Miss Spelled (The Kitchen Witch 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

narrowed and cold.
    A chill ran up my spine.
     

Chapter 5
     
    I looked up at the bright blue sky as I walked toward my new store after the funeral that afternoon. I thought about how ironic life could be at times. Of all of the types of shops I could have inherited, it just had to be one that sold food, and at that, food that had to be baked. As I got closer, I saw the cake store for the very first time.
    I studied the front of the building from afar as I made my way down the sidewalk toward it. For some reason, the shop’s exterior reminded me of the Victorian house that I had seen when I first arrived in Bayberry Creek. It wasn’t a physical likeness. Rather, it was a strange, yet inviting, presence.
    I was almost at the door when Thyme burst through it, her arms waving erratically in the air. “Well, there you are!”
    I clutched my throat, startled. “I hope I’m not late,” I said, checking the time on my cell phone.
    “No,” Thyme said, “but you’re pretty darn close.” She chuckled, and then motioned for me to follow her inside.
    “This place looks beautiful from the outside,” I said.
    Thyme raised her eyebrows. “This is the first time you’ve ever seen it? Please tell me you’ve at least seen your new home.”
    I shook my head. “Not yet, but Ruprecht’s taking me there after work today.”
    “Well, that’s great, at least. I’m sure you’ll be in for a pleasant surprise.”
    “I’ve already had plenty of surprises recently,” I said. “And don’t get me wrong; I’m happy to own a new home and a new store, but I don’t think you will understand how bad I am at cooking until you try something I attempt to make.”
    Thyme laughed. “You can’t be that bad. Baking is easy.” She turned the doorknob and pushed the door open, revealing the store to me for the first time.
    When I walked in and looked around, my mouth fell open. The shelves and counters of the storefront were lined with works of art. There were rows and rows of delicious looking cakes, cupcakes, and other various creations. “Wow, this isn’t what I expected at all,” I confessed.
    “And you’re only seeing it from the customer’s point of view,” Thyme said. “Wait until we go through everything and you get a better understanding of what goes on behind the scenes. Then you’ll really be amazed.”
    I wasn’t quite sure what Thyme meant, but I smiled. “I just hope you know how to teach a horrible cook not to burn a cake.” The last thing I wanted to do was bring down such a lovely looking store all because cooking wasn’t my forte.
    “Don’t be so hard on yourself. There’s nothing to it, seriously.” Thyme spun around with a broad smile on her face. “Come this way.”
    “I don’t think you understand just how terrible my cooking actually is,” I said. No one ever did, and there were really no words to explain it. I had a mental block when it came to baking, and something always went wrong, no matter how diligent I tried to be.
    “You’ll be fine. I promise. Just come with me.”
    I followed her toward the back of the store and into a kitchen. A large countertop island stood by itself in the center of the room, with large drawers and cabinets lining its exterior. Three ovens sat next to each other, and on the opposite wall were refrigeration units.
    “So, these are the ovens,” Thyme said.
    I nodded. I was a bad cook, but that much I did know.
    Thyme pulled open one of the oven doors to give me a look inside. “When we have a lot of orders and customers coming in and out, you’ll learn to love these things. We can fit about four cakes at a time if need be.”
    My breath caught in my throat as the thought of trying to balance four cakes at once nearly caused me to faint. “Four? Can we just start with one at a time?” I said with horror.
    Thyme smiled. “I’m going to help you until you get the hang of it, but I think you’ll be fine. I understand that you’re apprehensive, but everything