus stop."

"Oh." I looked around and noticed I was the only passenger still in the bus. Gosh, when did the bus even stop? I quickly picked up my clutch and got down.

The driver smiled at me. "Have a nice day, ma'am."

I sighed. Nice day? I hoped so.

I walked the familiar path to the bakery where I worked as both a baker and cashier. The bakery only had three workers so we worked in different categories. Tessa, my co-worker, was decorating some cupcakes when I walked in.

She was carefully putting a bright pink butter icing on some cupcakes arranged on a tray. There was a peck of flour on her curly hair and her small lips tightened as she concentrated on her job. She had a small body build which made her look five years younger than her actual age. Well, she used it to her advantage whenever she flirted with men. She was the complete opposite of me. She was so jovial that she made life look so simple. It was one of the things I admired about her.

She took a glance at me and wiped away the chunk of butter icing that stained her neck. "Good morning Ann. You came late today. Mr Weston just ordered three boxes of strawberry cupcakes."

Mr Weston was one of our regular customers, he always ordered in large quantities.

"Good morning Tessa. The bus stopped a little bit far from my destination so I had to walk here." I observed her. "You look stressed," I said.

She puffed. "I sure do. I'm trying to meet up with the delivery time."

She took an apron from the hanger and passed it to me. I grabbed it and wore it quickly.

"Hurry Annie! Let's start mixing the dough before the customers' arrival," she said and continued decorating the cupcakes.

I nodded and took a bowl from the shelf. "Okay, I'm coming."

I brought out the bag of flour and took some scoop from it. I poured it into the bowl and looked around for Matthew who was also a co-worker. He usually tidies the bakery.

I turned to Tessa. "Matt isn't in the shop. Did he go for delivery?"

She shook her head. "No, he called in sick today."

Matthew was a sickle cell patient, he usually felt sick almost every week.

"I hope he gets better," I said.

Tessa nodded. "Me too."

Since Matthew wasn't around, the work was much for us. Matthew usually served the orders, while Tessa and I baked and placed the orders on the counter.

Although the bakery was small, it had huge customers every day. Tessa agreed to serve the orders, while I placed it on the counter. Soon, people were already entering the bakery and not quite long, the bakery was buzzing with customers.

I rubbed my palm against my floral apron and took my favorite glove from the counter. I removed the pan of cupcakes from the oven and placed them on the counter. Its delicious aroma wafted through the air.

I loved to bake, I had learned how to bake since when I was a kid. My mom used to bake for us every weekend. Then we would gather around the kitchen island mixing the batter and laugh at each other's funny or crazy jokes. I swallowed hard and dismissed the thought. Such memories were long forgotten and only brought painful thoughts. It was before everything changed.

I arranged the cupcakes on the tray, it was a mixture of strawberry and vanilla. Tessa came to the counter and studied the cupcakes.

"Nice work Annie, those cupcakes look tantalizing." She placed it on her tray and gave me a thumbs up.

I gave her my best smile. "Thanks."

Tessa winked and went to deliver the customer's orders.

The doorbell jingled, I raised my head just in time to see Mrs Will and her little daughter, Eva, approaching the counter. Mrs Will always stopped by at the bakery after work. We got along pretty well. She was a witty woman in her thirties, she was twice married and once divorced.

"How are you doing, Annie?" she asked. She gazed at the show glass where other confections were displayed.

I smiled as I placed the next set of waffles on a tray. It was hard to resist staring at my confections.

" I'm good, thanks for asking," I said sweetly.

She looked at the waffles. "Is this one of the special offers?"

I nodded. "It is a new recipe, I just tried it out."

She examined it and smiled. "It looks yummy."

I smiled. "Thanks. So do you want this special offer?"

"Yes, I want two for me and one for Eva."

Eva smiled and raised her head to check out the cupcakes I had left on the counter to cool down. She had a very cute smile just like my four years old daughter, Zoe. They had an unlimited love for cupcakes.

She poked the cupcake with her little finger. Mrs Will quickly removed her daughter's hand and held it.

"Eva stop doing that." Eva dropped her hands, hid it and smiled guiltily.

We both laughed at the way she smiled. It was cute.

Mrs will looked at me and smiled adorably. "She likes cupcakes."

"It seems so."