A Dangerous Romance

A Dangerous Romance

It was a hard time in London. Many people were poor and had to scrounge around for money or food. Some people had a business so they had money coming in. Other people who had a business weren’t doing so well.

Hope was working as a baker; she was good at cooking. She knew she was lucky to have the job since the owner of the shop didn’t like her much. The only reason she got the job was because her friend Michael worked at the shop and begged his boss to hire her.

Hope was forever grateful to Michael because if he hadn’t helped her get that job she would have been living on the streets.

The day started out like any other day. Hope had a hard time getting up in the morning and most of the time Michael had to come and force her out of bed. Even though Hope was twenty-six she still acted like a child some times.

“Why is it so hard for you to get up in the mornings?” Michael asked.

“Because I’m a night person not a morning person.”

“That’s not an excuse.”

“Yes it is.”

Michael just rolled his eyes and then left to get ready for the day; Hope did the same. Once they were ready they left to the bakery.

Once they got to the bakery they started their work. Michael went to the back of the shop and started baking the bread. Hope was stuck at the counter, taking people’s orders. She loved baking, but the owner of the store, Cody, never gave her the chance to bake. Hope figured it was because he still had a grudge against her mother and was taking it out on her.

Every day Cody took an hour break so during that time Michael managed the counter while Hope got to bake. Her specialty was baking cakes and she was very talented when it came to decorating them. Her latest master piece was a chocolate cake with frosting. It was square and she used green frosting to make three leaves in each corner. Then she took blue frosting and made a rose in the center of the cake. Lastly she used different color frosting to make a bird near the rose.

Hope and Michael would quickly change places just before Cody got back. When he asks who made the cakes Michael says he did because if he knew Hope made them Cody would be angry with her.

“I don’t understand why he doesn’t like you so.” Michael said when he and Hope were on their break.

“We’ve been through this.” Hope replied.

“I know, but I still do not understand. It wasn’t your fault after all.”

Hope sighed. “I suppose it’s not.”

“But you still think it is?”

Hope was silent for a moment. Then she said, “I know it is.”

Hope stood up to go back to the shop. “Hope, when will you stop blaming yourself?”

“Never.”

The rest of the day went on like usually. Customers came in and out to browse or buy. Michael was back baking and Hope was helping customers and cleaning the shop. Cody was going back and forth between the baking and helping customers.

That night when Hope and Michael got back home they went on the roof and looked up at the stars like they do every night.

“That one looks like a cupcake.” Michael said, pointing to a group of stars.

“The one next to it looks like a dog.”

“There’s one that looks like a two layer cake.”

“I see a ship.”

“Oh hey, that one looks like a pie. Maybe pumpkin pie. Or apple. Probably cherry.”

Hope laughed. “Seems like you have food on your mind.”

“Well, I did just get done working at the bakery. That group looks like a flag. There, that wasn’t a food.”

“I’m sure you just said that even if it did look like some sort of food.”

“What else do you see?”

“I see…” Hope was silent for a minute. Then she sat up and sighed. “A broken heart.

Michael sat up and looked at Hope. “Come on, Hope, don’t be sad. You know I hate to see you depressed. It’s been three years. I know that that’s not a long time, but you need to move on. Look ahead in your life to the good.”

“And what good is in my life?”

“You have me.”

Hope stared at Michael. She knew she had him and could count on him. He was a very good friend, but that wasn’t enough. He was Hope’s only friend and what would become of her if anything happened to him? What good would be in her life then?

Hope said nothing to Michael and just walked back in the house. Michael sat on the roof for awhile.

The next day Hope was still a little depressed. Michael tried talking to her, but she kept saying she was fine and didn’t want to talk at the moment. Michael had been Hope’s friend since they were kids and he had always been there for her and helped her out when she was in trouble. Now he felt like he was letting her down and he didn’t know what to do.