"He what?" I say not caring how loud or how much shock is in my voice. Hell I am very shocked.

"He came by yesterday, saying he wanted to speak with you. I told him it was up to you to talk to him."

Feeling as if the oxygen left the room yet again, I feel myself getting a bit dizzy. Moving towards the wall I lean against it.

"Don't you dare allow that man to have that much of an effect on you. You are better than that Irina Renae' Hathaway. When you let a man go you let him go, which means you don't need to give him the satisfaction or power in and rattling you," Rosa tells me stopping her work.

Nodding my head in agreement, I know she is right. Jason and I broke up four months ago. I can't keep letting him have this much of an effect on me. The damage is done and I will never take that man back. Slowly taking a deep breath, I stand up straight and go back to my station.

"That's my girl," Rosa smiles. "Besides if you want we can always get Sanchez to kick his ass."

Laughter erupts from me knowing Rosa wasn't playing. "Anything for you Nina. I don't mind getting my hands dirty for you baby girl," Sanchez says sticking us face behind the curtain.

"Gracias, but no. That won't be necessary," I tell them both. Rosa shrugs her shoulders while Sanchez disappears back to the front.

"I'm just saying. This old lady doesn't mind putting someone in their place. Just ask my husband. Think he married me for my good looks? When he got on his knees to propose he started to stutter. I told him "Spit it out you big buffoon before I slap the stutter out of you and make you say it again" and guess what?"

"What?" I laugh.

"The buffoon stopped stuttering in a heartbeat when I raised my hand!" Rosa laughs.

"Rosa you are feisty," I laugh.

Walking over to a drawer I pull out a piping bag and a silver star tip. Dropping the silver tip into the piping bag, I dig into another part of the drawer and pull out a wooden cake spatula.

"Do you need me to keep an eye out for him?" Rosa asks with all humor gone from her voice.

"No it's okay," I tell her in all honesty. "I can't keep running forever." Walking over to the silver mixing bowl, I detach it from the hooks, bring it to the table, and start to put the vanilla into the pipping bag.

"That's true, but nothing is wrong with having a head start."

Placing the full but not all the way full pipping bag on the table, I pick up the caramel bottle and shake it a bit. Sticking the caramel bottle inside the chocolate cupcake, I squeeze a bit into the center, take it out and drizzle some across the cupcake itself.

Doing this to all twenty-four cupcakes, the buzzer sounds again making me put down the caramel bottle and rush to the oven. Stopping the loud timer, grab the over mitts, open the oven doors, grab the tray, and with one hand close the doors back. Walking to the cooling rack I slap the tray down with a small bit of force just like Rosa showed me years ago.

Walking back to my station I feel Rosa's eyes on me as she rolls out her now light blue fondant. Picking up the chocolate bottle, I start to drizzle a bit of chocolate over all twenty-four cupcakes.

"I'm not trying to run from him. It's just hard getting over everything he put me through," I say doing my best not to let my voice crack.

Putting down the chocolate bottle, I pick up the container filled with the cooked pecans and start to place them on top of each of the cupcakes.

"I know. Lo siento. I know what you've been through. I just want to help anyway I can."

I smile. "I know Rosa." Rosa returns my smile and picks up her now flat fondant, and place it across the vanilla two layer cake sitting at her station.

Picking up the piping back, I twist the top of the bag and put it over the mixing bowl and squeeze. After getting the air out of the bag, I move back to the cupcakes and start to decorate them in a smooth fast pace. Whipping them all upwards, it doesn't take me long to have icing over all of them without making a mess.

Grabbing the caramel, I drizzle it once again over cupcakes doing it again with the chocolate and cooked pecans. Placing as many cupcakes that would go on the platter, I call Sanchez.

"All ready for you Chez."

"Took you long enough," he says coming into the kitchen. I stick my tongue out at him as he does the same and before he leaves out, I quickly pipet some icing on my finger and rush to him.

"Oh no you didn't," he says as I smear the icing across his face. "Oh yes I did," I say sticking my tongue out again.

"Stop playing with my money and food," Rosa says without looking back. "But mum," he whines. "I raised a man not a woman, so stop your whining."

Knowing I win this round, I smile in victory. Looking for the next think to bake or decorate my smile lingers a bit longer.

Baking was the my safe haven, my peace and harmony, my everything. One day when my foster parents went away to work, I cstumbled on a baking cook book at the age of nine and the nanny watched me but helped when needed as I made my first batch of cookies. As I bit into the chocolate chip cookie, I knew then that this was my mission on earth.

Hearing a loud boisterous thunder roar outside the walls of the café, I hear a few people gasp. "Dang crazy weather," I hear Rosa mumble as my phone starts to ring. Looking at the caller ID I see it is Mr. Lee.

"Hello?" I answer.

"Irina, I need you to come in for a minute," Mr. Lee says.

"Do I have to cover for someone else's shift? Today is my day off," I tell him.

"I just need you to come in. Customer complains and says they want to talk you. So you come now so they can talk and leave."

Before I have time to ask anything else Mr. Lee hangs up in my face making me grunt. "Go ahead and handle whatever it is sweetie. If this storm is going to be as bad as it sounds I'm going to close up quickly."

Frowning at Rosa I walk her way and lay my head on her shoulders. "Are you sure?" I ask.

"Yes. Now go. I don't want you to get caught in this weather anyways," she smiles kissing my forehead. "I love you."

"Love you too," I say taking off my apron. Placing it across the door, I gather my belongings and walk from the kitchen into the front. Only a few people are sitting in the café now.

"You gone?" Sanchez asks throwing a piece of paper at me. As the piece of paper hits my nose, it falls on the floor. I look at Sanchez in a "really" stance.

"Drive safely," he tells me handing me a cup of coffee. Whenever I left that was one thing I always took with me. I look at the coffee cup and hesitate.

"I can't," I tell him. Sanchez looks at me in confusion. "You always get your coffee Nina. You okay?" he asks looking at me worried.

Knowing I can't lie and not wanting to share the news of the insemination until I am sure I am pregnant, I say "I'm trying to stay away from coffee for a bit." And that is the truth.

"Okay," he says taking the coffee back which made me want to snatch it out of his hand and drink every last drop of the hot liquid. Instead I wave goodbye and walk out of the café into the now dark sky.

Thunder booms in the air making me hug myself. I love the way lightening looks, but I have never been a fan of thunder. Hearing it roar through the air always makes me want to cuddle or hold someone or something.

Hurrying to the car I unlock the door and waste no time scurrying in. Hearing the small shower of rain, I frown at the sky. "Really God? You couldn't wait until I made it there?" Starting the car, I can't help but wonder who wanted to see me.