Chapter Six

One customer after another came in throughout the afternoon, and it was one of my best days so far. I finally got a break shortly before closing, and I had the urge to check and see if Camila had posted anything. It might be a little early yet, and it certainly was too soon for even a great blast to affect business, but still. And would she also give Cicek some publicity?

I was probably getting overexcited. One person saying they enjoyed my food was great, but what difference would it make in the long run? Camila was very nice, but she probably had a small group of friends who would even see her post. I needed to up my social media game instead of counting on the random customers to do it for me.

I pulled up a stool behind the counter and grabbed Camila's order form to remind myself of her last name. Sometimes being old-fashioned like this paid off. Many people did not use their full names on social media, or used a variation—even low-tech me knew that, but if I couldn't find it, she had said she'd tag me...

"Excuse me, do you have any salami?" The customer who walked in asked the question that irritated me most. But…the fact was…

"We have a variety of meats and cheeses, including several that qualify as salami. What did you have in mind?"

And so ensued a ten-minute discussion that, as always when it began with the salami question, ended up with the sale of a quarter pound of my least expensive version and a couple of slices of cheese.

"I don't know why you don't sell sandwiches," he called over his shoulder on the way out.

Why didn't I?

I wasn't much of a baker beyond a few dessert specialties, but Tanner and Godric made excellent rolls, and they had a sideline selling breads and some of their other products to their fellow businesspeople. Maybe they would be willing to make a special version for me? Inspired, I picked up the phone and called Tanner on his cell phone. He was not in the shop as often as before he met his mate who was allergic to, I believed, all things nuts. But they had other irons in the fire together as well.

"Zion, it's been an age! When are you coming over to dinner? Ava misses her uncle." I was not her uncle, but without any cubs of my own, I was grateful to spend time with the children of friends and had become a popular babysitter.

"Anytime you invite me, I'll be available. But I called about something business related."

"Oh yeah? Timing is perfect because I needed to ask you for contact information for one of your suppliers."

He was interested in some of the sheep's milk cheese I'd been buying from a local shepherd, and I was more than happy to help him out with this. The guy was pretty reclusive, but I'd gotten to know him over the years, and he made incredible cheese and yogurt as well. After I shared this information with Tanner, I almost hung up when he asked, "What did you need from us?"

"I need to sell sandwiches…but I don't want to be in competition with you guys." Because why would they bake me bread if I did that?

"I'd never think you would. Unless you're suddenly in the nut butter business."

"All animal proteins here. I know you sell bread to various other vendors, but I was wondering if we could come up with a roll that's a little different and just for me?"

"I love that idea!" Tanner's voice grew muffled for a moment then he returned. "Godric says maybe you would want a couple of kinds like a whole grain and a white…but we go with a distinctive shape that nobody else would have?"

"Two kinds…I don't know how many sandwiches I'll be selling at first, since nobody thinks of me for that."

"Hang on. Godric wants to talk to you."

"Hey, Zion."

"Hey."

"The reason I suggested those types of bread is because they are our most popular, and we make a ton of dough a day."

I was starting to understand. "So…you would just have to shape and bake as many as I need?"

"Exactly. Not a lot of extra work for our bakers, and we wouldn't have to charge you a custom fee."

I argued that point, but lost. They were great neighbors and friends, and I'd make sure to get them and their little one some treats to make up for their inconvenience. I hung up just in time to close up for the day. It had been a good one, I thought, vowing not to resent the salami question anymore because you never knew what ideas might spring even from a five-dollar sale. In fact, if that particular customer came again, he'd get a free sandwich from me for the idea.

With everything clean and tidy and the floors swept and mopped, I grabbed my keys, ready to climb the stairs and collapse, but the sight of my next-door neighbor locking his door inspired both me and my bear. Maybe he'd be willing to go for a run? We'd never done that together, and I wasn't sure if he even knew many spots to do it. His uncle hadn't been much of a runner in his declining years, and Cicek had kept close to the old man when he came to stay, he'd mentioned.

I would ask him to go for a run tonight. A friendly shifted run. Nothing more.