Series: Paige Michaels
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Breakfast seemed to fly by. She hated having to leave the table to run and brush her teeth and put on her makeup. Nora really just wanted to be a Little girl today. Looking at herself sternly in the mirror, Nora reminded herself that Craftastic was her dream come true. A small voice in the back of her mind countered with the idea that being a Little girl had been her fantasy for a long time as well.
“I’ll just have to be both. A successful craft store entrepreneur and a Little girl.”
“I think that’s a perfect idea,” Mateo agreed, overhearing her decision as he walked into the bathroom. “You’ll be late if we don’t leave for work.”
“I’m ready!” she assured him. “Let’s go.”
The conversation on the way to the shopping center was entertaining. They talked about their customers, sharing sweet things as well as funny encounters. It wasn’t until he pulled into a parking space that Nora remembered how scary the bomb threat had been.
“You don’t think someone’s out to cause Craftastic to close, do you?”
“That’s not going to happen. We’re not going to let it. Who knows who called in the bomb threat? Hopefully, they’ve turned their attention to something else. But, you keep your eyes open,” he warned.
“Yes, Daddy. I will,” she promised.
“I’ll come pick you up at six, Angel.”
“Okay, Daddy,” she said before taking the super cute lunch box he had packed for her and dashing down the sidewalk to her door. Nora stopped to wave before darting inside to turn on the lights.
Everything looked perfectly in order as she walked down the main aisle to the controls in the back. She smiled at the cute displays she’d put together. The store really looked amazing. In the back, she found the control panel door slightly ajar. She must have not gotten it closed completely. Reaching in, she flipped on the lights and started the low background music.
In twenty minutes, she had her lunch stowed, the cash register drawers filled, and had walked back to the front to slide them into the machines at the checkouts. Her morning cashier, Amy, would be here in a few minutes. Nora always set up two in case there was a rush. Then she could man the other checkout herself or pull a stocker from the floor to help.
Glancing over everything, she decided the cashiers were set up for the day. Time to start working on that display of models. They’d almost sold out of the cars, and the paint supplies were running low. She crossed her fingers that there would be some paintbrushes in the back.
She pulled out her phone as she walked and made herself a note to order more supplies. Ordering things for the store had been like predicting the next winning lottery numbers. It was time to get everything replenished fully on the floor before taking a serious look at the items still in boxes.
A jingle of the bells at the door made her change her path. Was Amy here already?
To her surprise, she saw a young woman covered in tattoos. She recognized her from Little Cakes. “Hi, I’m sorry, we’re not open yet.”
“Hi. I’m Riley. I work at the bakery. I want to make a display for Ellie, the owner. Is there any way I could shop quickly before you open? I want to finish my Blueberry Bliss cupcake before the lunch rush.”
“Hi, Riley. I remember seeing you behind the counter there. You’re going to make a cupcake model?” Nora asked, intrigued.
“I already have a lampshade for the base. Do you have some round lightweight balls I can paint blue for the blueberries and some fluff for the frosting?” Riley asked with a hopeful expression.
“Let’s see what we can find,” Nora suggested, grabbing a wheeled cart.
The two chatted as they gathered different things for Riley’s project. Nora even found some cupcake stickers for her to press onto the lampshade to make it look like a decorated cupcake liner. By the time they had everything Riley needed, Amy had arrived to ring up the purchases.
Riley rushed forward to hug Nora. “Thank you so much. Ellie is going to be amazed.”
“I’m so glad to meet you, Riley. Maybe I’ll even see you at your club some night,” Nora suggested.
She was intrigued after learning about the place where Riley bartended. Riley had even mentioned there was a Littles area that she hung out in when she was just there for fun.
Pulling her thoughts back together, Nora reminded Amy to give Riley the discount for the other shop owners in the center.
“Take care, Riley. I’ll come down to see the finished project.”
“I’ll buy you a cupcake if this works!” Riley promised.
With a wave, Nora returned to her plan to do some inventorying. She needed to get a move on it to be sure not to run out of things.