Chapter Four
Wade
I arrived at Mistletoe & Mochas twenty minutes early, a habit my mom had drilled into me since childhood.
"Early is on time, on time is late," she'd say, and it had stuck.
Scanning the café, I chose a corner table with a good view of both the door and the street outside.
Privacy was key for a conversation like this.
The familiar scent of coffee and cinnamon rolls filled the air, but the café looked different today.
A rhythmic drilling punctuated by the occasional crash of demolition work filtered in from next door, making the vintage coffee mugs on their shelves rattle slightly with each impact.
New cat-themed decorations adorned the walls—framed vintage posters of felines, small wooden shelves shaped like cat silhouettes, and paw prints stenciled along the baseboards.
A stack of freshly unpacked cardboard boxes lined one wall.
Edna Twinkleberry stood near the counter, dressed in what could only be described as a riot of color.
She wore a flowing tie-dye skirt that swirled around her ankles, a bright purple t-shirt featuring multiple cats in various yoga poses, and —completing the look—a headband with fuzzy cat ears perched atop her silver bob.
Birkenstocks peeked from beneath her skirt, and her lips shimmered with frosted pink lipstick that perfectly matched her toenail polish.
Beside her, Piper Walsh, the café's twenty-something owner, was excitedly unpacking items from one of the boxes, occasionally wincing when a particularly loud crash came from next door.
"Wade!" Edna called out, waving enthusiastically over another drilling sound from next door. "Come see what we've got!"
Curious, I made my way over. "Morning, Edna. Morning, Piper. What's with all the..." I gestured vaguely at the decorations, "...cats?"
Edna beamed, linking arms with Piper as if they were co-conspirators in some grand scheme.
"Haven't you heard the news? Theodore and I are underwriting the creation of a new cat sanctuary to rehabilitate and rehome homeless and abandoned kitties.
Mistletoe & Mochas will be Wintervale's first official cat café! "
Piper nodded excitedly. "We'll have a special enclosed area where customers can enjoy their drinks while interacting with adoptable cats. It's going to be amazing for tourism, not to mention all the animals we'll help."
"That's...something," I said, picturing the town's beloved coffee spot overrun with felines. It was exactly the kind of eccentric project Edna would champion.
"You arrived just in time," Piper said, reaching into a box and raising her voice over another crash from the construction. "We're about to hang the new sign for the shop. What do you think?"
She pulled out a beautifully carved wooden sign. "The Purrfect Cup" was painted in elegant lettering, with a silhouette of a cat curled around a steaming coffee mug.
"Theodore insisted we keep some reference to coffee in the name," Edna explained, adjusting her cat ears. "I wanted 'Whiskers & Wishes,' but he said people needed to know they could still get their caffeine fix. We considered 'Meows & Mochas' too, but this one just felt right—perfect with a purr!"
The bell above the door chimed, and I turned to see Lark stepping inside. She wore a blue sundress that caught the light as she moved, her blonde hair loose around her shoulders. She paused for a moment, looking around until she spotted me at the corner table.
Our eyes met, and for a moment, neither of us moved.
Up close, she was even more beautiful than I'd first thought—wide eyes, full lips, delicate features.
She stood a head shorter than me, her feminine curves somehow both slender and soft in a way that made me suddenly self-conscious.
Zoe's blog photo hadn't done her justice.
There was something disarming about her prettiness, something that made me feel suddenly vulnerable in a way I hadn't anticipated.
Being a lawyer, she was clearly accomplished—definitely more than I'd ever be.
Women like her didn't stick around small towns for guys like me.
I'd learned that lesson the hard way with Vanessa.
I cleared my throat, pushing away thoughts of my ex. "You're right on time," I said, gesturing toward our table. "You're just in time to see the new sign for the shop."
"Oh?" she said, her expression curious as she approached.
"Lark, this is Edna Twinkleberry and Piper Walsh," I said, making the introductions. "Edna, Piper, this is Lark Hayes."
Edna's eyes lit up with recognition. "So you're the Chicago lawyer everyone's talking about!" She gave Lark a once-over. "My, you're just as pretty as your picture, dear. Wade's a lucky man."
Lark's eyes widened noticeably, clearly taken aback by Edna's appearance and enthusiastic greeting. The mental image of the mayor's fiancée she'd probably constructed—some elegant, conservative older woman—was being rapidly redrawn.
"It's nice to meet you both," Lark said politely, though I caught the wee hint of surprise in her voice.
Piper smiled and held up the sign. "What do you think?"
"It's adorable," Lark said, a genuine smile softening her features as she studied the design. She looked up at Edna. "You're turning this into a cat café?"
"Indeed we are," Edna said proudly. "Theodore and I are combining our resources to create a haven for our feline friends in need. Do you have cats, dear?"
Lark scrunched her forehead slightly. "No, I don't have any pets.
I'm not sure why exactly..." She paused, considering.
"I've always loved cats, but my mother was allergic when I was growing up, so we couldn't have one.
And after law school, I guess I've just been working so much I never really had time for anything else. "
Edna patted her arm sympathetically. "It's never too late to stop and smell the roses—or in this case, the litterboxes." She paused, tilting her head. "Though I'm not sure that's really the right analogy, but you know what I mean."
I bit back a smile at Lark's expression.
"Can I get you two anything?" Piper asked. "First cup's on the house today. We're testing new cat-themed specials."
"Just black coffee for me," I said.
"I'll have a vanilla latte with oat milk and an extra shot, please," Lark ordered. "And maybe one of those almond croissants if they're fresh?"
"Made this morning," Piper confirmed. "I'll bring everything over to your table."
I guided Lark to the corner table I'd selected. As we sat down, I noticed her taking in the space—the mismatched vintage chairs, the local artwork on the walls, the newly added cat accessories.
"So," I began, once we were settled. "I appreciate you asking to meet. I agree it’s a good idea for us to discuss…things."
Lark nodded, folding her hands on the table. "Let's be clear about what we're discussing. The mayor wants us to pretend to be a couple to boost tourism for the festival, is that right?"
"That's the gist of it, yes." I leaned forward, keeping my voice low. "Look, I know this is an unusual request, but the Summer Splash Festival is important to Wintervale. Tourism has been down the past few years, and the mayor's made it his mission to revitalize the town."
"And our supposed romance is going to achieve that?" Skepticism laced her voice.
"According to Mayor Snowcroft, Zoe's blog post about us is already getting attention. People love a good summer romance story." I shrugged. "Plus, the mayor thinks the opposites-attract thing adds a certain cachet."
Piper arrived with our drinks and Lark's croissant, momentarily pausing our conversation. When she left, Lark took a sip of her latte, leaving a faint imprint of lipstick on the rim.
"What's in this for you?" she asked directly. "You must have a reason for agreeing to this charade."
I hesitated, not wanting to explain about Logan's near-drowning or how I still felt the weight of being away when my family needed me most. “I run a water safety program for kids here in Wintervale.
It's important work, but funding is always tight. The mayor promised that if festival attendance increases, the town will match the donations we receive.”
Lark nodded, understanding in her eyes. Professional, assessing. "That seems reasonable."
"What about you?" I asked. "The mayor mentioned you're taking some time away from work?"
A shadow crossed her face. "Just taking some time away from the office," she said, her tone making it clear she wasn't interested in elaborating. "It seemed like a good opportunity to get some perspective."
"I won't pry," I assured her, though curiosity burned within me.
"I appreciate that," she said, her posture relaxing slightly. "So, if we're going to do this, we should establish some parameters."
"Agreed. Timeframe is through the festival and the mayor's wedding?"
"Yes. Public appearances only," she added firmly. "We maintain a professional relationship behind closed doors."
"Absolutely," I nodded. "Just enough to convince Zoe and her blog followers. Maybe attend a few festival events together, be seen around town."
"No excessive public displays of affection," Lark stipulated. "Hand-holding is acceptable if necessary. But nothing..." she searched for the word, "...intimate."
"Understood." I tried not to smile at her businesslike approach. It was like she was drafting a contract. "The mayor mentioned a community cookout tonight in the town square. It would be a good place to make our first official appearance."
Lark took a bite of her croissant, considering. "That seems reasonable. What time?"
"I can pick you up at the inn around six?"
"Fine." She brushed a crumb from her lip. "What's your story for people who ask how we met? Beyond the lake incident, I mean."
"We keep it simple. You came to the lake, we got talking, hit it off." I shrugged. "The best lies have elements of truth."