Stepping foot into my mom's bakery, Anytime Cakes,
brought me right back high school and working here. The smell of fresh cookies and bread incase the building and brought a smile to my face.
It's been a year since I last stepped foot in here and I was happy to see nothing has changed. The walls were covered with photos of customers and my family. My mom wanted the place to be home-y and friendly so over the years we've gotten pictures with almost every customer that has come here.The handful of tables and chairs scattered about were still the same ones we've had for years. The whole place screamed home to me, making my heart hurt. Just another reminder of how bad of a daughter I've been not coming home more often to help out.
The moment Olivia and I stepped foot into the bakery Katie put us straight to work. Katie was a few years older older than at me at 27, the same age as Lucas. She's been helping my parents out at the bakery for years now and basicall
Knox"Of course we get stuck with the heavy lifting." Aubrey's brother Jackson grunted in front of me as the two of us lifted a huge square of wood up."I thought your mom said she only needed a few things done with the booth, not that we had to build it from the ground up."Once we got the piece of wood up and secured with some nails, we stepped back to look at the work we had done so far."That's my mom for you. Makes it seem like an easy task but its not."As soon as Jackson and I made it to where the festival was being held, Aubrey's mom descended on us telling us where to go and what to do. I lied to Aubrey earlier when I said I could handle her mom...she was worse than any drill sergeant I have had, and trust me I've had my fair share.Somehow us helping finish her booth turned into us building the entire thing, with a promise we'd help with others afterwards."You guys do this every festival?" To which Jackson nodded. "How many are
"You are late."Those were the first words out of my mom's mouth when Olivia and I finally got to the festival. The baking competition was almost over even though my mom said we had to be there before it started."Sorry for the last minute rush at the bakery." I lied sharing a glance with Olivia.After learning about their parents Olivia and I spent the rest of our time talking about everything and anything. I told her stories about growing up with two brothers. She told me stories about Knox before he went into the Marines.I'd always wanted a younger sister that I could be close with and have fun with, and I got that today with Olivia. Sure I had Leah who was basically my sister but with Olivia being only 17 I already felt prot
"You snooze, you lose." I stuck my tongue out as I hooked my last ring on the bottle."You are 100% cheating." Knox narrowed his eyes at me."How can I cheat at throwing rings?" I shot him a look, placing my hands on my hips."The fact that you have done this year after year means you are cheating.""I don't...." I shook my head. Deciding to ignore him I turned to point out which stuffed animal I wanted. When the guy handed over the fairly good sized Panda I crushed it to my chest with a grin."Lets go find something you aren't secretly good at." With my new stuffed animal in my arms I brushed past Knox, purposely trailing my hand up his arm and leaning in more than necessary."I'm good at everything babe." With a smirk I continued on past him towards another booth we had yet to go to. I let myself take a quick peek over my shoulder and saw Knox still standing there staring after me. He had an almost stunned look on his face that made me sti
As soon as we got back to the house and warmed up, Olivia tugged me upstairs to her room to finish the photo album for Knox's Christmas present. With Christmas literally being a day away the two of us locked ourselves in the room to finish it.It took us well over an hour to finish up because every picture I found myself staring at. Seeing Knox transform from a little baby to a lanky teenager then to an attractive 18 year old. I saw the pictures of him with his parents and the sight of them made my heartache for both him and Olivia.Their parents looked like a perfect couple. Olivia clearly took after their mom with her blonde hair and green eyes. She was an exact replica from the pictures she showed me. And Knox looked like his father with the same dirty brown hair, wide shoulders, and even the grin his father had seemed to match Knox's.The few pictures that did catch my attention were of Knox in his military uniform. The first few were clearly f
Merry Christmas Eve!" Mom yelled as Lucas and Annie walked through the door, followed by two loud 'Merry Christmas Eve'. I grinned from where I was at in the kitchen as I heard my two nieces."Get ready." I warned Olivia and Knox. "Three....two..." I counted down. As soon as I reached one Sophie and Charlotte came running into the kitchen."Bre!" They both yelled my nickname. I squatted down in time to catch both of their little bodies in hugs."Are you guys ready for Santa to come tonight?" I asked."Yes!!" They cheered."We wrote him a wetter." Sophie struggled to say."Oh wow you wrote him a letter." I made my eyes go big." And he replied?" They nodded their heads so fast I was worried they'd get whip lash. "As long as you two have been good girls he'll bring you everything you want." I tapped their noses and made them giggle.They moved away from me. Sophie going straight for Olivia and Charlotte went right for Knox, who scooped
The four of us spent a good 2 and a half hours sledding. Each time we got back to the top Jackson would come up with some challenge for us all to do and even Knox did it.By time we were done we were all tired and our faces were bright red from the cold. But despite all of that the grins on all of our faces were worth it.Seeing how carefree and happy both Knox and Olivia looked made up for the fact that I couldn't feel my hands, feet or my face. I would do about anything to see the smile on Knox's face again. And judging from the look Olivia kept giving her brother she thought the same thing as me.As we made our way back to find the others we stopped to get coffee to try and warm us all up a bit more. The temperature was slowly dropping as the day slipped away.Jackson and Knox were in the middle of a conversation when something caught my eye. I tugged at Knox's hand as I came to a stop. He glanced over his shoulder at me in question as he paused mid-step
Okay this episode is dedicated to all those asking for double episodes, we caby do double but we are doing long episode for u guys. Happy reading......"I have a surprise for all of you!" My mom announced as she walked into the living room. All of us were sitting around warming up from being out in the cold all afternoon. We had just gotten back from the festival and were waiting for dinner to finish in the kitchen."Surprise us with what?" I questioned."You're about to find out." She went over to the tree and started pulling out wrapped presents and handing them out to everyone. At the sight of them I knew what she was doing. Once everyone had one, including Olivia and Knox who looked really confused, did she clap her hands."Okay open."All at once everyone ripped into their present, wrapping paper flying. Once I had mine open I looked inside and shook my head. Beside me Knox pulled his out just as I did. Holding it out in front of me I saw the
You're family really does go all out on Christmas Eve." Knox said as soon as we got to my room for the night."I did give you a warning earlier."After Lucas and Annie won Pictionary, we moved to a game the girls could play. We ended up playing Uno, Old Maid and Go Fish for the next hour and a half until both parents announced it was time to take the girls home. They of course didn't want to leave but as soon as the word Santa was said they were out the door.The rest of us helped clean everything up, and by rest of us I mean Olivia and I, before we all decided to go to bed. No doubt my mom would be getting us up early for Christmas. We may all be well into our 20's but my mom still gets us up early to open presents. Plus Lucas and Annie already promised the girls they'd be over here first thing in the morning."I didn't think it would be this much." He held up the ugly sweater my mom fortunately let him take off soon after pictures."Don't deny it y