Page 28 of Welcome to Fae Cafe

Lily glared for a moment—assuring Kate the conversation wasn’t over. But her eyes darted around the café for the first time. “You did all this today?” She did a full turn, taking in the green counter. “I like it. How long until we can open and get your buddy Ben off our backs?” Her face was still hard. “We need to hire some help,” she added.

“We have no money left to hire help.”

“If we want this place to stay alive during its first month, we don’t have a choice. And no carefree high school students—we need hard working people who have time to be here, you know?”

Kate nodded. “I’ll take care of finding some workers. I’ll add it to my to-do list,” she promised. She drummed her fingers along the counter, waiting for Lily to bring up Kate’s flaky day yesterday again.

Lily folded her arms. “Don’t you have another class this morning?” she asked.

“I want to quit university,” Kate said.

“What?”

Kate pointed to the shelf behind the counter. “I’ll publish my novels instead. I’ll fill those shelves with one-of-a-kind books that people can only read while they’re here. It’ll be a great draw in for business.”

“You want to live off your books?” It was a monotone question. “I’ve always been in support of you publishing your stories someday, Kate. But don’t you think you’ve become a little too attached to your pen name? It’s like you’ve forgotten it’s not your real name. And now you want to quit university?”

Kate glanced off as her mind filled with an old woman’s voice,“Don’t be afraid of using a real name.”She shook the thought from her mind.

“I’m not going back to being Katherine Lewis. People are finally treating me normally,” she said.

Lily ran a hand over her neat bun. “I’m working hard to get my hours in so I can take some time off when we open this place. I’m going in to do paperwork this afternoon now that I know you’re fine, so we’ll talk later. But you’re freaking me out.” She reached for the door. Cool air rushed into the café when she held it open. “I’m only working a half-shift today. I’ll come back later after I’m done. Show up this time.”

Kate nodded.

“And you’re still planning to come to the department fundraiser with me next week, right?” Lily added. “I know you’ve got some things going on right now, but please, for the love of all that’s good in this world, don’t make me go there alone with Connor.”

It was all she said before letting the café door fall shut behind her. Kate watched Lily cross the sidewalk to where Connor waited in the patrol car.

After the car rolled away, Kate released a heavy breath and began to pace.

TheYarn & Stitchstore was closed that afternoon. Kate glared at it for the better part of an hour before she finally pulled out her invitation and scribbled on the back with a pen:

To whoever stole my phone:

Please return it to the storefront on Hanes Street with the purple awning.

Kate Kole

She stuffed it into the narrow crack beneath the door.

Downtown was busy and loud, filled with the scents of crisp air and car pollution. Kate passed the university buildings, retracing Professor Palmer’s steps. After only two wrong turns, she found the same skyscraper with the double glass doors. The doorman was different, but he cast her the same scowl as the first one had as she walked up to the keypad with the yellow button.

It buzzed when she pushed it.

A click sounded on the other side like someone answered, but only the sound of breathing came through.

“Hi, um… I’m looking for Freida Nightingale.” Kate scratched her head and looked both ways. She gave the glaring doorman an awkward nod.

A long pause followed from the speaker. Kate questioned whether the person was still there. She was a breath away from saying, “Hello?” when a voice came back.

“There’s no one by that name who works in this building.”

Click.

Unreal.

Kate’s jaw tightened. She walked over and smacked her palm against the side door. “Give me back my phone, Freida!” she shouted. But she reeled back when the doorman took a threatening step in her direction.

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