Chapter 2 - The Woman by the Window
Her name was Margaret Bellmont.
At seventy-two, she moved slowly, spoke softly, and rarely raised her voice.
Most people in town knew her simply as Mrs. Bellmont.
Few recognized her that morning.
She had been away for nearly eight months recovering from heart surgery at her daughter’s home in Maine.
Even some newer employees at the bakery had never met her.
Vanessa was one of them.
Margaret had founded Bellmont Bakery forty-one years earlier with her late husband, Henry.
The bakery had begun with one oven, six chairs, and a handwritten sign.
Now there were three locations.
Her son officially ran the business.
But Margaret still owned the building where the first bakery stood.
And she still owned thirty percent of the company.
She slowly stood from her table.
Vanessa smiled automatically.
“Can I get you anything else?”
Margaret looked toward the door.
“Who were those children?”
Vanessa shrugged.
“No idea.”
“What did they want?”
“They wanted cheap food.”
Margaret’s expression did not change.
“They asked to buy yesterday’s bread.”
Vanessa looked uncomfortable.
“We don’t encourage that.”
“Encourage what?”
“People coming in here looking for handouts.”
Margaret stared at her.
“They offered money.”
“Eighty-three cents.”
“And how much was the bread?”
“One dollar.”
Margaret glanced toward the basket.
“So they were seventeen cents short.”
Vanessa sighed.
“There are rules.”
Margaret picked up her coat.
“Yes.”
“There are.”
Vanessa smiled, believing the conversation was over.
Margaret placed a twenty-dollar bill on the counter.
“I’ll take every loaf in that basket.”
Vanessa blinked.
“All four?”
“All four.”
Vanessa began bagging them.
Margaret pointed toward two chicken sandwiches.
“Those too.”
Then she pointed toward two cartons of milk.
“And those.”
Vanessa raised an eyebrow.
Margaret continued.
“Two apple turnovers.”
“Anything else?”
“Yes.”
Margaret looked directly into Vanessa’s eyes.
“Your manager’s name.”
Vanessa’s hands stopped.
“Claire.”
“Claire Dalton?”
“Yes.”
Margaret nodded.
“Thank you.”
She took the bags.
Then she walked outside.
The children were already halfway down the block.
Margaret called after them.
“Excuse me.”
Noah turned immediately.
His posture became protective.
He stepped slightly in front of Ellie.
Margaret slowed.
“I’m not going to hurt you.”
Noah said nothing.
“I bought too much food.”
Margaret lifted the bags.
“Would you help me by taking some?”
Noah looked suspicious.
“We don’t have money.”
“I didn’t ask for money.”
“We’re not beggars.”
Margaret’s heart tightened.
“I know.”
Ellie looked at the bread.
Margaret crouched carefully despite the pain in her knees.
“Then do me a favor.”
“What?”
“Carry this home for me.”
Noah frowned.
“Where do you live?”
Margaret smiled.
May you like
“I’ll tell you after you eat.”
For the first time that morning, Ellie smiled too.
