Series: Little Cakes Series by Pepper North
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
“I know. That’s why I chose that one. We’ll see if it boosts the sales. If so, we’ll know the promos are helping.”
“Go, you! Thanks for trying something new. Fingers crossed that it works,” Rose encouraged.
By opening time, the bins were overflowing with stuffies-to-be carefully positioned to be able to make eye contact with everyone walking by. A line of people had formed at the door, and they streamed inside as Rose unlocked the door. Of course, there were a few curious shoppers who stopped to see what the bustle was all about. They too got swept up in the fun of making a new friend. Larisa and Rose were swamped.
“Put me to work,” a familiar voice suggested, and Rose turned to see Alice at her side.
“Alice, you came to make a stuffie.”
“I did, but I can wait. Looks like you’re swamped. How can I help most?” Alice asked with a smile.
“I can’t ask you to work. It must be your day off.” Rose talked and rang up customers at the same time.
“Of course you can. I’m here and I’m willing.”
“I’d be happy to show her the ropes,” Larisa chimed in. She extended a hand. “I’m Larisa.”
“That would be wonderful,” Rose answered gratefully. She watched the gracious young woman jump in immediately to help. Glancing up frequently to make sure Alice was okay, Rose couldn’t believe how quick she learned the process. What an amazing stroke of luck that she had come in today!
An hour later, a male voice greeted her from the side of the cash register. “Hi. I’m Alice’s brother. She said you need help. I’m looking for a job. Let me lend you a hand with this line and we’ll talk when you can breathe.”
“What’s your name?” Rose asked as she nodded her agreement.
“Deke. I’ve worked a cash register before. I’ll watch you and then I can open that one if you want.” He pointed to the second cash register that Rose hadn’t ever used. There hadn’t been enough business to warrant filling the till.
“Perfect!”
In ten minutes, she pulled out the excess cash and overflowing charge slips out of the first register and rushed to the office to stash it in the bank envelope before loading the second till. Rose paused for a few seconds to text Amber to come in early if she could before dashing back into the shop. As she slid the till into the register, Rose loved seeing that Deke had everything under control and was chatting pleasantly with the customers as he admired the new friends they had created. He’s so hired! Taking the next person in line, Rose worked next to him to diminish the crowd.
An hour later, they could all breathe again. The rush of shoppers didn’t slow down, to her delight, but the four of them were able to handle the traffic inside the store. Amber arrived and relieved Alice who immediately searched through the bins for the stuffie she wanted to create.
“This one’s on the house,” Rose announced when Alice brought the soft pink teddy bear bedecked in a rainbow-colored dress, sparkly silver shoes, and a matching tiara to the cash register.
“Oh, no. I’ll pay for Cinderbeara,” Alice announced.
“No way. I owe you at least one stuffie for helping out and for calling Deke,” Rose corrected her.
“He’s super excited to be here. Deke jumped at the chance. He’s considered applying here several times but didn’t think the owner would want a big, burly guy working in a stuffie store,” Alice explained.
“This store owner is glad to have him here. I’m definitely going to have to order some larger shirts for him to wear,” Rose shared with a laugh.
"Oo, you’re going to be busy again,” Alice pointed out as a group walked in together.
“Those are my friends. They’re here to have fun. I’ll just put them to work as well if I need to. Thank you again, Alice. I hope I see you again,” Rose said quickly as the group approached.
“I bet we’ll run into each other somewhere,” Alice suggested with a wink.
Rose didn’t have time to wonder what she alluded to as Lark led the crew of Littles into the store.
Rose was surprised to see several of the group of friends from Little Cakes. Ellie, Daisy, Lark, and Riley. She clapped her hands as she greeted them. “I can’t believe you’re here. How did you all manage to get off work in the middle of the day?”
Ellie gave Rose a hug as they all gathered around her. “We realized there was no way we could all be off at the same time. Not even on a Sunday morning. Plus, Sunday mornings are your only free time. We didn’t want to drag you out of bed on your only day to sleep in, so here we are!”
“But don’t you need to be at Little Cakes?”