3. Justin

3Justin

“Fuck!”

I groaned as I pulled a batch of burned muffins out of the oven. I prayed they could at least be salvaged but of course, no such luck.

I pressed down on my eyes, but a tear still slipped out. God, it felt like everything that could go wrong had gone wrong today.

I dropped the muffin pan on the table and sighed. At least all the other pastries had come out okay…for the most part. The tray of croissants was a little darker than usual, but I chose to take that as a win.

The truth was, it was a miracle that I’d even managed to get anything done. But at least the mini cakes and cinnamon rolls, two of our best sellers, were ready to go. Cookies, too, I reminded myself.

It would have to be enough.

I glanced in the direction of the tiny office that I’d finally managed to corral the kids into. I could hear the sound of Paw Patrol on the tablet and prayed that kept their attention for a little longer.

The kids seemed to be extra clingy today. I wasn’t sure if it was because they were reading my mood or just another thing to chalk up to being one of those days. Whatever the reason, I prayed it stayed quiet, at least until the morning rush died down.

Right now, I wished that I could afford to hire extra full-time help, but it wasn’t in the cards. Usually, though, when the kids were at home, I managed to keep up with things around here. Well, almost, but with the kids here today, trying to keep up seemed impossible. I sighed.

I knew wishing for a slow day would bite me in the ass when the bills started piling in, but right now if there was a rush… I tried not to even think about it.

I heard the ping of the bell that let me know when there was a customer and hurried out front, reminding myself to smile. My smile faded quickly when I realized the kids had snuck past me and were now in the main part of the bakery. If that was not bad enough, the one person I did not want to witness this was standing in my bakery.

“Hazel, it’s good to see you. I’m sure the little ones here agree.” I forced my lips into something I hoped resembled a smile and stepped out from behind the display cases.

Hazel, Willow’s sister, always seemed to be around when things were at their worst. Today was one of those days.

She held up her hand, “Don’t bother Justin.” She shook her head, “I still will never know what on earth Willow was thinking leaving her children to you.”

“I—”

Before I could even form a sentence, she interrupted me. “In case you were going to come up with an excuse, don’t even bother. I have been outside the bakery for the last seven minutes, and I saw the kids come out from behind the counter, and you were nowhere to be found.” Her eyes on me were accusing, and I felt less than a foot tall, and guilt clawed at my insides because she was right. I should have been paying better attention. “Anyone could have walked in off the street.” Her gaze pinned me filled with recriminations, “Or they could have walked out.”

A shiver wracked my body just thinking about my niece or nephew out on the road by themselves.

“They were in the backroom, watching their shows on the tablets.” Honestly, there was no good explanation, and I didn’t know why I tried. “Today’s just been one of those days. Ashley wasn’t able to babysit because she had food poisoning, the sink exploded… everything that could possibly go wrong, did,” I finished with a sigh.

The ice in Hazel’s eyes didn’t seem to thaw. “You and Teagan might have grown up as lone wolves,” I winced because I knew where this was going, “But Willow had— has a pack. A family.” I couldn’t help wincing again.

Teagan had been my only family for so long, and now the kids were all I had left. “But she trusted you to take care of them. Only God knows why.”

“I love them,” I said fiercely.

That time her eyes did soften, but only briefly for a second. I was sure I’d imagined it. “I know you do. But something’s gotta change. They trusted you to take care of them….” Her voice broke, and she cleared her throat, “I’ll look after them today, but if you can’t do this, Justin, I have as much right to them as you do, and if I think you can’t do this…” she let the sentence trail off.

I wanted to tell her not to take them, that I could handle it. But I needed the help today. It didn’t stop her threat from ringing loud and clear, and I knew it wasn’t an idle one. Hazel would follow through.

By the time she had the kids bundled up and out the door, I already had customers, and I felt this was karma for a split second. I wondered what my life would be like if I didn’t have Theo and Sara, but now that they could be taken from me… I shook my head; I wouldn’t even think about it. I would do better. I had to. Sara and Theo were all I had left in this world.

I couldn’t lose them too.

I wouldn’t.