Chapter 2
Bellamy
Sitting in my cramped workspace, surrounded by tools and shelves of jeweled eggs, I lean closer to my current project. I carefully place the shiny green stone on top, the sound of light rain outside keeping me company as I focus.
This is my first custom order since starting the business at the beginning of the year.
Back in LA, selling jeweled eggs online was just a side hustle while I worked at my boring corporate job.
But when I made the leap to quit and move to the foothills of Ravenhart Mountain, I went full-time.
Now, only a few months in, I've already made a decent amount selling pre-made eggs.
But I was still surprised when I opened up custom orders and several requests came in almost immediately.
Sitting back, I admire my work and take a sip of coffee from my travel mug.
Outside the window, the rain is finally turning into a mist. I get distracted staring out at the weather when a thud behind me makes me jump, and I turn to find my calendar crumbled on the floor, flipped to June.
A large red circle surrounds the last day of spring.
My fiftieth birthday.
Sighing, I pick it up and stare at it.
"Well, at least I met half my goal," I mumble to myself as I place the calendar back on the wall.
On a hiking trip with some college friends a few years ago, we all made goals for our upcoming fiftieth birthdays.
Mine, I thought, was pretty simple. Start my own business, leave my soul-sucking corporate job and find true love by the time I am fifty.
I guess I should be satisfied with two-thirds of it being met, but it does suck that I'm living my best life and haven't found anyone to share it with yet.
Shaking off the negative thoughts, I glance at March's scenic photo and smile at the purple-circled date that's a couple of weeks away.
Since moving to this tiny rental at the foot of Ravenhart Mountain, I have yet to sell my wares in person.
But that's about to change. The Ostara Festival is right around the corner, and thinking about it shoots a thrill through my body.
I've never interacted with customers face-to-face before.
Well, my friends, but they don't count. I'm excited to see how it goes.
Sitting back down at my station, I inspect the egg.
It needs to dry overnight before I add the finishing touches.
I open the door of my cramped studio and see that the rain has finally stopped.
Cabin fever hits me like a wave, so I quickly shift into my cottontail rabbit form and hop my way to the front door of my tiny cabin.
But instead of shifting back so I can open the door, I jump off the front step and hop through the wet grass by the side of the driveway.
I love rainy days, but I'm not a big fan of three in a row.
The feeling of being cooped up weighs on me.
But as my large hind legs move me around the front lawn, I already feel more relaxed.
Returning to the front step, I shift back into my human form, and a chill runs down my spine.
Immediately, I go inside and brew myself a cup of tea.
As the tea bag steeps, I wake up my tablet. The page is still open to the local hikes I was researching this morning during breakfast. Now that spring is around the corner, I really need to check some of these out.