The Baker's Dozen

Tuesday. It was always Tuesday when he came into the bakery. She'd been so busy with customers that first time that she nearly missed his name when selected one of the pastries from the dessert counter. Every week he came back, seemingly determined to try each of the desserts that the Baker's Dozen offered. He never ordered the same thing twice, further confusing her as to why he had become such a loyal customer. But today, things were about to change.

It had been three months since she opened the Baker's Dozen in London, a wonderful mix of book store, coffee shop, and dessert bar. Hermione combined her love of books and her talents as a pastry chef into a very successful shop that was now attracting regular patrons. Two of her favorite customers were a kind, elderly couple, Mr. and Mrs. Dayley. They always came to 'visit', as they called it, on Tuesdays. "Sundays are for church and rest," Mr. Dayley once said, "Mondays are to run errands, and Tuesdays are to enjoy. So, here we are!"

On this Tuesday, as she was helping the Dayleys, a familiar red-haired man came into the café and began looking into the dessert case. "I'll be right with you," Hermione called to him while refilling the two coffee cups.

When she turned, Hermione saw that he was staring intently into the case. Smiling, she asked what he would like. When he looked up, Hermione could only stare into his clear, blue eyes. She was so enthralled by them that she almost missed his question, "What would you recommend?"

She laughed demurely, knowing she should expect that question from him, and would have if she hadn't gotten lost in those small pools of blue. "Well, they're all quite good. But, my favorite is the apple pie."

"Ok, apple pie it is. And, can I get a cup of coffee, too?" Bill asked with a friendly smile on his face.

"Sure, make yourself comfortable," she said while motioning to the empty tables, "and I'll bring it over."

Hermione busied herself with cutting the perfect slice of pie, carefully lifting it onto the plate so that the apple filling didn't fall out of the sides. Elizabeth, a friend of Hermione's that had started working at the bakery since it opened, started snickering as she watched the meticulous work.

"Let me guess," she said while scanning the tables, "Mr. Tall, Ginger, and Handsome is back again, isn't he."

Blushing slightly, Hermione pretended not to hear her. Elizabeth had taken it upon herself to keep track of how many times he came to the bakery. Hermione hadn't really paid attention; he was a friendly face - a handsome, friendly face at that - but her thoughts never wandered to him for very long. She was convinced that he came to the bakery, for the last six weeks in a row according to her friend, because he enjoyed the desserts and coffee.

Gently sliding the apple pie in front of him, Hermione smiled when he quickly took a bite, letting a small moan of appreciation rumble from his throat. He managed to swallow as she filled his coffee cup. "My compliments to the chef," he said in a full, rich voice, before adding more quietly, "and to those who prepared it."

"You're welcome," she managed to say before turning away, afraid that she would start to stare into his eyes again.

Mrs. Dayley raised her cup in Hermione's direction to get her attention for a refill. "Have a seat dear, Mr. Dayley has gone to stretch his legs."

Taking the only empty seat at the small table, Hermione found herself in a position to see most of the café and its patrons. "You know, your friend is right. A smart girl, that one," Mrs. Dayley said cryptically. At the look of confusion on her face, the older woman continued, "She's not the only one to notice your admirer."

Hermione kept her eyes on her task of topping off the cup, stumbling over her words as she said, "I . . um . . hadn't really noticed . . . ."

"Of course not, he's been very subtle, except for stopping by for nearly two months straight," she added with a slight chuckle. After a short pause, she said thoughtfully, "That's the kind of attention you want; that which is patient and persistent. You don't see it because he isn't arrogant or overly pushy. A man who has this much dedication to getting your attention is sure to cherish it once he's received it."

Hermione let her eyes wander to his table, feeling her face heat up as he met her gaze. The charming smile directed toward her made her mirror his gesture. It wasn't only the blush rising into her cheeks, Hermione had a nervous excitement starting to fill her. It was nice to have this kind of attention, something she wasn't used to. Only Mr. Dayley's return to the table could cause her to look away.

Feeling shaken by this epiphany of hers, Hermione wondered how she had missed it for all of these weeks. Nervously straightening the already neat items behind the counter, she began to doubt the incident altogether; Hermione had almost convinced herself that her friends had been mistaken when she saw two hands rest on the counter space in front of her.

"You were right; the apple pie is the best dessert I've tried so far."

Gathering her courage to, for once, be bold and pursue this - whatever it is, Hermione graciously accepted his praise for her baking skills before adding, "And, I believe you've sampled most of what we offer. Will this be the one you ask for again?"

Hoping she hadn't been too forward, Hermione was relieved to see his charming smile back on his face. "The food is wonderful," he began before resting his arms on the counter and leaning toward her, "but the company is even better. And, yes, I think I'll look for it again next week."

She really had been oblivious to him over the last few weeks; his words seemed to take her by surprise.

Sensing that she was flattered by his words, but looking a little nervous, he thanked her again before paying for his food.

As he walked out of the Baker's Dozen, he thought to himself, 'what an amazing muggle.'