Baker's Nook Novels & Stories

Baker the nastiest of glares. “I hope you’re right. Either way, it’s a good idea to keep that one on a short leash, or any leash!” She gave Bruiser a wary look as she played with the pears on her necklace. “I’d hate to see someone get hurt because of a mutt.” As she spoke, her tone turned bitter, and she returned Bruiser’s glare. In a blink of an eye, Mrs. Baker turned to Gail and gave her a bright smile. “Well, I was coming over to ask you for a cup of sugar, as cliché as that sounds. My boys are out of town or too busy with work to stop by the store for me and I have a hankering for my special double chocolate fudge cake.”

Aurora woke up before sunrise. For a few seconds, she simply stared at the notebook lying on the small table beside her bed. MY BAKERY PLAN. The words still felt strange. Not because the dream was unfamiliar, but because, for the first time in years, Aurora had actually written it down. She reached for the notebook and opened it. Name: Location: Eastern side of Moonveil Startup capital: Ingredients: Flour, butter, eggs, milk, sugar... Menu: Bread, pastries, pies...

Here, miles away from the silver-tipped pines of my nightmare, the air tasted of damp asphalt, car exhaust, and fresh bread rather than ozone, fear, and alpha suppression. Nora was a middle-aged human woman with kind eyes and a spine made of pure steel. She owned The Morning Glaze, a small, fragrant bakery tucked into the corner of a narrow cobblestone street. She hadn't asked a single intrusive question when I showed up at her back door three weeks ago in the middle of a thunderstorm, soaking wet, badly bruised, and clutching one battered duffel bag. She had simply handed me a dry towel, a hot bowl of cinnamon porridge, and the key to the tiny attic room sitting right above her bread ovens.

But before the nurse could, Zikki caught sight of Miranda. .... Noah's café, nestled in the heart of town, beckoned to all who passed by. It was renowned for its scrumptious banana cake, the kind that made your taste buds dance with joy. Stepping inside, one was transported to the vibrant streets of New Orleans, as the owner had carefully crafted the café's interior with his memories of the city. Mornings and mid-days saw the café bustling with activity, the aroma of coffee wafting through the air, while the evenings were a bit quieter, as the day wound down. The story of how the café came to be was a charming one, filled with unexpected twists and turns.

Noah, who had been listening quietly, suddenly perked up. "Wait—you bake?" he asked Bella, sounding equal parts surprised and intrigued. Bella blinked. "Um… yeah. I run a bakery, remember?" "I know, but I didn’t realize you were the baker," he said, pointing at her dramatically. "Like, the real genius behind the scenes." Bella gave a small, sheepish smile. "Guilty as charged. Vienna taught me everything." "Well then," Noah said, sitting up straighter and placing a hand over his heart in mock seriousness. "I demand—demand—a tasting. I must experience the greatness for myself."

After another unsuccessful round of peeking through small fences and taking tours around the small shops, Nathaniel was about to call Sebastian to come help when he realized there was one particular place he was yet to check. It was the only thing he liked about the town. It was an old bakery shop which recently expanded to become a small bookstore slash café. And it was the only building one sees at the end of the long, downhill road. Built with red bricks which were arranged in a spectacular way as well as decorated with interesting things that made the place look less boring, the building was already giving off the regular bakery scent which reminded Nathaniel to make sure to buy a cake f