Chapter 1 - Belle

“Belle, are you up there?”

Belle turned away from the window and saw her mother walking into her room with a large tray. There was a mug of Hot Chocolate. There were some cupcakes from Sharks’ Sweet Shop.

“I know you are angry but I think you should try this. It will make you feel better, you know that.”

“I am okay.”

“Are you sure?”

“Mom, I am an adult now.”

“Seeing you fight with Tom last night, doesn’t seem like that. Who can tell you both are 25 years old!” Her mom folded her hands and looked at her.

Belle looked back at the luxurious moist sponge cupcake. She knows Tom made those. He was an excellent baker in the entire Nashville after all.

“Adults can fight. We had some issues yesterday…”

Belle stopped in the middle.

Belle and Tom did their schooling and their graduation from Nashville but after Belle got a job offer from one of the topmost Hotels in Brooklyn, she decided to shift to Brooklyn, without giving it a second thought.

She thought it would be fun.

And … Tom didn’t like it at all.

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“See, Belle. I know leaving this place is not easy. You have your friends, family, and grandma’s cafe where you have spent your entire life.”

Who can forget about her grandma’s cafe? She and Tom used to visit her after school and Grandma would teach Tom how to bake. Belle was never interested in Baking and never knew why Tom and Grandma loved baking so much. But all she was interested in was the business side of the cafe. The accounts, the dollars, and the numbers. Everything excited her from the start.

Christmas was the time, her cafe would be flourished with all sorts of creative wallpaper. She would even make their family’s favorite dessert — Nashville Reindeer Cupcake, which only Tom knows how to bake.

“… dear,” her mother took her hands and said, “whatever you take the decision, I am with you. I want you to be that famous Businesswoman you always dreamed of. You don’t have to become one like us.”

“Mom, you are getting emotional. It’s Christmas..”

“Yeah, yeah. Sorry. Cannot hold onto my tears. I am going to be saying goodbye to my only daughter. How did you grow so fast?”

“I can always come back, mom. You know that.” Belle hugged her mom.

“I know.”

After mom left, she looked down at the cupcake. She has taken care of her mom, now what about the 25 years old, waiting for her across the street?

The scrumptious Kinder Bueno cake was smooth and mouthwatering. It was tickling her taste buds.

He knew this was the only thing that could put her on.

She took up the courage and went to Sharks place and saw that the smoke was coming out of the chimney. It means that Tom was baking something. He likes the traditional way. He hates modern ovens. That’s the reason he never left Nashville even though the famous Baker Brothers were calling him to join their company.

Either Tom Sharks is too intelligent or too much of an idiot.

She took a deep breath as she watched the inside of the store glowing through the window which was decorated with all sorts of Christmas-themed cupcakes — The reindeer, the snowman, the ribbons, the Santa, and the small sweet gifts decorated on the top. Maybe Tom Sharks finds it hard to connect with people emotionally but he shows his emotions well through his baking skills.

“When will he make those smooth and creamy Nashville Reindeer Cupcakes which often have her favorite nuts on the top?” she wondered.

She could hear children screaming, and parents running after them.

She took a deep breath.

She pushed the store door and walked in.