Magical door leads to a love story
Kerry gets a date arranged for his shy brother and baker teacher
Prologue - The Magical Door
“You opened the door for her.” Kerry’s wide eyes bore into his elder brother on the other side of the counter. Oliver had always been reluctant to use it for their shop since people started asking questions on one or two things that were not available anywhere else.
Last night, the ten-year-old saw it slightly open. His brother was in an Indian market, haggling for prices of cinnamon powder. Kerry knew they had the regular stock for the customers.
Oliver avoided his brother’s eyes as he wiped down the jars of spices. The devil chuckled and zipped up his bag, still smiling at his elder’s blush.
“Can I come with you next time?” Kerry was not allowed to use the door till he mastered his emotions, lest he wound up somewhere and lose the door in his excitement.
The bell on their front door jingled, saving Oliver from telling him no. Ms. Mia entered the shop. With a large shopper in one hand and a box of cookies in another. She headed straight to the counter.
“Hello, Oliver!” she placed the box of goodies in front of the fidgeting man and her bag on the ground before turning to Kerry, “Hey, kiddo! Ready for school?”
“Yes, Ma’am!” He gave her an enthusiastic salute. He motioned with a cheeky grin to the box, “May I?”
She took a cookie out to give it to him, “I made your favourite today. Orange ones.” Kerry didn’t know, but Oliver went to Nagpur to get the best oranges for Mia. Apparently, they were for his brother, too.
He took it happily from her, gobbling down the cookie with his glass of milk on the table as Oliver talked to his pretty school teacher.
“Did you get the cinnamon I asked for?”
“Oh yes! He got it last night!” Kerry said from behind her, winking at Oliver behind Mia’s back.
“The delivery came late.” Oliver took out the brown paper with raw sticks. He quickly hid it from her. Damm it! The shopkeeper had packed it in a Hindi language newspaper. He transferred it in a wooden box for her.
Oliver had listened to a very long lecture from the seller once how it should be grounded freshly before use. Though, the English man was gentler in passing forward the knowledge to the baker in front of him.
He shivered slightly at the touch of her fingers as she took the small box from him.
Mia smelled the box, and a beautiful grin took over her face, “I don’t know how you get your hands on these things,” she carefully put it in her bag, “but they make for best cookies.”
“It is you that makes them good.” He scratched the back of his neck and ran his hand over the counter, wiping imaginary dust with the other. He skilfully ignored his evil brother. Kerry was shaking his head, disappointed at Oliver’s lack of flirting skills.
She pursed her lips together to stop another smile from breaking out. The young owner of the grocery shop was just too cute for his own good, “Thank you. How much do I owe you?” she took out her purse as he started piling up the cookies on the stand.
“I will adjust it in the accounts.” They had been doing this for six months now. She brought her famous cookies to be sold at their shop after Kerry had pestered her for months. Earlier, she only used to bake for her favourite student and sometimes his cute brother. But the kid wanted her to sell them in their shop. She agreed to keep his heart, not to get a glimpse of Oliver daily, if anyone asked.
“But you never do.” Oliver gave her the profits at the end of every week. She still insisted she pay for the ingredients she requested from him. He always said he would adjust it in the accounts but never did. And they fought like a lovesick couple, in Kerry’s humble opinion.
Their back and forth continued while Kerry sneaked another cookie off the stand. He prided himself on introducing their town to this gem. They were a sensation. They always sold out before he came back from school. He had seen more than three fights break out between gym buddies, book club ladies, and army veterans over the sugary delights.
By the time he finished his third, Ms. Mia was shaking her head with a smile and putting her purse back, “It’s just not fair. I am sure they cost a lot.”
“The customers your cookies bring more than make up for it.” Oliver smacked away Kerry’s hand, inching towards another cookie, earning a pout in return.
“Yes. We would like to thank you properly.” Kerry directed his attention towards his teacher.
“Yes. I would. I mean we…we would like to thank you.” Oliver stumbled over his words, making Kerry sigh. As their supply of world-class ingredients stopped, the footfall to the shop decreased. And she had helped them in more ways than one in getting the customers. So, a proper thanks was in order.
“There is no need.” She shook her head in denial.
“I insist.” Kerry put his little foot down.
She bent to look at him with a teasing glint in her eyes, “Do you? How would you like to thank me?”
He made a motion of tapping his chin, “Well, considering I would be busy with my homework after school,”
She nodded her head in complete understanding, “Of course.”
“And then I also have my bedtime at seven sharp.” Oliver’s eyebrows rose high. The little rascal had to be dragged to bed every night, even after ten, “So I would not be able to do that. But I volunteer my brother. He would take you out for dinner tomorrow night.” Kerry smiled. It was the only possible solution to their dilemma.
“Kerry.” His older brother screeched from behind the counter. He got an innocent look in return as Mia burst out in laughter. She ruffled his hair and stood straight, picking up her bag.
“I mean, I would love to. But. If you don’t mind. There is no pressure at all. If you are free, I mean…”
“I would love to.” Mia put an end to his rambling. She feared he would stop breathing with the way he kept speaking in a single go.
“I will pick you up at seven. After the babysitter puts him to bed, of course.” Oliver gave a pointed look to Kerry, who was scrunching his nose at the idea that he needed one.
“Okay. Come on, Kerry. We are getting late for school.” She turned around after giving Oliver a shy smile, “Can you get me some nutmeg? I can make your favourite Nutella ones.” She asked over her shoulder. She preferred making her own spread. She still had hazelnuts form the last time, but she was running low on the other important ingredient that made Kerry fall in love with her baking more.
“Sure.”
Kerry followed her out. He only realized he had forgotten his bag after they crossed the street. He ran back to fetch it, “So, I guess you will go to Indonesia tonight. Can I come too?
“No.” Oliver deadpanned.
“Never hurts to try.” Kerry shrugged and walked out, whistling an Indian tune he picked up from a radio at the market, narrowly missing the paper ball his elder brother threw at him.
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Based on Writing Prompt #4 by Nicole Rivera. I highly suggest you check out her page Stop Writing Alone.
Great story!!
Hats off!