Chapter 12 #2
“It’s a second-chance end-of-the-world sapphic romance. I checked it out of the library last week. The premise is interesting,” she mused.
“I’m sorry, but the mental image of you going to the library to check out queer romance books is adorable to me.”
Max recoiled with a laugh as Annie swatted at her with the paperback.
“Shut up.” Annie giggled, slipping her bookmark in place, setting the book gently on the coffee table.
“I was up pretty early this morning and didn’t want to wake you up with the TV.
Plus, I like quiet mornings. I haven’t really had one like this since I moved back to Wellington Point.
Rooming with my parents has been…interesting. ”
Max grimaced at the flash of an idea of what her life might look like if she tried to go back and live with her dad after so many years of independence. “I can only imagine.”
“What’s the plan today?” Annie asked, taking Max’s hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.
Max straightened, ready to deliver the options she had researched. “I figured food would be a good start. We can either do a full sit-down breakfast or grab and go. What sounds better to you?”
Annie thought for a moment. “Grab and go,” she said definitively.
“Great, there’s a cute bakery in town that apparently has a coffee and tea bar. Be ready to go in fifteen?”
Fifteen minutes and a four-mile drive into town later, Max led Annie into a small brick building tucked into an alleyway with a wooden sign in the shape of a muffin hanging over the door that read Muffed & Stuffed.
“The name is absolutely killing me,” Annie whispered in her ear, a grin on her face as she followed Max inside.
The interior of the shop was warm and inviting.
Scattered around the front portion was an array of mismatched seating in various shapes, sizes, and degrees of plushness.
At the back of the store was one long counter filled with display case after display case of different handcrafted loaves, savory treats, and sweet snacks.
A cherry muffin was already calling Max’s name as they approached the counter.
A woman with dark blond hair tied back in a low ponytail looked up as they approached, green eyes catching the warm shop lighting as she smiled.
“Ladies, welcome in. What can I get you this morning? First time?” she asked.
The nametag pinned to the apron covering her gray T-shirt and forest green cardigan told Max the woman’s name was Summer. “First time for us. We’re visiting town for a few days, and the name of this place made me want to stop in.”
Summer smiled sweetly at her. “I’m well known for my abilities to stuff any muffin that crosses my counter.” She winked, causing both Annie and Max to laugh. “Need any recommendations?”
After weighing a few options, the two of them made their selections—a lemon poppyseed muffin stuffed with a blueberry lemon curd and a London Fog with a shot of espresso for Annie, and a cream cheese stuffed cherry muffin and a green tea for Max.
The sound of the espresso machine whistled to life and it only took a few moments for Summer to make their drinks, but that didn’t stop her from including a handwritten list of some places they should check out while in town.
“Have you noticed how nice everyone is here?” Annie asked, sipping from the steaming to-go cup as they slid back into Max’s car. “Like everyone asks how you are and genuinely seems excited to know.”
“Yeah, it’s definitely a change from all the east coast-y-ness,” Max agreed as she typed an address into her GPS. “Ready for our next stop?”
Annie nodded vigorously through her bite of muffin, crumbs and droplets of blueberry lemon curd falling into her napkin.
After a short drive through the rolling hills of vineyards on the outskirts of town, line after line of dormant cherry trees and vineyard vines whirred past them as they approached their destination.
At the bottom of a hill, Max turned into a gravel driveway, a chain blocking their path forward. She hopped out of the car, removing the chain—a small feeling like she was breaking some kind of rule filling her. But she wasn’t, because this was her property.
“You feeling okay?” Annie asked, squeezing her arm excitedly as Max put the car back in drive, moving them forward up the hill and around the bend.
“Better than okay, I’m actually excited.”
“Good. You should be. I know all of this has felt really scary, but it’s also exciting. Let yourself enjoy that part today.”
As the car crested the hill an impeccable view came into sight.
Below them, the gentle grade of hilly land, acre after acre of vines.
Off to the left, and according to the trust documentation, were the cherry orchards—a small but lucrative part of the land.
In the distance, peaking between the hills of neighboring wineries was a sliver of pristine blue lake, dazzling in the end of winter sun.