Yanlie waved Ruby off as they pulled away from the curb back at Wren’s bakery. They lowered their hand as Ruby disappeared down 97 onto 133, granted a merciful green light at the bank intersection. Yanlie stood for a moment, staring into space, wondering what the hell to do with the rest of their day off. They supposed they could get some errands done, in order to not completely waste the day… Clean their apartment, maybe. Pay their bills-?

A sudden noise behind them made Yanlie jump, head whipping around to see what had taken them by surprise. Wren stood sheepishly in the doorway to his own bakery, head bent as if he were trying to take up less room.

“Uh, sorry,” he said softly, and Yanlie turned completely to face him. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”

“No, it’s okay. Is something wrong?” They stepped toward him, having to tilt their head back far to meet his gaze.

“I just… Wanted to say thank you, for helping Ruby. I didn’t know what to tell them or what to do… You really saved me back there. Um,” he said, holding out an object wrapped in parchment paper.

Yanlie took the item- solid, warm- and peeled back the crinkling paper to reveal a fresh loaf of pumpernickel, rich and brown. Yanlie blinked, looking back up at Wren.

“Thank you,” they said simply, to which he replied with a queasy smile.

“..You’re a really good person, Yanlie. Uh… Have a nice day. I should get back to the shop.”

Yanlie watched his baby deer legged retreat, sinking back into his respite. They watched after him for a moment, just as they had with Ruby, but eventually their gaze fell back down onto the loaf in their hands. The surface gleamed lightly, mottled with miniscule bubbles and webbed with fine cracks. They lifted the loaf of bread to their mouth and took a small bite, just to taste, and tasted the warmth of a hearth, of home, of security. They closed their eyes, standing on the street corner with the cars drifting lazily by like clouds on a sunny afternoon, and thought further ahead than tonight. They thought of futures with a warm, shared bed; coffee set out for two; fireside chats in low, gentle voices; and fresh pumpernickel bread.