Muffins for you Who: Alice and Kate What: Meet and Greet with some muffins Where:Pax lobby, by the mail room. When: Thursday, March 16, evening (backdated because I forgot to put up a hold)
Alice found a collection of cute wicker baskets at a local farmer’s market the previous weekend and purchased a bunch for the shop to put different wrapped goodies on display. They ranged in different sizes but she quickly discovered one in particular, a large one with a thick looping handle, just didn’t fit anywhere on her counters. She kept this one, dolling it up with ribbons and a nice picnic-styled, checkered blue and white cloth, and realized it would be best served as a holder for free food. With her work day ending by 2, she was able to come home and do even more work--particularly testing out a chocolate pecan pie muffin recipe she had been toying with. After making a full batch and trying one, she was satisfied and spent the afternoon doing photos in her well lit apartment for her blog.
But what was she to do with the other eleven muffins she still had sitting around If she ate everything she baked, she’d send herself into a hospital, plus she just enjoyed feeding others more. So off they went into plastic wrap and the large, beloved basket. With a note tied to the handle, asking whoever took the last muffin to please return it to apartment 405, she set out for the lobby of the apartment complex.
It was like any typical apartment lobby, although if Alice was being truthful it did seem a little… odd. It often seemed so quiet with no one coming in to look at apartments, at least not that she had seen, and she had yet to really run into anyone while making her way through the lobby--other than Stephan who quietly went about his work and didn’t really interact with Alice. Alice supposed that there were so few tenants in the big building it just made sense that she hadn’t gotten to meet many people yet.
Near the mailboxes stood a counter of sorts with various information for the complex and a trash can for those who decided to go through their mail right then and there. The counter, thankfully, fit the large basket. Sitting a card next to the basket with a message to the other tenants to please enjoy her free muffins, plus a list of ingredients in case anyone god forbid suffered from some type of allergy, she was focused enough on the task on hand that she didn’t hear anyone approach the mailboxes from behind her.
Kate’s day had gone well. She had presented before the budget committee to make a case for adding a large database to the Tierney Law library’s resources and felt confident the committee would vote in favor at their next meeting. She had a long, relaxing evening tonight to look forward to.
With these thoughts running through her head, Kate absently passed by a woman she didn’t recognize to go check her mail. She had opened her box and was pulling out envelopes when a strong, delicious, sweet smell hit her nostrils. She looked up and around, trying to pinpoint the source, and for the first time focused on what the woman was doing at the counter.
“Oh, that smells wonderful,” she said, assuming whatever she smelled was in the cute basket--chocolate, definitely, but something slightly salty, too. She smiled at the young-looking, red-headed woman.
Alice jumped and turned quickly, her eyes large, but upon seeing the other woman, quickly softened. “Thanks!” she replied and quickly let out a laugh. “And hello! You’re literally the first person I’ve seen down here. I assume you live here?” She glanced at the envelopes in the woman’s hands and blushed. “Of course you do, why would you be getting the mail otherwise? I’m Alice, I just moved here.” The ginger stepped forward, offering her hand to the woman with a friendly grin.
Kate closed her mailbox and turned back to shake Alice’s hand, the name ringing a tiny bell in the back of her head. “Kate. Nice to meet you. Oh!” she said after a moment, the name in combination with the smell of chocolate jogging her memory. “You posted an introduction, about running a bakery, right? I meant to reply but hadn’t had a chance. I practically grew up in my grandparents’ bakery, and I always find the atmosphere of baked goods and tea comforting. You must have a lovely view on the Peninsula.”
Alice’s eyes grew wider as Kate spoke until she was practically beaming. “Oh, that’s so neat! Where did your grandparents have their bakery? This is just my first, it’s not even six months old yet but I’m still figuring things out.”
“It’s over in the Irvine Business Center. Pieter’s Bakery. He was my grandfather.” Kate’s smile became wistful, trying not to let the pain of his passing show, even all these years later. “He was so proud of the place. My grandmother still runs it. It’s definitely more traditional pies, cakes, and cookies, but I love your designs. The bunny tail is so cute!”
“Thank you so much!” A typical response, but when Alice said it, it was clear she meant it. Her cheeks were rosy and her eyes bright. She smiled as she took a step back and gave a wave to her basket. “So, I keep trying different recipes and when they’re a success, I usually distribute the remaining pieces as free food. So that’s what this is, chocolate pecan pie muffins. I think they came out alright but I can’t eat them all, but please! Have one. Get one of the first picks and, if it’s ok, tell me any sage advice that would be good to know from your grandpa’s bakery.”
Mmm, so that salty smell was pecans. A delicious combination, Kate thought, but then again, she didn’t think many combinations were unpleasant. “I can tell I’m going to have to go on longer dog walks with you in the building now,” she joked. She moved over to the basket, plucked out a muffin, and took a bite. She sighed happily as the flavors washed over her tongue. After swallowing, she said, “It’s perfect. My grandfather always said to bake with passion, and it’s obvious you already do. Thank you. I’ll be sure to visit your bakery soon.”
Alice stood up a little straighter. “Thanks, I appreciate it. And first treat is on me, when you visit that is. If I’m not there just tell whoever is working the counter that you live at Pax with me. I’m really eager to meet more people who live here, but honestly, you’re the first person I’ve bumped into in the halls.
“Are you heading back to your apartment? I can walk with you.”
“Sure!” Kate rearranged her mail and the muffin to get her keys from her purse. “And I’ve already got my freebie,” she said, holding up the hand with the muffin as she walked toward the elevator. “I’m up in D1. Would you like to meet my dogs? They look big and scary, but I promise they’re all slobber. They’ve made friends with my neighbor Isobel’s tiny pup. Have you met her yet?”
“Oh yes,” Alice replied as she fell in step with Kate. She laughed and gave a shake of her head. “I mean, yes, I’d love to meet your dogs and yes I’ve met Isobel! She drove me home the other day from the bakery, actually.”
“Oh good,” Kate said, offering another smile. “I’m really glad this place is filling up with such nice people.” They reached the elevator, and Kate pressed the button for the D floor.