Read Online Sugar Rush by Rachel Astor - Free Book Online Page B

had been thinking, too.

     
    Dulcie was up before the sixties candy song blared on her phone—she was that excited to get to work on her mom’s new recipes. She’d wanted to get started the night before, but the new candy wouldn’t be as good sitting for too long before the customers arrived, and the recipes deserved every chance at perfection.
    After the blissful early morning of creating, she sped out to her first class, posting the New Flavors sign. By noon, Constance texted her 9-1-1. She had to get back to the shop to help, because all the new stuff was already sold.
    They had never had a day like that before.
    Dulcie skipped her afternoon classes and sprinted back to the shop, spending the rest of the day in candy making bliss. If only she could create all day instead of slogging through classes…but, everyone feels like that, right?
    Besides, she’d promised her mom she’d finish her schooling.
    The stream of customers stayed constant and poor Constance was about to explode, she’d run around so much. Her face was beaded with sweat, which got even more pronounced when she noticed the mid-afternoon line beginning to stretch right out the door. They sold out of each of the four new recipes several times, not to mention a ton of other stuff.
    Dulcie was relieved when Ava showed up for her shift, which meant sending Constance home. She had actually been starting to worry about the older woman’s health.
    When things finally slowed, well into the evening, Dulcie shut down the kitchen and came to sit with Ava.
    “If we sell out again, they’ll just have to wait for tomorrow.”
    Ava gave her a sympathetic smile. “You look exhausted.”
    Dulcie nodded, flopping into a seat beside her. “Yeah, but what a great day. I wish I could do this all the time.”
    “So why don’t you?”
    She sighed. “Because every day isn’t like this. I need a fallback.”
    She left out the part where the shop existed on a month to month basis. She didn’t want Ava to worry about where her next paycheck would come from or anything.
    “I guess,” Ava said. “It’s just that…” She paused.
    Dulcie tilted her head, dying to know what she was about to say. “Just that what?”
    “I guess I can’t imagine you being this happy doing anything else, that’s all,” she said with a shrug.
    Dulcie played with a coffee stir-stick, drawing imaginary lines on the counter. “Yeah, I can’t, either. Whenever I’m sitting in my business classes, all I can think about is how the stuff they’re talking about can be put to use for Candy Land.”
    She nodded. “Well, that’s one good thing about them, I guess.”
    Dulcie raised her eyebrows. “If they ever taught anything relevant, sure,” she said.
    “Uh, yeah, that would help,” Ava agreed.
    “I wish they were up to date with their marketing curriculum. All they can ever talk about in class is TV and radio advertising. I mean, those things are good and all, I suppose, but what about the Internet?”
    “Oh,” Ava said, her face lighting up. “You should talk to Jess. She’s totally into all that stuff.”
    “Jess? As in Jess Jess?”
    Ava giggled. “It may seem a little counterintuitive to go to a homeless person for business advice, but I swear she knows everything about Internet marketing. I mean, how do you think word got out so fast about the new flavors today?”
    Dulcie leaned back on the stool. “Jess had something to do with it? How?”
    “Girl used to have connections. I can’t understand how her last job let a talent like her go. Stupid recession.”
    “Really? I had no idea. You must chat with her a lot, huh?”
    Ava shrugged. “She comes in here sometimes for a coffee during my shift to warm up.” A strange expression crossed Ava’s face, her eyes going wide. “Usually we’re the only ones in here, though. She’s not disturbing any customers or anything. I don’t think anyone even realizes she’s homeless.”
    Dulcie shook her head, putting up her