They got up early, and Mel took advantage of Clarke’s kitchen again to make them a quick breakfast. Clarke was already up, dressed smartly in a charcoal-gray suit, obviously tailored to him. The laughter was gone from his face. This was serious, Clarke. The successful and rich businessman of some sort. He would look very intimidating if it weren't for the crooked and messy braids mixed through his hair. 

He poured them coffee while Mel hid her smile as she drank. 

“How long will you be gone this time?” Kassie asked.

He shrugged. He made it look effortless and suave. The bastard.

“ At least a week, maybe two. Don't burn down my house, don't get internet pregnant.” 

She looked over at him again. 

His hair was a complete disaster. Good, he deserved it. She fervently hoped he worked in a super fancy building. When he left for work, the girls dissolved into giggles after a hug for both of them. 

The next few weeks went by quickly. The shop was busy and a little bit hectic as they worked out everyone’s schedules. Fall was a busy time of year, and the girls in the kitchen had their hands full baking a variety of specialty goods. 

Everyone seemed to work well together. Meg was a little disgruntled by Tina in her workspace. Meg apparently didn’t know how to have fun, while Tina had too much. Millie worked amazingly in the bookstore. She was quiet and sweet and occasionally a little vacant. Now, Derek was the real gem in the hiring process.

Mel still didn’t care for him, but Kassie loved him. They learned very fast to put him at the register. Girls loved him. It was easy to tell why. He was attractive and charming, with that little edge that many girls found attractive. He flirted with everyone who came in; it was amusing to watch. Mel hated it. Meg urged him on. Kassie knew a defensive mechanism when she saw one. The careless flirting, the effortless charm, it was an act. They all had one, a face they pulled on when they were too tired or stressed to deal with customers or each other. Derek seemed to wear his mask at all times. 

Kassie and Aaron’s communication increased over those couple of weeks. They wrote to each other frequently throughout the day. The conversations started frivolously. Kassie talked about the shop, and Aaron talked about his translation work. He was working on translating a series of children's books.  Over time, their conversations gained depth. Kassie learned a little about Aaron’s childhood, his army dad, and his business-oriented mother. Neither were they home much nor did they care much for family life. Aaron talked about his older sister, Allison, and how she grew up to be much like their mother. 

Kassie also talked about her family. How stagnant and picture-perfect their life was. How hard it was to be the youngest, being buried under the disappointment from her parents and siblings. Of course, she talked about Clarke and Mel. The only bright spots of her childhood. They also started to exchange pictures. She sent photos of herself, the shop, her friends, the cats that hung out in the alley, really anything that caught her eye. He never sent pictures of himself. Kassie really didn’t mind. She got pictures of his translations, of his cat, Cleo, his garden, and other snapshots of his life.