35 Serving Coffee Cake (2/2)
Alan shook his head, bemused by this unique customer.Then he went into the kitchen and began preparing the cake.After setting it in the oven and setting a time on his phone, he went back into the main area.Tom remained seated in the armchair, seemingly involved in a phone call.
The bell on the door rang as the door opened and a familiar face walked in.It was Claire.Alan greeted her and asked, ”The usual?” She nodded her head and handed over her credit card which he charged.Then he went and prepared her a cup of coffee.As he walked back out he saw she had taken her usual seat in the armchairs.
Walking over to her he handed her the cup of coffee and turned around to go back behind the counter.However, she stopped him as he began to walk back.
”Is the coffee cake available?” She asked him, lifting her chin in the direction of the menu on the chalkboard.
Alan turned back and shook his head.”I'm sorry, I was delayed this morning, and the coffee cake is still in the oven.It will be available in another hour or so.Going forward it will be available from the moment the cafe opens.”
Claire nodded her understanding, then as per usual pulled out documents and began editing them while she sipped her coffee.Alan went back to the counter.
They say a watched pot never boils, but apparently a watched cake eventually bakes.As Alan felt Tom's eyes follow his every movement, he checked his phone and saw the timer was just about up.He went into the kitchen and pulled the cake out.He tested it really quickly, inserting a thin piece of wood into the cake and removing it.No dough was stuck to the wood.He quickly put it on the cooling rack.
The smell of cinnamon sugar and freshly baked cake filled the air and spread into the cafe, mingling with the smell of coffee.Tom took a deep breath, his mouth watering at the smell.Even Claire looked up from her documents, momentarily distracted.
Alan waited for the cake to cool slightly and walked back out.
Immediately he was accosted by Tom, who was waiting for him.”Is it ready?”
Alan nodded his head.”Would you like to order a slice?”
Tom nodded his head, checking the menu.He hadn't actually looked at it earlier since Alan had directly told him the coffee cake would be there.He saw the price of the coffee cake and was surprised.”Only $5 for a slice of the cake?”He felt that the pricing seemed to be off.
”Unlike the coffee, the ingredients for the cake are average.$5 is already taking into account my perfect cooking method.Otherwise it would probably only be $3 per slice.”Alan explained.
Tom gave him a look of understanding.
Alan went back into the kitchen and cut a slice of cake for Tom.Then he put it on a plate and carried it back out into the cafe to serve his first slice of coffee cake in the cafe.