Pretentious Welcomes

"Hey, Lina, you're back!" Someone exclaimed across the road as Lina was about to step into the bake shop.

She spun on her heels and found a platinum blonde-haired girl with curly locks and round-rimmed glasses elegantly waving at her with a smile—another one of those synonymous smiles and greetings she had received all week since her arrival.

Lina recognized the girl across the street as Mya Reeds, one of the know-it-all primadonnas who had once bullied her in high school but had claimed redemption after her marriage into affluence and power, and now parading herself as an ideal role model and hostess of some pretentious championette society, who sponsored some charity events now and then.

Pushing a not-too-wide smile across her lips, Lina politely waved back and turned on her heels before Mya could decide to take her 'warm welcome' a notch higher by crossing over to her to exchange pleasantries.

The last thing she needed was more fake smiles and hearty welcomes. She continued her strides into the bakeshop.

Her gaze combed around the few customers in the shop as she walked behind the counter.

She looked over to the glass windows to Mya, standing beside a town's car and now talking over the phone while staring at the bakeshop.

"She had been coming around a lot lately." Someone spoke behind Lina's ear, and she looked over her shoulders to find Philipa looking across the road to Mya.

Lina followed her gaze and stared back at the blonde. "Any reason why?" She asked simply out of curiosity, of course not for Mya, but rather for herself because the last thing she wanted was an accidental run-in with Mya Reeds.

"I heard their championette society intends to move their headquarters to the Cliveden house," Patrick said, tipping his chin towards the old Georgian mansion just across the road, and Lina stared at it pensively.

"I see," She muttered, which had Philipa and Patrick sharing a look before staring back at her.

Philipa placed her hand on Lina's arm to gain her attention. "You don't have to worry, Lina. Many people have come to realize that you were just as much of a victim as they were, and five years is such a long time for anyone to remember what happened."

Lina shifted her eyes toward the forty-five years old lady. "It's still fresh in my mind, Philipa. It feels just like yesterday, and I'm sure so many people feel the same too."

Patrick and Philipa yet shared another look, and Patrick sighed. "And even if they do, what's the worst they can do? Call the cops?" Patrick questioned, tilting a brow. "Everyone knows you're not at fault."

"Exactly! And no one has said anything to you, or have they?" Philipa inquired, and Lina silently shook her head.

Indeed, no one had said anything to her 'yet'. Rather when they saw her, they smiled and waved at her like she was some important member of the society they were pleased to see return home after so many years. But Lina knew behind those smiles were the judgemental sneers and jeering remarks they couldn't wait to bark at her.

It was only a matter of time before someone said something to her, and everyone mysteriously began to regain the memory they were all claiming to have lost. Though that scared her, she couldn't afford to be afraid, for Serena's sake.

Every child must have complete confidence in their mother to know they can be well protected and cared for. And that was what she was going to do. She was going to protect her child.

Lina looked to Philipa, who gave her a light squeeze on her arm, and then to Patrick, who patted her back. She managed a smile to reassure them she was fine. As a matter of fact, she was more than fine.

Returning to Newfaux wasn't a decision she had made of her own volition; nevertheless, she had come prepared. She was no longer the stupid, innocent Evelina Wilson who was used and mocked. She was now a mother, fueled with the energy and determination to give her child the best of what she deserves and a promise to herself never to make the mistakes she had once made.

Patrick and Philipa were the closest things she had to a family in Newfaux, other than Serena and Ellie — her grandmother's closest friend and next-house neighbor.

Patrick and Philipa have been married for twenty-six years and have worked in the bakeshop for twenty.

Lina had just started living with her grandmother at the time, but she clearly remembered those moments, as those were the days her parents had died and she had been shipped to the only family member alive who could care for her.

But remembering those days wasn't something she wanted to indulge her mind with at the moment.

"Where's Serena?" She asked, darting her eyes around for her daughter.

"Over there with Hannah," Philipa answered, pointing her hand towards the small office space just off the kitchen, crammed full of boxes and having only a tiny space for a desk and chair where some paperwork was done.

"The little workaholic has taken over her workspace. Hannah could do with some saving." She said, an amused smile playing on her lips.

Lina glanced over to the room and sighed. She wasn't surprised to hear their cute, beautiful accountant had been overrun by her little monster.

"I'll get her out of our hair by tomorrow. I registered her in a school."

"A school?" Philipa's face creased with a frown. "Isn't she too young to go to school? She should be playing around, and she isn't much of a bother. She's smart and sweet, and apart from Kevin, who's just being a teenage brat by arguing with her, we love having her around, and I can assure you even Hannah is in love with her and would be sad if you take her assistant away."

"Assistant in ruining things." Kevin, who had just finished attending to the last customer on the line, snorted, earning him a whack from his father.

"Ouch, dad!" Kevin winced and glared at his father. "That girl is a little devil. Do you know what she did?"

"What did she do?" Philipa tipped her chin at him.

"She spilled chocolate on my biology note!"

"Really? Now compare that to my tea you peed into when you were four and see who's more of a devil." Philipa fired back, leaving Kevin speechless for words.

She shared a triumphant look with her husband, and they bumped fists in victory.

Lina amusedly chuckled at the old couple's taunt over their child. She looked over to Kyle, who looked too pained to have lost to his parents, and she couldn't help the smile.

They were cute. They've collectively made her arrival in the past few days quite eventful.

"Well, there's nothing to worry about. I just registered her for kindergarten so she can have all the fun there, and also renovations will be starting soon. We can't have her running around when the works begin. It'll be dangerous." She said, and Philipa had to agree.

"I guess you're right, and kindergarten is good. I was worried you would send her to a class and exhaust her with things she can't handle. Children should have as much fun as they can because when adulthood comes, they'd wish they had more time to play." Philipa said, and her husband concurred.

"True." He nodded.

Lina also agreed with her. She also didn't want to rob her child of her childhood. She wanted her to play, interact with other kids her age and make new friends, and her Serena was too adorable to be tortured otherwise.

Taking a scan of the shop and ensuring everything was in order, she turned towards Philipa and Patrick. "I'll go get Serena. I have to take her shopping for some new things she might need for school tomorrow, and I have to get some groceries for the house. Call me if you need anything."

"We will. But I'm also sure we can manage. Just have fun with Serena, and take good care of yourselves." Philipa smiled at her while Lina nodded.

She was sure they could manage well, as they'd been doing just that since her grandmother died. All she had done was sign a few papers when she last visited and received all their calls when they had something important to report.

Lina was only a few feet away from Hannah's door when she heard Serena's voice booming across the hallway. "Aunty Hannah, why do you always wear glasses?"

"Because I can't see well without it." Hannah honestly replied.

"Really?" She stressed. "So your eyes are bad?" Serena curiously asked, leaving Lina to imagine the serious look on her face and the curious fluttering of her eyes lashes.

"Uh, not really," Hannah uncertainly answered, slightly confused about how to answer.

Serena went silent for a while, and then she resumed speaking again. "Aunty Hannah, if your eyes are bad, you should see the doctor." She said. "Mummy says if I eat too many sweet things, my teeth will go bad, and the doctor will have to take it out. Do you think the doctors can give you new eyes?" She innocently asked, and just like Hannah, Lina went speechless.

She stepped into the office, and the moment Serena saw her, she jumped off Hannah's lap and sprinted toward her mother. "Mummy!" She called in a shrilly voice.

Lina scooped her into her arms and planted a kiss on her cheek. "Miss me?" She asked, and the Ena vigorously bobbed her hand.

"A lot, mummy," Serena answered. "I helped aunty Hannah with her book. She said I'll be smart like you." The girl delightfully reported.

"Did she now?" Lina looked over to the innocent and demure accountant, who looked worn from having dealt with Serena. That was the look Serena wore on everyone who was too kind to accommodate her and her excess bouts of energy.

Lina flashed Hannah an apologetic smile, and the girl smiled sweetly at her like she hadn't just worn a look of exasperation and deep relief when she walked in.

"I'm sorry she keeps interfering with your work." Lina apologized to her, and Hannah waved her hands in disagreement

"It's fine, and you don't have to apologize. Serena is a sweet girl, and she's fun to be with." Hannah told her.

Lina smiled appreciatively as she glanced at her cute bundle of joy, who was snuggling against her neck. "Alright then. I'll get her out of your way. We have to head out. See you later." Lina waved at her, and Serena eagerly joined too.

"Uhm, Lina," Hannah called, and Lina stopped on her heels. She glanced back at Hannah.

"About the renovations, do you think we can go with the Hudson's? They're professionals and have a good portfolio with amazing testimonies—"

"Testimonies given by their wealthy clientele, you mean?" Lina cocked a brow at her. "We can't afford them, Hannah."

"But, this other company, they're new," Hannah said with concern, which Lina could hear.

"Firstly, Hannah, they're not new. They're only not popular, and secondly, I've done my research. They're good, and I read the CEO was once a staff of Hudson." Lina told her.

"But that doesn't change the fact that they might not be good. I'd prefer we work with popular hands."

"And if we do, how would the unpopular become popular? I'm sure even these Hudson's started from somewhere, didn't they?" She questioned, and Hannah went speechless, unsure of what to say.

Lina softly sighed. "I'm sure they'll do fine. I have a good feeling about them, and wouldn't this feel like we're helping someone grow their company? Think about the impact we'll be making." Lina added before Hannah could say anything.

The girl silently looked at her, and after a while, she nodded, although reluctantly.

Lina flashed her a smile. "That's good, Hannah. Now, if you don't mind, please put a call across to them and let them send someone over tomorrow." She instructed, and Hannah nodded.

And without waiting for another second, she turned and exited the office, leaving Hannah to get her job done.

Her first assignment in the bakeshop was to renovate it, and she wanted it done as soon as possible. If things worked well, the bakeshop would have a beautiful look in a few weeks, and that would only be if the people she would be hiring wouldn't be a disappointment.

For her sake, she hoped there wouldn't be any heartbreaking surprises.