Chapter 17
Violet
Opening my eyes, it’s still dark outside.
Grabbing my phone to check the time, I realize it’s only five-thirty in the morning.
I can’t remember the last time I slept so peacefully. I mean, I fell asleep with a smile on my face last night and my cheeks are still hurting.
After having a movie night with Josy, Adrian and I went home. Crawling into bed I received my first text from Austin before I fell to sleep. It was nice to talk to him, and honestly, I loved that he saw me as a beautiful woman.
I can’t believe he’s attracted to me, someone pinch me! I must be dreaming!
My dreams were filled with possible scenarios of our first date, and just thinking about it makes me blush. In one of my dreams, Austin kissed me senseless. It felt real, so real that I can still feel the tenderness of his lips on mine. The thought makes me smile even wider, and I hug my pillow tightly. That’s why I woke up feeling hopeful. Hopeful that there is someone who finds me—yes, me!—attractive.
Rolling onto my back, I stare at the ceiling and replay our conversation from last night. He made me feel like a different woman, and I’m not used to that. The way he spoke about me, with such genuine admiration and complete truth. It was something I hadn’t experienced in a long time. Or maybe I have never experienced that type of moment.
My ex’s harsh comments about my body have left deep scars that refuse to heal, but Austin’s words are like a soothing balm as I lay here in bed.
Maybe I am pretty just as I am…
I can’t help but imagine what our dinner will be like. I want to get to know him better, to see if the connection we felt yesterday can grow into something more.
Would he kiss me? Better yet, would I let him kiss me? Oh I would, I know I would.
As dawn begins to break, I know there’s no use trying to go back to sleep. My mind is buzzing with thoughts of Austin, and I can’t shake the feeling that something has shifted. I slide out of bed and tiptoe to the kitchen, careful not to disturb Adrian. I make myself a cup of coffee and sink into the quiet of the moment at the table, letting the warm mug ground me.
Taking a sip, I savor the comfort it brings, but my thoughts drift back to the river and the way Austin patiently showed Adrian how to fish. The sight of them together filled my heart with a joy I hadn’t felt in ages. For the first time in a long while, I can imagine a life where Austin is part of our little family—where we’re truly happy. The thought of more kids crosses my mind, something I never pictured with Taylor. But I don’t want to jump too far ahead; that’s a recipe for disappointment.
As I sit there, I silently promise myself: no matter what happens, I’m going to embrace this new chapter with an open heart. I deserve happiness, kindness, and respect. I finish my coffee and start preparing breakfast, knowing Adrian will be up soon. Moving around the kitchen, I can’t help but replay Austin’s encouraging words in my head, and a newfound confidence begins to bloom within me.
Just then, my phone pings with a text, and my heart skips when I see it’s from Austin.
Austin: Good morning, beautiful.
Austin: I hope you had wonderful dreams last night.
Austin: I can’t wait to see you at the coffee shop.
How does he know that I dreamt about him?
Me: My dreams were nice. How about yours?
Austin: They were perfect.
Austin: I dreamt about you.
Me: Really?
Austin: Really, I can’t get you out of my head. It’s like you bewitched me, woman.
Me: Hahahaha. You are crazy
Austin: I’m crazy for you.
Austin: Violet, I’m not playing, this is the first time I’ve felt like this for a woman. For anyone.
My breath catches at his confession. Is it really genuine, or is he just saying this to get me into bed? That nagging doubt creeps in, and I can’t shake it off. I want to believe in the honesty he’s shown so far, but what if this is just another line designed to pull me in, only for him to disappear once he gets what he wants? The thought twists in my stomach, leaving a sour taste.
I take a few minutes to let the uncertainty wash over me, my mind racing with possibilities and fears. I can’t help but replay all of our interactions, searching for signs—was he really interested in me, or just in the thrill of the moment? My heart aches at the idea of being hurt again.
As I wrestle with these emotions, I remind myself how hard it’s been to let anyone in since Taylor. I’ve spent so long building up walls to protect myself, and here I am, feeling vulnerable all over again. Just when I think I’ve collected my thoughts, my phone pings again, pulling me back to the moment.
Austin: Am I scaring you?
Me: Honestly, a little.
Me: I don’t want to get hurt.
Me: And my heart… it's already fractured
Austin: Give me a chance to prove to you that I am serious.
Me: Okay.
Austin: Perfect. See you later, beautiful.
Feeling a mixture of anticipation and nervousness, I put my phone down and continue to make breakfast. Adrian will be up soon, and I want to have it all ready.
Adrian shuffles into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes. "Good morning, buddy." I greet him with a smile.
"Morning, Mom," he replies, still half-asleep.
Whew, not bruh. The small blessings in life.
I serve him breakfast, and as we sit together, I can’t help but think about my upcoming dinner with Austin. I want to believe in the possibility of happiness and love again, but I know I need to be careful. Trust needs to be built, and I want to make sure this is real.
But it’s just dinner and building plans. Why am I putting so much emotion into this? Good Lord, am I…crushing on Austin?
"Mom, why are you smiling like that?" Adrian asks, looking at me curiously.
"I'm just happy, sweetheart. It's going to be a great day," I reply, ruffling his hair.
After breakfast, Adrian goes to get ready for school. I pack his lunch and double-check his backpack to make sure he has everything he needs for the day. When he's ready, we leave. I take him to school and at the car line, I turn to talk to him.
"Have a great day at school, Adrian" I say, straightening out his shirt and smoothing down his hair one more time. Thank goodness he has my hair and not Taylor’s balding scalp.
“Don’t touch my hair, bruh. You’ll mess it up.”
And there it is…the bruh.
Sighing, I say to my mini-me, “Come on. Aren’t you wanting to look cute for the girls?”
“No. There are no cute girls at this school. Besides, they are gross, bruh.”
“No, they’re not. You are so silly, and stop with the bruh,” I say getting serious.
Adrian nods and says, “Okay, Mom.” He moves and opens the door to get out of the car. “Don’t forget to learn something, I love you!” I sing song.
"Thanks, Mom. See you later!" he replies with a smile before heading out.
I head to the coffee shop, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves about seeing Austin later. As I walk in, the familiar sounds and smells of the café envelop me. Josy is already there, setting up for the day.
"Morning, Josy," I greet her as I walk into the coffee shop, the now familiar aroma of freshly brewed coffee filling the air.
"Morning, Vi. You look happy." She observes with a grin, setting down a tray of pastries.
"I am," I admit, feeling a smile spreading across my face. "Austin has been texting since last night, and I feel like it's going to be a good day."
Josy gives me a mischievous smile and leans in closer. "Really? What have you been texting?"
“Mostly about our dinner date this Thursday, and the occasional flirting.”
"That's great. Are you flirting back?" Josy inquires, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Yes," I confess, a slight blush creeping onto my cheeks. "I think it’s easier when I do it over the phone. I'm starting to feel like this could be something real, and it gets me nervous and scared. I feel so vulnerable, Jo."
"It’s normal," Josy reassures me, her tone softening. "Remember your talk with Dr. Bennett? It will take time to gain your confidence back."
"I know," I say, taking a deep breath. "And that's why I'm giving myself this chance with Austin."
Josy nods approvingly. "Good for you. Just take it one step at a time. Austin is a great guy, and you deserve to be happy."
"Thanks, Josy. Your support means so much to me," I reply, feeling a surge of gratitude for my best friend's unwavering encouragement.
“That’s what friends are for.”
“True. That’s why I love you. If neither of us find anyone to spend the rest of our life with, I think that we can marry each other,” I say with a laugh.
“That’s a good plan. But there’s a flaw in this marriage proposal,” Josy says as she raise both of her eye brows.
“What?” I ask.
“You are gorgeous, and I don’t doubt that we would make a beautiful couple, but…you don’t have the equipment that I require.” Josy shrugged her shoulders. “Sorry, my friend. I think that I will have to pass on your marriage proposal.”
We both start laughing.
“I guess you’re right,” I say at the same time that I make a sad face.
“I know that I’m right. I’ll just wait for the man of my dreams to enter this coffee shop and fall for my beauty and charm,” Josy says with a wishful expression.
“It can totally happen,” I answer her as I go and give her a hug. “You are an amazing and beautiful woman. The right guy will come through those doors soon. Mark my words.” I let Josy go and we continue to prepping to open the doors in a few minutes.
Soon, our regulars start trickling in. John Baker, the handyman, is the first to arrive, as usual.
"Morning, John. The usual?" I ask.
"Yes, please. A large black coffee and a blueberry muffin," he replies with a grin.
As I prepare his order, Mrs. Henrietta and Mrs. Mirtha, the town gossips, walk in together, chattering away.
"Good morning, ladies," I greet them. "What can I get for you today?"
"Morning, dear," Mrs. Henrietta says. "I'll have chamomile tea please."
"And I'll have an herbal tea with one sugar packet," Mrs. Mirtha adds. "So, Violet, any news we should know about?"
I smile, knowing they love their gossip. "Nothing too exciting, just the usual busy day."
As I hand them their teas, Mr. Hasting walks in. He's been coming in more often since his wife passed away, and I make a point to chat with him whenever I can.
"Good morning, Mr. Hasting," I say gently. "How are you today?"
"I'm doing alright, Violet. Could I get a coffee with two-percent, and a slice of that apple pie?" he asks, his voice tinged with sadness.
"Of course. Why don't you sit down, and I'll bring it over to you?" I suggest.
He nods and takes a seat by the window. I quickly prepare his order and bring it to him.
"Thank you, Violet," he says quietly.
"You're welcome, Mr. Hasting. If you need anything, just let me know," I reply, giving him a reassuring smile.
As the morning progresses, the shop fills with the usual hustle and bustle. John sits by the window, reading his newspaper, while Mrs. Henrietta and Mrs. Mirtha gossip in their corner. Mr. Hasting sips his coffee slowly, lost in his thoughts.
Later, Austin arrives with his usual charm, greeting me with a smile that makes my heart skip a beat.
"Hey, beautiful," he says, leaning on the counter. "How's your morning going?"
"Busy, but good," I reply, trying to steady my voice as I pour his coffee. "How about yours?"
"Can't complain, I've been reviewing some new project designs. It's exciting stuff, but nothing compares to seeing you here."
I feel my cheeks warm at his flirtatious comment. "Smooth talker," I tease, handing him his coffee.
Austin takes a moment to stir his coffee, his gaze lingering on me. "So, do you have any plans this evening?”
I shake my head when I say “No. Why?”
“I just wanted to see if you were going to be busy. I will probably text you again. I want to know more about you. Actually I want to know everything about you. Is that okay, Violet? I don’t want to come on too strong.”
I meet his gaze, feeling a rush of anticipation and nervousness all at once. “Okay. I will wait for your message,” I reply softly.
He winks at me playfully. "I'll see you soon, Violet."
As Austin leaves the coffee shop, Mrs. Mirtha and Mrs. Henrietta approach me with eager expressions.
"Violet, dear," Mrs. Henrietta starts, her tone giddy with excitement. "That young man, Austin, he seems quite taken with you."
"He's never shown interest in anyone before," Mrs. Mirtha adds, nodding in agreement. "You must’ve made quite an impression."
I laugh nervously, feeling both flattered and a little overwhelmed by their scrutiny. "He's just helping with my house plans," I explain, trying to downplay the situation.
Mrs. Henrietta leans closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Oh, my dear, I can see the way he looks at you. It's not just about the house."
Mrs. Mirtha nods sagely. "It's love, Violet. Mark my words."
My cheeks flush at their words, unsure of what to say. Austin's attention has indeed been noticeable, and the intensity of his gaze earlier has left an indelible impression on me.
As I continue with my tasks behind the counter, I can't help but replay Austin's words and the way he looked at me. His presence lingers in the air, stirring emotions and hopes I haven't felt in so long. With every hair on my body standing and a shiver running through me, I realize that Thursday night can't come soon enough.
Later, I find a single white rose on the counter with a note attached.
You get more and more beautiful each day. I wish you were mine.
Who is sending me presents and notes? I didn’t notice Austin with a flower, but I guess he is a sneaky one. I pull the rose to my nose and take a deep breath. I love roses. Should I ask Austin if he is the one sending me notes and now this flower? So far I have receive a handful of notes. Maybe I will Thursday over dinner.
That night, while Adrian is absorbed in his favorite TV show, Josy joins us in the living room. She's positively beaming about all the new customers at the coffee shop, all thanks to the successful social media campaign we launched together.
"I can't believe how many new faces have been coming in," Josy exclaims, settling into the armchair opposite me. "Your posts really did the trick, Vi."
"I'm thrilled it's paying off," I reply with a smile. "It's been amazing to see."
Adrian looks up from the TV, his eyes bright with excitement. "Hey, Aunt Josy, do you think it's okay if I have a dog at your apartment?" he asks eagerly. "Mom said we can go pick one out soon!"
Josy's face lights up at Adrian's request. "A dog? Didn’t we say that you were going to have it when the new house is done?”
“Yes, we did. But I can’t wait to have him. I feel so lonely.”
“Buddy, you are laying it on thick,” I say with a laugh.
“That sounds like a great idea! As long as your mom says yes, I'm all for it,” she says warmly. I guess that we will have that dog before we have the house.
I turn to Adrian with a smile. "But remember, you'll have to take care of it," I remind him gently.
"I will, Mom, I promise!" Adrian assures me.
"Alright then," I say, tousling his hair affectionately. "Next weekend we'll visit the animal shelter and see if we can find the perfect pet for you."
Adrian grins broadly, clearly looking forward to the idea of having a furry companion soon. Josy shares stories from her own childhood with a beloved dog, and we spend the rest of the evening planning our trip to the shelter and discussing what kind of dog Adrian might like.
Watching Adrian and Josy bond over the excitement of getting a dog makes me happy. Tomorrow I'll dive back into the hustle of managing the coffee shop and prepare for Thursday night with Austin. But for now, I cherish the simple joy of this cozy evening at home with my son and my best friend.