Stepping foot into my mom's bakery, Anytime Cakes,
brought me right back high school and working here. The smell of fresh cookies and bread incase the building and brought a smile to my face.
It's been a year since I last stepped foot in here and I was happy to see nothing has changed. The walls were covered with photos of customers and my family. My mom wanted the place to be home-y and friendly so over the years we've gotten pictures with almost every customer that has come here.The handful of tables and chairs scattered about were still the same ones we've had for years. The whole place screamed home to me, making my heart hurt. Just another reminder of how bad of a daughter I've been not coming home more often to help out.
The moment Olivia and I stepped foot into the bakery Katie put us straight to work. Katie was a few years older older than at me at 27, the same age as Lucas. She's been helping my parents out at the bakery for years now and basicall
Knox"Of course we get stuck with the heavy lifting." Aubrey's brother Jackson grunted in front of me as the two of us lifted a huge square of wood up."I thought your mom said she only needed a few things done with the booth, not that we had to build it from the ground up."Once we got the piece of wood up and secured with some nails, we stepped back to look at the work we had done so far."That's my mom for you. Makes it seem like an easy task but its not."As soon as Jackson and I made it to where the festival was being held, Aubrey's mom descended on us telling us where to go and what to do. I lied to Aubrey earlier when I said I could handle her mom...she was worse than any drill sergeant I have had, and trust me I've had my fair share.Somehow us helping finish her booth turned into us building the entire thing, with a promise we'd help with others afterwards."You guys do this every festival?" To which Jackson nodded. "How many are
"You are late."Those were the first words out of my mom's mouth when Olivia and I finally got to the festival. The baking competition was almost over even though my mom said we had to be there before it started."Sorry for the last minute rush at the bakery." I lied sharing a glance with Olivia.After learning about their parents Olivia and I spent the rest of our time talking about everything and anything. I told her stories about growing up with two brothers. She told me stories about Knox before he went into the Marines.I'd always wanted a younger sister that I could be close with and have fun with, and I got that today with Olivia. Sure I had Leah who was basically my sister but with Olivia being only 17 I already felt prot
"You snooze, you lose." I stuck my tongue out as I hooked my last ring on the bottle."You are 100% cheating." Knox narrowed his eyes at me."How can I cheat at throwing rings?" I shot him a look, placing my hands on my hips."The fact that you have done this year after year means you are cheating.""I don't...." I shook my head. Deciding to ignore him I turned to point out which stuffed animal I wanted. When the guy handed over the fairly good sized Panda I crushed it to my chest with a grin."Lets go find something you aren't secretly good at." With my new stuffed animal in my arms I brushed past Knox, purposely trailing my hand up his arm and leaning in more than necessary."I'm good at everything babe." With a smirk I continued on past him towards another booth we had yet to go to. I let myself take a quick peek over my shoulder and saw Knox still standing there staring after me. He had an almost stunned look on his face that made me sti
As soon as we got back to the house and warmed up, Olivia tugged me upstairs to her room to finish the photo album for Knox's Christmas present. With Christmas literally being a day away the two of us locked ourselves in the room to finish it.It took us well over an hour to finish up because every picture I found myself staring at. Seeing Knox transform from a little baby to a lanky teenager then to an attractive 18 year old. I saw the pictures of him with his parents and the sight of them made my heartache for both him and Olivia.Their parents looked like a perfect couple. Olivia clearly took after their mom with her blonde hair and green eyes. She was an exact replica from the pictures she showed me. And Knox looked like his father with the same dirty brown hair, wide shoulders, and even the grin his father had seemed to match Knox's.The few pictures that did catch my attention were of Knox in his military uniform. The first few were clearly f
Merry Christmas Eve!" Mom yelled as Lucas and Annie walked through the door, followed by two loud 'Merry Christmas Eve'. I grinned from where I was at in the kitchen as I heard my two nieces."Get ready." I warned Olivia and Knox. "Three....two..." I counted down. As soon as I reached one Sophie and Charlotte came running into the kitchen."Bre!" They both yelled my nickname. I squatted down in time to catch both of their little bodies in hugs."Are you guys ready for Santa to come tonight?" I asked."Yes!!" They cheered."We wrote him a wetter." Sophie struggled to say."Oh wow you wrote him a letter." I made my eyes go big." And he replied?" They nodded their heads so fast I was worried they'd get whip lash. "As long as you two have been good girls he'll bring you everything you want." I tapped their noses and made them giggle.They moved away from me. Sophie going straight for Olivia and Charlotte went right for Knox, who scooped
The four of us spent a good 2 and a half hours sledding. Each time we got back to the top Jackson would come up with some challenge for us all to do and even Knox did it.By time we were done we were all tired and our faces were bright red from the cold. But despite all of that the grins on all of our faces were worth it.Seeing how carefree and happy both Knox and Olivia looked made up for the fact that I couldn't feel my hands, feet or my face. I would do about anything to see the smile on Knox's face again. And judging from the look Olivia kept giving her brother she thought the same thing as me.As we made our way back to find the others we stopped to get coffee to try and warm us all up a bit more. The temperature was slowly dropping as the day slipped away.Jackson and Knox were in the middle of a conversation when something caught my eye. I tugged at Knox's hand as I came to a stop. He glanced over his shoulder at me in question as he paused mid-step
Okay this episode is dedicated to all those asking for double episodes, we caby do double but we are doing long episode for u guys. Happy reading......"I have a surprise for all of you!" My mom announced as she walked into the living room. All of us were sitting around warming up from being out in the cold all afternoon. We had just gotten back from the festival and were waiting for dinner to finish in the kitchen."Surprise us with what?" I questioned."You're about to find out." She went over to the tree and started pulling out wrapped presents and handing them out to everyone. At the sight of them I knew what she was doing. Once everyone had one, including Olivia and Knox who looked really confused, did she clap her hands."Okay open."All at once everyone ripped into their present, wrapping paper flying. Once I had mine open I looked inside and shook my head. Beside me Knox pulled his out just as I did. Holding it out in front of me I saw the
You're family really does go all out on Christmas Eve." Knox said as soon as we got to my room for the night."I did give you a warning earlier."After Lucas and Annie won Pictionary, we moved to a game the girls could play. We ended up playing Uno, Old Maid and Go Fish for the next hour and a half until both parents announced it was time to take the girls home. They of course didn't want to leave but as soon as the word Santa was said they were out the door.The rest of us helped clean everything up, and by rest of us I mean Olivia and I, before we all decided to go to bed. No doubt my mom would be getting us up early for Christmas. We may all be well into our 20's but my mom still gets us up early to open presents. Plus Lucas and Annie already promised the girls they'd be over here first thing in the morning."I didn't think it would be this much." He held up the ugly sweater my mom fortunately let him take off soon after pictures."Don't deny it y
8 months later."It's okay don't panic! We can fix this! I just need some thread. Thread!""Here! I found some!""It's okay, it's okay. I got this."I stared down at Leah and she frantically kneels down to fix the tiny little tear in my wedding dress. I grinned at how panic-y she was when I was completely calm. You would think it is her wedding not mine."Leah calm down, its fine.""Don't worry Aubrey I fixed it. See can't even tell." She stood with a grin. I shook my head at her. Knowing it was better to just go with it I grabbed her hands and squeezed."Thank you." She beamed at me and squeezed my hands right back."You look gorgeous Aubrey." She didn't even give me time to respond back before she pulled her hands free. "I need to check on the boys and the photographer. I'll be right back!" With that Leah practically ran out of the room. For someone wearing he
One Year Later."Yes we are just about to leave.""Make sure you leave soon because traffic on the freeway is getting bad." My mom rattled off. I held the phone away from my ear as she kept going on about us leaving so we can get there in time for dinner."Mom." I interrupted her mind rant about the forecast predicting snow. "I need to get going.""Okay sorry. I'll see you guys in a few hours. Love you and be careful.""We will. Love you too." Finally getting my mom off the phone I tossed it on the bed to finish packing."Ready to go?" I was asked as I slid the last Christmas present in my suitcase. Standing upright I turned and grinned at my amazing boyfriend."Yeah just need to zip it up."Knox crossed the room and came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and planting a kiss to the side of my temple."Excited to go home and see your family.""Yeah it's been a little while." Its been a good 5 months since I l
Before I knew it was time to head back home. Knox and Olivia needed to head back to get their store back open and I had to get back to finish my project for my promotion. As much as I wanted to stay I knew I couldn't.Being back home was exactly what I needed. I needed to come back to face my fears as cheesy as it sounded. In a way this brief visit back helped me heal."Come back soon okay?" My mom sniffed as she pulled me into the 10th hug since we came downstairs."I will, I promise." I already made a promise that I would come to visit more often. I couldn't go that long again without coming home."Let me know when you get home. Be careful of the roads with the snow." My moms inner worry wart coming out. Pulling away I smiled."I will."I let mom attached herself to Olivia next as I moved towards Jackson. I pulled my dufus of a big brother into a hug."Be good.""I'm always good." He scoffed when he pulled away. I sent him a look. "You
The rest of Christmas flew by. When I finally joined everyone back downstairs it was time to make breakfast. No one questioned where Knox and I were but the knowing look that Jackson gave me made me flip him off which only made him laugh.After breakfast we spent most of the morning sitting around. Sophie and Charlotte played with their endless toys, while the rest of us drank more coffee and talked. We talked about everything and anything and we even brought up stories about dad. Stories that made us all laugh despite the ache that he wasn't here to enjoy this day with us.It had started to snow a bit earlier so around noon everyone bundled up and went outside. And true to Christmas fashion an all out snowball fight started. No one was safe as we all, including my mom, threw snow at one another. We were all yelling and laughing so hard I wouldn't be surprised if the neighbors could hear us.When I somehow hit Knox in the face I ran away laughing only for him to e
Kids! Time to get up! Lucas, Annie and the girls will be here in just a minute!"The sound of my mom's voice came through the door making me groan. I snuggled deeper into the warm body that I was pressed against."You all better be down here in 5 minutes!""Go away." I muttered. The body I was laying on moved as they chuckled making my head move along with it. "Stoppp. I'm trying to sleep." I whined."You really aren't a morning person.""No, now shush." With my eyes closed I brought arm up and moved it in the general direction of Knox's voice.Everything was quiet for a moment as I tried to go back to sleep but as soon as I started to drift off another knock sounded at the door."Aubrey get up." She knew me well enough that I would go back to sleep. "Aubrey!""Fine! We're coming." I shouted back."You do know its Christmas right? You shouldn't be grumpy.""Yeah, yeah put a sock in it." I grumbled as I slowly untangled my
You're family really does go all out on Christmas Eve." Knox said as soon as we got to my room for the night."I did give you a warning earlier."After Lucas and Annie won Pictionary, we moved to a game the girls could play. We ended up playing Uno, Old Maid and Go Fish for the next hour and a half until both parents announced it was time to take the girls home. They of course didn't want to leave but as soon as the word Santa was said they were out the door.The rest of us helped clean everything up, and by rest of us I mean Olivia and I, before we all decided to go to bed. No doubt my mom would be getting us up early for Christmas. We may all be well into our 20's but my mom still gets us up early to open presents. Plus Lucas and Annie already promised the girls they'd be over here first thing in the morning."I didn't think it would be this much." He held up the ugly sweater my mom fortunately let him take off soon after pictures."Don't deny it y
Okay this episode is dedicated to all those asking for double episodes, we caby do double but we are doing long episode for u guys. Happy reading......"I have a surprise for all of you!" My mom announced as she walked into the living room. All of us were sitting around warming up from being out in the cold all afternoon. We had just gotten back from the festival and were waiting for dinner to finish in the kitchen."Surprise us with what?" I questioned."You're about to find out." She went over to the tree and started pulling out wrapped presents and handing them out to everyone. At the sight of them I knew what she was doing. Once everyone had one, including Olivia and Knox who looked really confused, did she clap her hands."Okay open."All at once everyone ripped into their present, wrapping paper flying. Once I had mine open I looked inside and shook my head. Beside me Knox pulled his out just as I did. Holding it out in front of me I saw the
The four of us spent a good 2 and a half hours sledding. Each time we got back to the top Jackson would come up with some challenge for us all to do and even Knox did it.By time we were done we were all tired and our faces were bright red from the cold. But despite all of that the grins on all of our faces were worth it.Seeing how carefree and happy both Knox and Olivia looked made up for the fact that I couldn't feel my hands, feet or my face. I would do about anything to see the smile on Knox's face again. And judging from the look Olivia kept giving her brother she thought the same thing as me.As we made our way back to find the others we stopped to get coffee to try and warm us all up a bit more. The temperature was slowly dropping as the day slipped away.Jackson and Knox were in the middle of a conversation when something caught my eye. I tugged at Knox's hand as I came to a stop. He glanced over his shoulder at me in question as he paused mid-step
Merry Christmas Eve!" Mom yelled as Lucas and Annie walked through the door, followed by two loud 'Merry Christmas Eve'. I grinned from where I was at in the kitchen as I heard my two nieces."Get ready." I warned Olivia and Knox. "Three....two..." I counted down. As soon as I reached one Sophie and Charlotte came running into the kitchen."Bre!" They both yelled my nickname. I squatted down in time to catch both of their little bodies in hugs."Are you guys ready for Santa to come tonight?" I asked."Yes!!" They cheered."We wrote him a wetter." Sophie struggled to say."Oh wow you wrote him a letter." I made my eyes go big." And he replied?" They nodded their heads so fast I was worried they'd get whip lash. "As long as you two have been good girls he'll bring you everything you want." I tapped their noses and made them giggle.They moved away from me. Sophie going straight for Olivia and Charlotte went right for Knox, who scooped