The bus ride had been over an hour, but finally she was here. She was aiming for that magic time just after lunch break, when the owner would be there but the shop was most likely to be empty.

Ynez Beltran took a deep breath and slapped her face.

Okay, I am going to make a good impression. I am going to make a good impression.

Ynez walked toward the huge donut. She peeked through the window at the clean floors and tables. Yes!

She had timed her visit perfectly. She opened the door and walked inside.

“Hello? May I help you?”

“Yesterday I see your sign? That you … look for help?”

Ynez stumbled over the words she’d rehearsed. Why couldn’t she focus? Her English was poor, but that wasn’t it. It was the amazing smells. The flour, the oil, the glaze, the yeasty rising dough … They filled her with memories of home, and happiness, and so many other things …

“Shirley, who that?”

“Someone is looking for a job.”

“Job?”

Ynez felt more comfortable at the sound of another accent, but when the old woman appeared, any confidence vanished. All of those magical aromas wafting from the kitchen were obviously due to her.

“M-my name is Ynez. Ynez Beltran.”

“Ynez Beltran, you make donut before?”

“Yes, ma’am, I work in a bakery many years. But we no have so much donut shops in my country, no.”

Oh, no! Ynez berated herself. Why did she say “my country”?

Ynez tried to remain calm. She couldn’t mess up. She needed this job. She had a family depending upon her.

But the donuts were making it difficult. The rising yeast, fresh dough, frostings and glazes … This was no ordinary kitchen; she wanted to know more. The apple filling …

Floresta liked this Ynez girl immediately. She had general bakery experience, not donut making, but that she could learn. And her reaction to the donuts—that was something one did not teach.

“Can you start tomorrow morning?”

“Yes, ma’am! Thank you, ma’am.”

“Just call me Floresta for now.”

“Yes, ma’a—I mean, Floresta.”

Another mistake, but this time, she was too giddy to mind. The job was hers! She would work here, learn to make these donuts—

“But I have no papers,” she blurted without thinking.

Ynez froze. With those words, she’d just lost everything.

If she had only kept her mouth shut! Now hiring her would be knowingly breaking the law.

What if they called the authorities? What if she was separated from her family? What if they came for her family, too?

“I’m sorry!” she said. Quickly, she turned to the door.

But then a hand fell gently upon her shoulder.

“It’s fine,” a voice said. The voice was caring. Wise. It reminded her a little bit of her aunty.

“It’s fine,” Floresta repeated. Her eyes crinkled as she smiled. She patted Ynez gently before letting go.