“Why aren’t you working in a hotel or restaurant then?” Emmeline asked. She had flour on several spots on her face.
“I did exactly that before I got married,” Doris said. “I resigned after I got pregnant.”
“That’s too bad,” Emmeline said. “You sounded like you’re going through a divorce. How are you going to sustain yourself and your children?”
Doris hesitated for a while. “To be frank, I sell various goods through a live stream every night.”
“Wow!” Emmeline exclaimed. “That’s pretty impressive! When the patisserie opens, I plan to move some of the business online. I can’t expect people to drop by this place!”
“I’ll help you then!” Doris said with a smile. “It’s a good idea to take orders through the live stream.”
“That’s a good idea,” Sam came up from the first floor. “You can sell the desserts together with my coffee too!”
“That’ll definitely drive business to the café!” Doris said.
“Alright, that settles it. I’ll have to learn fast so we can start selling!” Emmeline said confidently.
“You’re a fast learner, Ms. Louise,” Doris said. “You’ve mastered the basics. What’s left is controlling the taste through the details.”
“I’m not worried if you’re teaching me,” Emmeline said happily.
“Of course. I need to be elsewhere. See you tomorrow morning!” Doris said.
“See you!” Emmeline waved goodbye.
Doris took off the apron and went down the stairs.
After she stepped out of the glass door, she rode on her electric scooter.
While she sat on the seat, she took her phone and made a call.
She had spent the entire afternoon thinking if she should make that call.
She felt unconfident about meeting her ex-husband alone.
Josiah was an unreasonable man. In fact, his entire family was unreasonable.
Sometimes, she wondered why she married him in the first place. Perhaps she had trusted her parents too much.
She was worried that Josiah might force her to sign the divorce papers without giving her child support. There was nothing that despicable man would not do.
Doris thought she would feel safer if she had some company, especially if that person was a man.
She would be more confident, and the man would prevent her from being bullied.
However, she did not have any male friends. The only man she knew was Waylon!
Somehow, Doris thought that Waylon was very dependable.
It took a long time before the call went through. Waylon spoke calmly, “Ms. Whittaker, are you driving right now?”
Doris was silent for a while. “I was about to.”
“Thank you for informing me. I will stay at home for now,” Waylon said.
Doris did not understand. “What do you mean, Mr. Adelmar?”
“I said, I’ll stay at home for now, so you won’t knock into my car!”
Is he that afraid of me? Am I that repulsive?
“But… Mr. Adelmar, I wanted to ask you for a favor…” Doris stammered.
“How can I help you?” Waylon said slowly.
“You can. I need a man to accompany me. I mean, I don’t have any… No, what I meant to say is, you’re my only… male friend.”
Waylon did not understand what she was saying, but he understood the first sentence. Doris needed a man to accompany her.
“Heh! Why would you think of me? Do I look like I’m a pushover?” Waylon smirked.
