You didn’t write to tell me you were coming

She headed for the mirrored, glassed-in cabinets and the counters where silver trays of different chocolates battled for attention with the delicious and decadent truffles, tarts and candied delicacies that made the store so colorful. The floor near these shelves always ended up with a certain amount of mess made by the clerks handling the trays of goodies.

The bell over the door of Beaux Rêves (Sweet Dreams) rang and caught her attention. Her patisserie shop, situated in one of the busier areas in Paris, was always crazy during the day and even into the evening. She wasn’t surprised to see more customers at this time.

At first, shadows darkened the face of the woman who entered. Though once she stepped into the light, she looked strangely familiar.

“Hello, Annie.”

The sweet timbre of her voice brought instant recognition.

“Rose!” The mop fell to the floor with a bang. Anne rushed to embrace the woman who had been like a mother to her when she was a young girl of eighteen. Leaving home—her first time away—and living as an exchange student in a small Texas town, and experiencing the strange environment of a ranch had been a struggle. This woman had added joy and given her a year she’d never forgotten. “You didn’t write to tell me you were coming. I would have met you at the airport. How very wonderful! Are you here alone?” 

Excerpt from Love Me Tender by Mimi Barbour 
The novel is included in A Touch of Passion

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