Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
MELLIE
Birdsong drifts in the air around me as I walk to work, my backpack bouncing on my back with each of my steps.
My tote bag swings from my arm where it hangs, holding the current book I’m reading and the lunch I packed this morning.
I never realized when I lived here before just how lovely mornings in Blue Fields could be.
There are a lot of things I’m finding out about my hometown. Little things I easily ignored when I was younger but are holding more weight for me now, like a beautiful morning walk to work, or an evening spent on my parent’s front porch drinking tea with my mom.
It’s still early spring, and most days are still wet and cold.
But the air is warm enough to allow me to walk today, something I have missed being able to do often when I first moved back.
It’s only a few blocks from my parent’s house, and I enjoy getting the fresh air and exercise after being stuck inside all winter.
I swing by Double Shot, where Ronin has already learned my coffee order and has it waiting for me every morning now, even on the days he isn’t working.
I pick up my mocha latte from the same older, teenage girl working the front counter, who I now know as Rachel, and who happens to be very sweet.
We’ve become fast friends with my frequent stops at the diner over the last couple of months.
I make sure to grab Sydney’s usual, knowing she opened the store early for a delivery and could use the pick-me-up.
I make it to The Reading Nook, sweeping into the entryway as the bell chimes my arrival.
“Good morning, Syd! Ah, I see that back-order came in,” I reply, coming around the counter.
She accepts her coffee with a grateful smile, and I place my latte on the counter, picking up the invoice she has been studying behind the tall stack of books. “At least they got the quantity right this time, even if we had to wait an extra two weeks for them.”
Placing the paper back on the counter, I turn to head into the employee lounge and call over my shoulder, “Be right out!”
I drop my belongings at the office desk, drape my coat over the chair, and stow away my lunch in the mini fridge.
At this point, the office is starting to feel more like my own, with Nora making the occasional appearance every now and then.
With the help of Sydney, I’ve been running the shop for Nora for the last few weeks.
We get swept up in the day as customers filter in and out.
It’s that time of year when the tourists start trickling in.
Though they haven’t bloomed yet, the blue flowers that grow around town will bring in crowds during the spring and summer.
They’re quite photogenic, I’ll grant the flowers that much.
It seemed magical when we first moved here. I remember the first time we drove past one of the fields and the realization of the town’s name dawned on me as I stared in awe at the fields of flowers before me.
Now, however, part of the magic lies in the influx of business, and for that, the town is thankful.
Myself included, as somehow I’ve already been inducted into the club of shop owners located on Main Street.
Everyone has been incredibly welcoming and extremely helpful.
Someone from the strip of shops stops in to check on me at the bookstore almost daily.
It’s been an odd transition going from a former town troublemaker to now a somewhat respected shop runner. Jokes on them because most days I feel like a total imposter.
Seemingly right on cue, Imogen, co-owner of the flower shop down the street, breezes through the door.
“Morning, Mellie! How’s your mother doing these days? Tell her to stop by soon. Erica and I miss her dearly!” Erica is Imogen’s wife, the other owner of the flower shop. Mom used to work there part time during busy seasons when I was younger.
I offer Imogen a lollipop from the basket we keep on the checkout counter as we catch up, and she doesn’t hesitate before launching into a dramatic retelling of all the week’s town gossip.
Ten minutes later and feeling slightly scandalized, I wave goodbye as she breezes back out into the chilly air, two more lollipops in hand.
After work, I say goodbye to Sydney as we part ways outside of the storefront. It’s raining and chilly, so I shrug on my coat and pop open my umbrella before I start off down the sidewalk. I made plans to have dinner at Evan and Cat’s, so I head in that direction.
As I pass by the diner, I can’t help but glance through the large glass windows, my eyes searching for the same thing, the same person they always seem to seek out these days.
I spy him waiting tables, his back to me as he takes someone’s order.
It’s as if Ronin can feel my eyes boring into him because he slowly turns, meeting my gaze through the glass.
I wave, smiling at him, and I’m rewarded with one of his slow, sexy grins as he waves back.
My damn heart flutters as I continue on my way, my thoughts lost in a certain pair of deep blue orbs.
I make it to my brother’s home and knock on their front door.
A moment later, it swings open and Catalina ushers me inside.
Water drips all over their foyer, and as she runs off for a towel, I place my umbrella by the door and toe off my sneakers, then hang my jacket on their coat rack to dry.
Cat returns with a fluffy blue towel and I take it gratefully, wiping any excess water from my body before swiping it across the damp floor.
“Hey, Mellie.” Evan greets me from the stove where he’s stirring something in a large pot that smells absolutely amazing. “I hope you’re hungry. Cat insisted on making gumbo to feed an army.”
“Oh, that smells divine,” I answer, leaning in to inhale deeply. “And I’m starving, I haven’t eaten since lunch.”
“So, how goes the wedding planning?” I ask Cat as I flop into a stool. She pours two glasses of homemade lemonade from a crystal pitcher on the other side of the counter. “You had a cake tasting today, right?”
“We did! I think we’ve settled on a triple fudge chocolate cake with raspberry filling. We just have to decide on what it looks like.” She hands me a glass. “I have a couple of ideas. Do you want to see them?”
“Um, yes please,” I reply.
Cat and I have been knee deep in bridal magazines and Pinterest wedding boards for weeks. Who knew planning a wedding was so much fun?
She hops onto the stool next to me and pulls her tablet over, propping it up in front of us. Opening Pinterest, she swipes to the dessert board we’ve been collaborating on.
“Okay, this is the first one. It’s a bit rustic, but I think it would really work with the theme since the wedding will be outside in the town square.”
I lean in to get a closer look. The cake is three-tiered, set upon a wood slice with an assortment of nuts on each layer of what might be chocolate ganache, which drips artfully down the sides.
“Okay, love this one. I like the chocolate drips. Very Food Network. What’s next?” I sip my lemonade, appreciating the cold, crisp flavor.
She swipes to the next photo, which is another three-tiered chocolate cake with a cascade of colorful flowers flowing down one side.
“It’s a bit fancier than the first one. The flowers would be in my colors, so a wine red, deep orange, and a sort of mustard-toned yellow.
With it being a fall wedding, I want to play into the season’s aesthetic with my theme. ”
“Oh man, it’s hard to choose.” I swipe between the two images, considering both cakes.
“I think the first one is so rustic, like you said, and would look amazing with the fall foliage in the square. But I think this one has my vote.” I point at the second cake.
“I love the idea of the fall-colored flowers against the dark brown of the chocolate.”
Cat flips the tablet around to show Evan. “What do you think, hun? Is this our cake?”
Evan leans against the counter next to the stove, smiling at us. “You guys are adorable. This warms my heart. And sure, babe. I love that one. Whatever you want is what I want.”
Cat blows him a kiss and turns the tablet back to face us. “It’s decided then. I’ll send this over to Jay tomorrow.” Jay owns the bakery downtown, Bread and Batter.
“Well, that was easy! What’s left on your to-do list?” I ask, grabbing one of the many bridal magazines sitting on the counter next to me and begin idly flipping through the pages.
“Well, we’ve got the cake now, so that leaves finalizing flowers with Imogen and Erica, music, and we still need to find a caterer.
” Cat spins in her chair to beam at me, eyes glittering.
“Oh, and dress shopping! I still need you and the other girls to pick your dresses. I’ve got an appointment at a bridal shop next month. I’ll need you with me, if you’ll come?”
“Of course! I wouldn’t miss that for anything,” I proclaim. “Are your sisters going to be there?”
“Hopefully. My mom still isn’t sure if Gabbie will be able to make it. She’s been working a lot of overtime at the hospital and has her exams coming up. But Minnie will definitely be there.”
Cat is the oldest of three daughters. Her middle sister, Gabbie, works at a hospital in Seattle, and is finishing up school for her nursing degree. The youngest of them, Minnie, short for Ximena, works at the library here in Blue Fields.
“Ah, speaking of Minnie,” I say, stopping my page flipping to admire a particularly gorgeous dress. “We got a flyer the other day from the library about a writing contest. You know anything about that?”
“Oh! Minnie did mention something about a contest she was helping organize. That must be it.” Her delicate features are piqued with interest when I glance up. “Are you planning on entering, then?”
The words from the flyer run through my head yet again. Short Story Writing Contest. Win Cash Prize and Publication in The Emerald Times, Washington’s Premiere Online Lifestyle Magazine!
“Yeah,” I answer. “Yeah, I think I might.”
“That’s awesome, sis,” Evan chimes in. “I fully support this. I could totally see you writing a book.” He gives the gumbo a final stir before turning back to us.
“And, dinner is finally ready. Remind me how long this shit takes to cook next time we decide on making this.” He directs the last bit at Cat. “I’m exhausted.”
“Well, if it tastes as good as it smells, little bro, it’ll be worth all your blood, sweat, and tears.” I stand to help Cat set the table.
Evan dishes out generous helpings into three bowls and sets them at our placemats. I take a bite and almost moan at the taste.
“Holy shit, Ev,” I manage. “Did you miss your calling in the culinary world? This is fucking delicious.” The crabmeat practically melts against my tongue.
My brother looks proud at my compliment. “Nah, just a hobby I picked up while you were out living your glamorous Hollywood life.” He takes a bite and grins. “Yeah, definitely worth the blood, sweat, and tears.”
“Maybe you should cater our wedding,” Cat jokes.
“You know, that does give me an idea.” I pause between bites, thinking before turning to Evan. “Remember that guy we were friends with when I was in college that we used to play D&D with?”
Evan nods, so I continue, explaining to Cat, “His name is Beck, and he used to cook up these freaking amazing spreads for our game nights. He wound up quitting his desk job and going to culinary school. We’re still friends online, and he works in a really nice restaurant over in Callahan.
” I spoon another helping of gumbo into my mouth.
“I could reach out, see if they cater, and ask if he’d be interested in helping out some old friends. ”
“That sounds perfect, actually,” Evan replies. “Thanks, Mellie. Let me know if you get in touch with him and send him our contact info.”
“I will! I’ll message him tomorrow.” I take another bite and almost swoon.
“Seriously, what did you put into this? This shouldn’t even be legal.
This gumbo is so good, I want to marry it.
Maybe I’ll ask Beck to cater my wedding—to this gumbo.
” I point my spoon at Evan. “You can be my best man as a thank you for cooking me this delicious dinner.”
“You seriously are the biggest dork I’ve ever known,” Evan replies.