Chapter 20
CHAPTER 20
KINSLEY
Why do I feel like there’s something I’m forgetting?
It’s something important—I know it is.
But what is it?
I watch the sun rise as my mind wanders, the rays glittering across the shop’s green checkered floor and pastel pink walls.
I love this place.
It’s been my home for the last eight years.
It’s been my saving grace.
So is the woman who owns it.
When I met Rose all those years ago, I was lost, confused, and in desperate need of a purpose. She was coming from her yearly checkup when she saw me sitting at the bus stop, the rain soaking through the meager clothes I had on.
I still remember her standing over me, an umbrella blocking out the downpour. Her wrinkled face as she asked me where I was headed. I told her that I didn’t know and she watched me for a moment before telling me to grab my things.
Wordlessly I followed her to her car and we drove an hour outside of London. Not once did she ask me about my story or pepper me with questions about what I was doing there.
When we got to the small town of Stratford-upon-Avon, she pulled up to a coffee shop and climbed out of the car. I followed her as she unlocked the front door and strode into the kitchen.
She made us each a warm cup of hot chocolate and brought out ingredients for what she called her world famous moose track scones. For hours she showed me recipe after recipe, until the countertops were littered with baked goods.
I spent the rest of the day helping her in her coffee shop and when the open sign was flipped to closed and all the lights were shut off, she led me to the back staircase that went up to a small two bedroom flat.
Tears sprang to my eyes the moment she placed the keys in my hand.
“Why are you doing this?” I sniffled.
“Because I too was once a young lass with nowhere to go.” She smiled and patted my hand.
I don’t know where I’d be if it wasn’t for her. If I hadn’t been sitting at that stop, or she hadn’t come out of her appointment in time, or if it hadn’t been raining.
I don’t necessarily believe in fate, but every time I wake up and come down to this coffee shop, I believe in it a little bit more.
I take a deep breath and turn, my eyes roaming over the small tables sprinkled throughout, the shelves filled with donated books, and the pastry display case I’ll need to fill up.
I still feel like I’m forgetting something and the thought follows me as I walk into the kitchen and begin prepping all the pastries we’ll feature today.
When the last batch of cookies is put in the oven, I grab the flowers I picked up yesterday from the market and walk out to the dining area. After each table gets a refresh, I go to the front door and unlock it, flipping the sign to open.
This has been my routine every morning since I started working at Rosebuds, making sure to open promptly at six so those who commute to the city still have enough time to stop in for their fix before tackling the drive in.
The quiet streets are painted in the morning glow and I take a deep breath, reveling in the peace of it all.
There’s nothing like the stillness of a calm morning.
I’ve just walked into the kitchen when the bell above the front door rings, soft footfalls echoing soon after.
“Welcome to the Rosebud, I’ll be out in just a second,” I call out as I hurry to put the batch of scones in the oven. Swiping a cloth from the counter, I wipe my hands as I push through the swinging doors. “Sorry about that, I just had to—oh, hi. You came back.”
The petite blonde with blue eyes smiles. “I did. It’s the scones. I swear they were all I could think about for days.”
“You’re in luck. I just put a fresh batch in the oven.”
“You say the sweetest things to me.”
The quiet shop fills with our laughter. “What can I get you?”
“I’ll take a caramel macchiato with extra whipped cream and caramel drizzle and…”
“One of the moose track scones?”
She laughs. “Make that two. I’ll take one with me for later.”
After I ring her up, I get to work on her drink. I glance over at her as she walks around, taking in the photos on the walls and grazing the book selections, before settling in at the table in the corner.
“This place is so cute,” she says as I set down her drink. “I love the pictures over there.” She nods to the photos hanging behind the pastry display.
My lips tip up. “Those are actually mine.”
“Really? They’re amazing.”
There’s three of them. All black and white. One is of Rose as she rolls out dough, flour coating her apron. The second is of the sunrise through the shop’s windows, the individual rays visible over the empty space. And the last is of the shop’s storefront.
I hum. “It’s just a hobby, but Rose surprised me with hanging some of them up one day saying it was a right shame for them to collect dust on a computer.”
“Well, I have to agree with the wise woman. They’re amazing.”
I smile. “Thank you. I can’t take credit for the rest, though. That’s all Rose.” I wave a hand around the shop.
“Is she the owner?”
I nod. “Yeah. She’s a sweet old bat with a heart of gold?—”
“And the mind of a thirteen year old boy,” a weathered voice calls out as the front door opens with a chime and a small blur of brown hair rushes in.
“Mummy!”
I bend, scooping him up and peppering his face with kisses. “Hi, my sweet baby.”
“I’m not a baby,” he declares, scowling.
“Oh, is that right?”
He nods. “I can go potty all by myself now. Babies can’t do that.”
I giggle. “When you’re right, you’re right.” I look at Rose. “I thought you wouldn’t be here until later.”
She stares at me with a not-very-surprised expression. “You forgot.”
“No. No, I didn’t.” I totally did. “But maybe you can just confirm what I’m thinking?”
She chuckles, shaking her head. “I have that doctor’s?—”
“Appointment this morning, of course. See, I didn’t forget.”
She hums. “It shouldn’t take long. I’ll come get this little rascal right after.”
“Granny says she’s going to make spaghetti and mega meatballs tonight for dinner.”
I laugh, tickling his sides. He giggles, his eyes sliding to the side. “Do you like spaghetti and mega meatballs too?”
I turn to the girl, her wide eyes bouncing between us. She blinks, shaking her head slightly before smiling. “I do love spaghetti, but I don’t think I’ve ever had mega meatballs.”
“Mega balls are my mummy’s favorite.”
My eyes widen as the girl coughs and Rose bursts out laughing.
“Okay, on that note. Run upstairs and get your coloring book. Looks like you’re hanging out here until Gran gets back.”
“Can I have a cookie?”
“Dude, it’s like six thirty in the morning.”
“But it’s got oats in it and that’s a breakfast food.”
“He’s got you there,” Rose snickers.
“We’ll see. Now go.”
He takes off for the back stairs and I shake my head. The timer goes off on the oven and I excuse myself, heading into the kitchen.
I take a deep breath of the delicious chocolate and toasted marshmallow smell of the scones and package three up. When I walk back out, Rose is helping my son set up at the table just off to the side of the stairs.
I drop a cookie in front of him and he cheers, thanking me as I kiss his head.
“Here you are, I threw in an extra scone for you.”
I set the bag of sweets on the table. The girl thanks me quietly, her blue eyes casted to the side where they sit. “You have a beautiful son.”
I glance over my shoulder and smile. “Best thing to ever happen to me.”
“How old is he? I have a nephew that looks about the same age.”
“Cooper’s six.”
“Cooper?”
“Yeah.” I laugh remembering the day he was born. “He actually didn’t have a name when I first gave birth. It took me two days to figure it out. But one night I had a dream and when I woke up, ‘Cooper’ was all I could think about.” She watches me, her mouth parted and I sigh. “I’m sorry, I don’t know why I just said all of that.”
“No. No. It’s okay. My brother kind of did the same thing. He tried out all these different names, literally yelling around the house ‘Jameson, you get your arse in that bath right now’ or ‘Freddie, you better not be drinking from the dogs bowl again.’”
I burst out laughing. “That’s definitely one way to do it.”
“None of them ever sounded right. He was also very paranoid about nicknames.”
“I didn’t even think about that.”
“Oh trust me, my brother thought of it all. Drove our parents up the wall.”
“Sounds like you two are close.”
Her smile dims and she nods. “Yeah, he’s the best big brother in the world and is one of my best friends, even if he can be annoying at times.”
“That’s what siblings are for though, right? Built in best friends?”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
Her phone rings and she quickly puts it away. Standing up, she grabs her stuff and looks up at the pictures behind the pastry box one last time. “If you ever want to make that more than a hobby, I know someone who is looking for a photographer. It isn’t scenery stuff like that, but I have a feeling you’d really enjoy it.”
“She’s interested,” Rose calls out. She quirks a brow, patting Cooper’s head and walking over to us, taking the offered card. “I’ve alway told her that she needed to do something with photography?—”
“But you need me here.”
“I can hire people to be here and you know it.”
I open my mouth but she cuts me off. “You are meant for more than just this shop, Kinsley. Just promise me you’ll think about it?”
I sigh, glancing up at the pictures before focusing back on her. “Fine.”
She smiles. “Good. Whatever happens, we’ll get through it. As long as my babies are happy, I’m happy.” She pinches my cheek and I laugh.
“Now, I’ve got to go. You get all the information from this beautiful young lady and tonight, we’ll put together whatever we need for the application. Okay?”
“Have I ever told you how bossy you are?”
“You love me.”
“I do.”
She hugs me and gives Cooper a kiss on his head before heading out the door. I do what I’m told and get all the information for the job, writing down the web address and what the general idea of my duties would be.
I’m hesitant when she says there will be a lot of travel, but Rose’s words echo through my mind. If this is meant to be, we’ll figure something out and just take it one day at a time.
Twenty minutes, and two interruptions from Cooper to give his new friend a drawing, later, we finish up and she checks her watch.
“I have to go or I’ll really be late for a meeting at work, but here’s my personal phone number if you have any more questions.”
I take the pink napkin with her number. “Thank you.”
“It’s like Rose said, Kinsley.” She shoulders her bag. “You were always meant for something more than just this.”
I hum, glancing around the shop.
“It was nice meeting you, Cooper.” He waves at her and she walks to the door.
I blink, stepping forward. “I’m sorry, I don’t think I ever caught your name.”
Turning back, she smiles. “Sydney. My name’s Sydney.”