Renna woke up at six be to at the cakery by seven in the morning. The sound of rain had her wanting to stay under the covers, but her excitement for the day pulled her out of bed.

She changed, ate breakfast, and checked she had everything she needed before walking out the door.

In her car, the stale wet smell reminded her of the beach bag still in the back. No time now, she thought. I need to remember after work. Don't forget. Don't forget. After work.

She drove carful in the pouring rain. Only remembered her umbrella in her cupboard at home when she shut off her car in the car park. So, she made a run for the cake shop; laughing the entire way.

A bell chimed as she pushed the door open. The smell of sugar, butter, and vanilla wafted around the bright, warm room. Several brownie pieces already sat in the glass display case; taking up one tray while the other spots remained empty. Chocolate cupcakes sat on a cooling tray on the counter.

Marnie waddled out from the kitchen in the back to see who entered the shop. Smiled at Renna.

The owner of the cakery. A loving lady. Sweet. Seventy-four years old. Loves her work. Skilled and thrives in her kitchen.

Wavy, grey hair, almost touching her shoulders. Rarely seen without a warm smile. Gorgeous light blue eyes. A million stories to tell from her past. Wears bright colours, and accessorises with chunky, beaded necklaces and bracelets. Her daughter owns the handmade jewellery and crafts store down the road.

Renna had met her several times. She had her mother's kind heart, and apparently 'her father's wise soul.' Marnie's words.

Marnie has been a widow for seven years. Leukaemia. She spoke very well of her late husband. Told heartwarming stories about sweet surprises he gave her, vacations they took, times he made her laugh until she fell over, and the fun they had raising their son and daughter. She smiled and laughed but always had a twinge of sadness in her voice.

They were high-school sweethearts. Met age fifteen when he moved schools. Stared dating the next year. Married forty-five years.

Renna loved her. She learnt so much from her in the one year she had worked at the cakery, and knew Marnie had more knowledge to share.

"Good morning, darling," Marnie greeted with a warm smile.

"Good morning, Marnie."

"It's really coming down this morning, isn't it?" She watched the rain splatter against the large window taking up most of the walls.

Renna followed her gaze as she shut the door. "Yeah, I love the rain."

"Oh, I do too," she exclaimed with joy, clasping her flour covered hands together. "Not as much as the plants would love it, I'm sure."

Renna walked around the counter and placed her bag next the the chocolate cupcakes. Taking her apron off the hook on the wall, she slipped it over her head and tied it behind her back.

"Would you like to start making some more cupcake batter?" Marnie asked, pulling out piping bags from under the counter.

"Sure. What kind?"

"You choose."

She took her bag off the counter, and walked out the back where she placed her bag in the cupboard for personal items.

Deciding on classic vanilla, she retrieved the ingredients from the fridge and storage cupboard, and started throwing them together in a large mixing bowl. Flour. Sugar. Salt. Eggs. Butter. Milk. Vanilla. Mixed together. Poured into multicoloured cupcake papers in the tray.

While she worked, Marnie worked beside her. Mixing icing and separating into several small bowls before colouring. Then, she walked back out the front, leaving Renna alone with a song playing from the old radio on low volume.

After placing the tray in the oven, she joined Marnie in the front of the shop. She had decorated three cupcakes, covering their tops with gorgeous icing flowers and leaves, working on the forth one.

She grabbed a broom before Marnie could ask her for help.

Marnie had taught Renna a few decoration tricks and Renna had practised at home, but she could never get it as perfect as Marnie's decorations. Her flowers come out wonky. The leaves drooped. She avoided decorating at the shop because she didn't want to ruin the cakes. 

Marnie and YouTube videos helped her to learn, but she still wasn't as good as she wanted to be. She's still learning and she won't give up, but holds no confidence in her decorating skills at the moment.

She swept the whole front floor, but didn't gather too much dirt. After getting rid of it in the bin out back, she returned, looking for her next task.

Glancing up at Renna, Marnie asked, "Wanna help me with these, darling?"

Unable to find another task quick, she said, "Sure." She paused beside Marnie as she looked at the several piping bags, filled with different pastel coloured icing.

Noticing her hesitation, Marnie said, "Any colour, sweetie. It won't matter which, just make it pretty."

Make it pretty. Mine won't be pretty. Maybe I should leave the decorating up to Marnie. I could find something else to do.

She picked up the pale orange icing bag, and stared at it in her hand. It's so easy to screw up the decorations.

"Here you go," said Marnie, handing her a cupcake.

She took it, and not knowing what else to do, she squeezed the icing out onto to cupcake top. Held her hand as steady as she could. Took her time. Slow. Careful. The icing wobbled and the flower looked crooked.

She tried to disguise the wobble with a second flower but it came out more strange than the first.

Frustration and sadness bubbled up inside her. Why can't I ever get this right? My designs always look ugly.

"I—I don't—I think I should—I should leave you do it."

Marnie glanced up at Renna's messy flowers, and smiled. "Oh my darling. Don't worry too much about it. It doesn't have to be perfect." She placed down her icing bag and the half decorated cupcake, and took the cupcake from Renna. With the green icing, she squeezed out some leaves.

Renna thought she was trying to hide the wobbly flowers, but then watched her mess up the leaves on purpose. Made them slanted and curved. Shook her hand. Proved her point. Imperfect can be perfect.

"Of course, customers like the pretty decorations, but all they really care about is the taste. If they taste nice, they forgive bad decorations, and trust me, they taste nice."

Renna smiled and nodded her head in agreement and understanding. Everything Marnie makes tastes delicious. Renna's bad decorations couldn't ruin that.

"Nature is imperfect," she continued. "If you mess up, it matches. Nothing to be worried about."

With more confidence in herself, she picked up another cupcake, and started making a wonky flower.

♡