"It's time to go inside for Speech Therapy Ben" Randy said. The twenty year old shook his head no. He didn't like going into Speech Therapy with his mom, why would he like it with Randy.
"How about I wait in the car, while you go in by yourself" Randy said. Ben nodded, he knew the routine of Speech Therapy by now. He felt independent when he entered the office.
Randy was waiting in the car when his phone rang. George. Sighing loudly he answered the phone.
"Hello dad" Randy answered.
"Randy, when are you coming back home" George asked.
"Why are you calling" Randy asked.
"You've been in Denver far too long, you aren't even attending the conversion therapy program anymore that your mother and I paid for why stay out there" George asked.
Randy was really out in Denver due to a conversion therapy program. He only went to two sessions when he signed himself out and left the program.
He spent a week looking for jobs in the Denver area. He wanted a new place to call home away from his parents. No one was hiring, he almost gave up hope when he drove past a help wanted sign in a bakery window.
Entering the bakery he saw an adorable man. He wore a vintage teenage mutant ninja turtles shirt and jeans with black high top converse. His hair was curly like he didn't have to try to do anything with it. All Randy needed was a name to that adorable face.
Suddenly a woman with a pixie cut, dark green shirt topped with a plaid shirt approached him.
"BENNY you mixed up the orders again, I'm moving you to decorator it's more your pace" She said. The man's face dropped he looked defeated as he left the box on the counter.
Benny, that name suits him Randy thought. "How can I help you" Pixie asked. "Hi I'm here for a baker position" Randy said. "Wonderful right this way" Pixie said. Randy followed her to the back office.
"My name is Olivia, what's yours" Olivia asked. "Randy" He said. "That's a name that hasn't been used in a while" Olivia said. Randy looked around the office a picture of two women and a man were on her desk.
"This bakery has an autistic man working here are you fine with working with him" Olivia asked.
"I don't see anything wrong with working with a person who has a disability" Randy said. A smile was on Olivia's face. "Welcome to the team" She said.
Olivia then introduced Randy to everyone. First a woman named Layla was up first she had a lotus tattoo on her right forearm, and a nose ring. "Layla this is Randy our new baker" Olivia said. Layla shook Randy's hand, a smile was on her sun shiny face. "It's nice to meet you Randy, I like that song by Dolly Parton ever heard of it" Layla asked. "I don't believe I have" Randy said. "Hey Alexa play Randy by Dolly Parton" Layla said. Soon enough Randy was playing. "Alright come on now, get back to work my love" Olivia said.
Layla was a sun shiny person who had a rainy upbringing. Her parents were junkies, her dad would always beat her. When she was young around ten she started doing drugs like her parents. Hardcore drugs. She was thirteen when she was taken away from her parents to live in a home for troubled children.
Still she found away to get drugs in her system. This continued until she was sixteen when the councilors found out she was using and sent her to rehab. A sixteen year old Layla was taken to rehab five different times. Sixteen,eighteen,twenty one,twenty six, twenty eight. At age twenty eight she went to rehab for the last time. She met Olivia at age twenty seven.
Layla relapsed one night after a hard days work. Olivia found her crying on the bedroom floor.
"I need to get better Liv, we're going to be parents soon I can't be in rehab when our son arrives" Layla said. Olivia kissed her wife's head, "You will get better LaLa I know you will you're not alone in this" Olivia said.
Next Olivia introduced Randy to the man himself. "Benny, I'd like you to meet someone" Olivia said. Bennys hazel eyes looked up at Randy. "Randy this is Benny" Olivia said. Randy noticed Benny was mesmerized by his eyes. "Hi Benny it's nice to meet you" Randy said. Benny shyly went back to work his cheeks turned pink.
"Well that's everyone, and here is your station" Olivia said. The bakers station was up to date with everything he needed. "You start tomorrow is that good with you" Olivia asked. "That's great with me" Randy said. "Great I need you here at eight am" Olivia said. "I'll be here" Randy said. Randy was looking around the kitchen when he felt a tap on the shoulder.
Benny stood behind him, he looked nervous. In his hand was a sugar cookie. He noticed Benny didn't say anything. Instead he shoved the cookie in the older man's hands and walked back to his station. On the cookie in frosted letters was Hi Randy.
On the way out of the bakery Randy took a mental picture of Benny. He was already smitten and he was only given a cookie. "See you soon Benny" Randy whispered. As he drove off to his apartment.
"Son" George said.
Randy forgot he was on the phone with his homophobic dad. He saw Benny walking out of the office a smile was on his face.
"I love someone dad and he loves me it's best if I don't come home I love you and mom" Randy said. He hung up the phone before a lecture.
Unlocking the car Benny got in, he looked happier it must've been a good appointment. "Hi Randy" Benny said. Randy smiled kissing him gently, "Hi Benny" Randy said.