Second Chances Chapter 23 La Vie en Rose
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A Second Chance - Chapter 34 free porn video
FRIDAY, May 27, 2016
Somehow the old house just felt odd, knowing that Maria was not there
when the kids woke in the morning. There were several text messages from
Maria, who said she went into the bakery at four a.m. and was already
helping Geoff stock up the shelves for the anticipated rush of
customers. Rachael texted back that they were both up and getting ready
for school.
On the bus, Rachael updated Mikki and the other girls about her busy
'day off.' The news that Geoff proposed to Maria drew the expected
squeals from the other girls. It was Larissa who asked if that meant
that Rachael would be changing her last name from Cartright to Barron.
"I really hadn't thought about it," she said. "I guess I will. I don't
feel anything special for the man, after he ran out on us. And I bet
Geoff would be honored to know that we want to take his name. I will
have to talk it over with Bobby. Both of us should do the same thing. I
know Momma will want to become a Barron. She is crazy in love with the
guy."
The morning was for project work, and Rachael tried to work extra hard
to make up for missing yesterday afternoon's session. Part of the
morning was working on the video files. There was a surprising amount of
things that needed to be done, and Mikki was a firm taskmaster on
quality. A few times when she decided that what the others were doing
was not up to par, she redid bits, and the girls learned from their
mistakes. It didn't stop them from making new ones, but all three of
them were slowly becoming experts with the software.
The second part of the class had the four of them planning the shoot on
Saturday. Mikki was in charge of this, and she called for a 5 a.m. start
to take advantage of the morning light. Carly and Larissa groaned at
this, but Rachael was secretly pleased. That meant that most of the
shooting might be done by 10 a.m., when she had her appointment with the
pastor. He was planning to apologize to Paul and John for what he had
said in church two weeks earlier. She reminded the others that she would
have to leave then, and apologized for not pulling her weight.
"Don't be silly," Mikki said. "You wrote the entire script yourself. And
you arranged for all the volunteers for my actors. This part is my baby,
and Carla and Larissa have done most of the on-camera work. Nobody has
been shirking."
"It wasn't hard getting the actors," Rachael said. "I just mentioned it
to one of the guys at the Legion, and they put out the word. I guess
there were dozens who wanted to participate, and it largely went down to
those who would fit into the old uniforms that were donated. The actors
are mostly descendants of veteran's."
"You know what would be cool," Carly said. "What if at the end, instead
of just a long list of names for the actor credits, we could have each
boy at the cenotaph? First we show him, and then we show him putting his
finger on the name of his grandfather or other relative."
"That would be great," Mikki said. "The local people would love it. We
might have to patch in a more conventional cast list if we want to enter
any competitions. But I bet the local people will watch all the credits
if we do them that way. And it gives the actors more glory for their
part."
"We could do all the credits that way," Rachael suggested. "Instead of
just saying 'Supported by Legion Branch 119', we could show a picture of
the Legion building, with all the members outside who helped us. And the
guy who is lending us the use of the gravel pit tomorrow. Even Mr.
Churchill as our advisor."
"I can get a picture of my Uncle in France, for the shots he took, along
with anyone else there who helped," Larissa said.
At lunch, Rachael finally caught up to Robert. She had texted him
yesterday explaining that she was going to be away: they were kinda
boyfriend/girlfriend and she felt the need to keep in touch. But now she
could explain what she had been doing. She also wanted to find out about
next Friday. Robert wasn't aware of anything happening, but was glad
that Rachael was coming to dinner. He hadn't met Geoff yet, and since he
was going to be Rachael's father, that caused all kinds of anxiety in
the boy.
Halfway through lunch Rachael went to the staff room, and asked for her
French and Science teachers. Science was going to be a review of the
past month's work in preparation for exams next month, and her teacher
told her what part of the text was covered, and agreed to let her have
the afternoon off.
Her French teacher also agreed to let her off for the afternoon. It
didn't hurt that Rachael made the request in her flawless French, which
was slightly better than the teacher's. Then she headed over to the
public school, and found Bobby playing ball with the boys. He was
waiting for a turn to bat when she came by, and agreed to walk to the
bakery himself, or with Mikki and Larissa, when they came to get Marc.
Then Rachael headed to the bakery. She still felt bad that she wouldn't
be helping on Saturday. As she approached, she could see that there was
a lineup to get into the bakery, so she stopped in at the library, to
see how the film night had gone without her. The girls on the bus had
said it was a good night, but she wanted to touch base with the
librarians.
Both Heather and Agnes were in the library, which was busier than other
times in the past. Heather, who had worked the night before, said that
the film night was fine, although the washrooms had not been cleaned.
Rachael groaned. The first few nights she had cleaned them. The boys,
especially, often had poor aim.
"Don't worry about it," Rachael, Heather said in response to her
apologies. "We didn't have anyone using the rooms today, and the cleaner
will get it tonight. But it could have been embarrassing if we had had a
meeting scheduled up there."
Heather then had to turn aside to check out patrons, but her boss Agnes
stepped in. "We have been so busy yesterday and today. The entire strip
has been. Something is going on down at the bakery, and every place is
busier. We have gotten some nice spill off from it."
Tony had told Rachael during lunch that the deli had enjoyed its best
day since opening on Thursday, and Saturday's are normally the best
days.
"Yes, I guess everyone is benefitting from that story in the paper last
week," Rachael said.
"I did need to talk to you about how long the movie series would go on,"
Agnes asked. "I'm making up the annual budget for the library, and need
to be able to forecast usage."
"Well, we would like to do two more in June, I think. June 23 is pretty
close to the last day of school on the 24th, so I think we will pass on
that. But I do want to start up again in September, when we are in high
school. Do you have a calendar?"
Looking at the calendar, Rachael suggested that September 15 might be a
good date to get the series started again.
"What about the Grade 8 classes?" Agnes asked. "Would they like to do a
film night too?"
"Yes. Some have already been asking about a Grade Seven night. They will
definitely be interested in it by September. Why? Do you want us to take
turns?"
"No, no. You get the first call. It was your idea. But I could put
another three evening hours into the budget proposal and have another
opening for the films. We could let the next year Grade Eights have the
other night," Agnes said. "We have had a lot of good comments from
parents, who like the idea of their kids getting into dating in a safe,
low-cost environment."
"Well, if you were to add a Friday night, then the Grade Nines would
prefer it. It is more of a dating thing if it is a weekend. Then maybe
you could add another night the next year, when we are in Grade 10. That
would be cool for a Saturday night," Rachael said. "I don't think we
would need it for older grades though. By Grade 11 the kids have cars
and licenses and many have jobs and can afford the real theatre."
"That is really useful information," Agnes said. "I'm pretty sure we can
get Friday nights for you in September. I will also make a pitch for
Saturday nights, but that will mean not opening on Monday mornings, or
something."
"One more thing," Rachael asked. "Can I go out through your back door? I
need to go to the bakery, but I don't want to butt in front of the
people standing there waiting to get in."
"Certainly, dear, let me show you through," Agnes said, leading to the
back door.
"Rachael," Geoff said when she popped in the back door of the bakery.
"What are you doing here?"
"School was boring," she said. "I figured you guys would just be sitting
around playing cards or something, so I thought I would join in."
"I said you weren't to miss school," Geoff said, putting on a great
'Dad' face.
"I checked with my afternoon teachers, and they both said it was okay. I
just have to study up a bit on Sunday for Science. And I know you need
the help."
"How long for more Love bread?" Maria said, popping out of the store.
"Rachael, what are you doing here?"
"Helping?" she suggested.
"Then get up front and help Carol," Maria said. "Mrs. Barron needs to
take a break ... or better yet, go home. She's been a big help, but it
is a bit much on her."
The elderly woman (Rachael suddenly realized that she would soon be her
grandmother) looked relieved when Rachael took the next customer and
told her to head home. Rachael then started working with Carol, and
slowly they were able to get customers moving through the store. The
store never emptied, but eventually there were no longer people lined up
outside.
Rachael had come in at 1, and after 3 Bobby came in, hoping for a cookie
but finding the cookie shelf completely empty. Rachael handed him a
dollar and told him to head to Dasilva's for an apple. Ten minutes later
he was back, happily munching an apple, and handed Rachael the dollar
before heading to the back.
"Mrs. Dasilva said it was free, on account of all the customers they
have been getting from people waiting for the bakery," he said as he
walked through to go to his flour sack fort.
That gave Rachael an idea, although it was another hour before she could
work on it. When the store slowed down enough, she went to the computer
in the lunch nook, and started typing as Carol started the cleaning
duties.
Soon the printer had spit out several pages. The first read:
To make your Love bread into a real meal, stop by at Dasilva's just down
the block. They feature specialty cheeses, cold cuts, and fruits and
vegetables: everything you need to make your own special Ingersoll
Sandwiches
The second said:
This is Queenie. She lives on the Jackson farm on RR 2. She and her
daughters are among the top Holstein herds in Canada. And their milk is
used to make the butter that is in so many of our fine baked goods.
Thank Queenie when you savor your baking.
The page had a picture of Queenie's head that Rachael had taken on her
second visit to the farm.
A third page read:
All eggs used in our baking (and it is dozens and dozens every day) come
from the Peter's poultry farm on RR 2. Their chickens live in humane
conditions rather than the battery cages where chickens producing
grocery store eggs are raised. This also had a picture of several hens
from Keri Peter's barn.
Rachael took them back to Geoff and Maria, who where holding hands while
waiting for a batch of cookies to come out. "Look Geoff," she said. "Can
I put these up around the store? It will give people something to read
while they are waiting to get to the counter?" She spread the three
pages out in front of them.
"These are great Rachael," Geoff said. "We need to do one for our flour
too. It comes from Arva Flour Mills just outside of London. I bet if we
call them, they can give us the name of some farmers in the area who
supply them with wheat. There are people who like the thought of eating
local, and these fit right into that."
"Bobby is getting a little antsy," Maria said. "If you are caught up in
the store, then you can take him home, or at least to Grandpa's.
At Grandpa's, or the new house as Rachael had to start thinking of it,
Bobby immediately went over to visit the dogs next door. Rachael peeked
in, and saw Grandpa was taking a nap, so she went over to see the music
teacher. She needed to get her grocery list, as Rachael hoped to make
her weekly grocery trip today, instead of on the busy weekend.
"I'm sorry dear, I don't think I can get anything today. A few students
have stopped coming in, and things have been tight. Perhaps you could
get a small bag of dog food for me. I can't let Goldie and Rudolph
suffer. I think I can find $10."
"Nonsense," Rachael said. "Bobby plays with those dogs as much as you
do. We will buy the dog food this week. And what's more, I think your
lessons with Bobby have really been doing him well. We will start to
pay. Lessons are $40 an hour, right?"
"Yes, but Bobby has only been doing a half hour," Miss Lajoie said.
"That would only be $20."
"Yes, but we are going to be living right next door here, so he could
come over for lessons twice a week," Rachael handed over $40 from her
bakery bonus.
"Bless you Rachael," the lady said as she started to scribble down a
grocery list. "When are you moving in?"
"Sunday, hopefully. Just the three of us at first, but eventually Geoff
will join us. At least that is what I assume. We can't all live in his
rooms above the bakery."
Miss Lajoie dropped her pencil. "A man. Living next door? Oh my." She
looked visibly shaken by the news. "I ... I don't get along well with
men. Even that boy you got me to cut my grass: he is nearly a man. If he
were any bigger I don't think I could teach him. Boys and old men like
M. Verdun are fine. It is just adult men that bother me."
"Leon?" Rachael said. "Did he do something?"
"No dear, it is not him. It is me. Things happened when I was younger,
and now I am not comfortable around men. That is why it is such a
blessing that you go to the grocery for me. I had to fight very hard not
to have one of my anxiety attacks while I was shopping. That is also why
I have two big dogs. I love them dearly now, but originally I got them
for protection. A man next door?"
"Well, Geoff is a sweet, peaceful man," Rachael said. "He would never
hurt a fly. Perhaps I could bring him over one day, perhaps with Momma.
You could see how nice he is."
"Yes. If both of you came, and he doesn't get too close. I suppose I
should try to have contact with good men. I am sure that there are some
good men." She picked up the pencil and started finishing the list, and
then handed Rachael back the $40 she had just got.
Rachael headed to the grocery, and then took a taxi back. She didn't
bother taking anything to the old house. The family seemed to be doing
well eating at the new house, and Maria was in effect living there
already.
When she arrived back with the groceries, she unloaded first at the new
house, where Grandpa was now awake, and after giving him a kiss on the
forehead, she took the groceries over to Miss Lajoie's. She could hear
Bobby plinking away on the piano as she put the groceries in the
kitchen, leaving most of them on the counter, but putting the frozen and
refrigerated goods in the fridge and its freezer.
The biggest part of the groceries was two 50-pound bags of premium dog
food. That would last the dogs for a few weeks. She had put that on her
bill, not Mrs. Lajoie's.
Later Bobby came in as she was making dinner, excited. "Miss Lajoie saw
the dog food you bought, and started crying. I think it was a happy
crying though. She said that the dogs were half mine now, and showed me
how to feed them. That is going to be my job now, once we get moved in.
When do we move, Rachael?"
"On Sunday, right after lunch, so no riding off on your bike. There are
a lot of boxes to move, and your bed."
Soon she heard Geoff and Maria coming up the lane, having just finished
at the bakery. She had a dinner ready and after a prayer they ate a meal
featuring breaded chicken fingers that Rachael had made from the remains
of the chicken last night. Bobby especially enjoyed the finger food,
dipping his chicken into the sauce that Rachael had made.
Dessert was cookies, and it was the first time that Geoff had tasted
Rachael's cookies. "You trying to put me out of business?" he asked
jokingly. "These are great. What's in them?"
Rachael gave him the recipe, and he grunted when she finished. "It's the
butter," he pronounced. I use shortening in the bakery cookies. Butter
is so much more expensive. But I wonder if we could make a line of
Gourmet cookies using butter instead of margarine."
"Right. Put that on the list of things to do when we get some spare
time," Maria snapped, with a smile to show she didn't mean it. "Did you
put an ad in the paper looking for a baker?"
"Yes. It will get in the Saturday paper," Geoff said. "I hope we get
someone good. Although I don't know when I'll have time to talk to
anyone."
Soon after, he left for the bakery, and Rachael made her mother go right
to bed. Maria had started at 4 a.m. and probably would do the same on
Saturday morning. Bobby and Rachael walked to the new house in the dark
again, to Bobby's delight.
As they got close to the new house, Rachael saw a car pull into its
drive. She froze immediately, and put an arm out to stop her unobservant
brother. A second later the car door opened and Rachael could see a
short, female form get out, easing her fears.
"It's just me," Pastor Ruth called from her car. "I'm glad I caught
you."
The relieved girl started walking again. "What can we do for you?"
Rachael asked as they got close. She took out her key to open the door.
"Are you wanting another look at your new house? We plan to be moved out
after church on Sunday. You can move in after that."
"No it is not that, and don't rush getting out early on Sunday. I only
have a few boxes and bags at the motel to move in. Gary will probably be
able to get it all in one load of his new truck."
"Gary has a truck?" Rachael said. "How did he work that?"
"It was in the shed. A 1963 Dodge, I think. He spent a few days getting
it running along with all the other things he has been doing. It doesn't
look pretty, but it runs well, he says. And the way he got my old
clunker working, I trust him."
Rachael sent Bobby to read his library books, and then made tea for the
pastor.
"We had a meeting last night," she said. "I tried to get ahold of you
and your Mom, but one of the ladies told us about how busy the bakery
has been. To make a long story short, we have reestablished the women's
group at the church. Apparently it died out in the 90s due to a feud
between a couple of members. Both of them have passed on and I really
want to utilize the power of church ladies."
"You see, Gary told me that there is no soup kitchen in town on
Wednesday nights, and suggested that we have one. Of course, that will
cost money, and the deacon has made it clear that the church has none. I
mentioned it to one of the ladies last week, and she took it and ran
with it. Heather Spooner set up the whole meeting last night and the
ladies decided to have a bake sale on Saturday. Not tomorrow, but next
week."
"Anyway," Pastor Ruth said, "I'd like you and your Mother to join the
group. And to make baking for Saturday. And if possible, to teach me how
to bake."
"Well, I am the baker in the family right now," Rachael said, "although
I think Mom will be interested in trying a few things out, now that she
is engaged to Geoff. I certainly could show you what I know. It will be
interesting though, if we do it here, since the old stove will not be
mine anymore."
"Oh, we can do it at the church kitchen," Rachael said. "Gary has all
four ranges working perfectly, and three of the fridges. He put an
upright freezer that he found in the shed into the place of the fourth
fridge. The man is a genius in fixing things. He says he wants to have
an auction sale of things from the shed on the day of the bake sale."
"He certainly did a wonderful job on a bike for Bobby," Rachael said.
"Yes, and I think he has fixed up a couple more. Oh, the ladies gave me
the story of that shed, along with more gossip than I think I have ever
heard. Apparently the shed was built in 1883, only a few years after the
church. The average person walked to church back then, which is why they
started a church in the west end. The walk to the downtown churches was
too far."
"Apparently the wealthier patrons came to services in their buggies, and
they needed a place to store the buggies during service, especially in
winter. So they built the shed, and hired a man to look after the horses
for that time. In the early part of the last century, cars started
coming in, and their owners thought more of them than mere horses.
Slowly cars replaced the buggies. After the war, cars were bigger, and
more closed in, and most people just parked on the street. I was told
that by about 1960, the shed was last used for cars. So it was used as a
dumping place ever since."
"There was a caretaker from about 1975 to 1995 who used to do repairs,
much like Gary has been doing, and it became common for parishioners who
passed on to leave their goods to the church. An auction would be held
at their house to sell the good stuff, and the junk came to the shed.
They finally had to stop that in 2005 or so, because the shed was full
and our last caretaker wasn't so handy."
"So that explains why there is such a big shed," Rachael said. "When I
first heard that the church had a shed, I was thinking of a little
garden shed with a lawnmower pretty much filling it. That place is
massive."
"But Gary has been sorting things out and making room as he fixes things
up. He's taken a few loads to the recycle center to sell as scrap, now
that he had a truck, but he is hesitant about taking out anything that
might have a part for something he is fixing."
"Well, Mom and I will be glad to help with the bake sale. Or at least I
will. She has been super busy this week. If she has some time she will
help. Why don't we plan for Wednesday, at the church kitchen, if that is
the day the suppers will occur? You might need two or three bake sales
to get enough money to get them going though."
Ruth drove the kids over to the Stoner house for a sleepover. Rachael
was going to start out with Mikki in the early morning to do the
filming, and Mrs. Stoner had asked that she bring Bobby too. Danni was
ecstatic to have her protector/hero spending the night, but didn't
understand why Bobby was going to spend the night in the guest room,
instead of in her room. Mikki and Rachael were sharing her bed, and she
thought she and Bobby could too.
That night Mikki watched as Rachael kneeled down and prayed.
Dear Lord
Thank you for such a wonderful life, with friends like Mikki and
everyone else at school. Please look after Miss Lajoie, and help her
with whatever her problem with men is. And please make the weather nice
tomorrow, so we can finish the video.
Amen
"Do you do that every night?" Mikki asked as Rachael crawled into the
bed.
"I try to. Sometimes he answers, but mostly he just does wonderful
things that make me happy."
Mikki was silent for a moment, then slid off the bed and kneeled.
Dear Lord
Thank you for bringing Rachael into my life. When I first met her, we
were the nerds without friends, and she said that one day we would be
popular. Now we are. Not the snotty kind of popular, but we have great
friends, and I even have a boyfriend, even if he has been super busy
working at his parents' store. And I double Rachael's prayer for nice
sunny weather tomorrow.
Amen
"That felt good," Mikki said. "I need to start doing it more often.
Maybe even every night."
Lynne
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