Page 3 of Everything Has Changed
Her long gray hair—which she always refused to dye from the moment she found the first few grays in her blond hair—is tied up in a claw clip. The style she definitely did in haste earlier while baking looked chic in a way all girls envied.
“Ophelia, light of my life. How are you this fine morning?”
Walter’s attempt at flirting is basically his personality at this point in his life. But there’s something extra special when it comes to flirting with my grandmother. If hearts could shoot out of his eyes, they would be flowing straight toward her. Ophelia always rolls her eyes and brushes him off, but the spot of pink on the apples of her cheeks tells me she’s not completely against the attention from the man.
“Pretty good until you showed up,” she mutters.
His eyebrows shoot up. “So what you’re saying isnowit’s incredible, amazing, the best day ever?”
Like clockwork, her eyes roll once more. “Don’t flatter yourself, Walt.” She nudges me, sending a nod of her head to the register. “I gotta run to the bank and do a couple errands. You got this for a bit?”
“Of course. Why don’t you just take the rest of the day.” I glance at the watch on my wrist—a classic gold piece I never go a day without. Just like every time I look at it, I linger on the crack running across the face for a beat. “Piper should be here soon, anyway.”
Ophelia purses her lips. “If you’re sure…”
“I’m positive. Go. You deserve a night off.”
It was true. As co-owners of The Willow Whisk, any time we have in the day is usually spent here.
It was always my dream to open a cozy cafe where people could gather or find a quiet spot alone whenever they needed it. Something I needed when I was growing up, but could never find. I felt as if I never quite fit in anywhere I went. When I took a business class at the local community college after graduation, I created a mock version of the store for a project and realized my daydreams had real potential.
I asked Ophelia if she thought it was something worth pursuing toward the end of that semester. I didn’t even finish my well-planned power point presentation before she agreed. I’ll never forget the way her eyes glistened as she told me how happy she was to see my face light up with so much passion. One of the easiest propositions she’s agreed to, right after saying “yes” to marrying my late grandfather.
Ophelia squeezes me in a tight hug, whispering against my hair that she loves me more than anything, before untying her apron and hanging it by the counter.
I grin as Walter hops off his stool, in a move that was awfully spry for his age, following her to the back office with questions on if she would join him for dinner tonight. I could hear her protesting, but something told me she would humor him and end up saying yes.
Soaking in the brief pause in customers, aside from the couple sharing a scone and sipping lattes in the corner, I take a lap to wipe down tables and push in chairs. I find a few books left on coffee tables in front of the oversize leather sofas that lined the wall. Stacking them in my arms, I get lost in the music softly playing over the speakers as I return them to the small side room off the dining area. The smell of books and coffee fill my lungs as I take a deep inhale while placing the books we have available for in house reading on the large wooden bookshelves and quickly straightening the ones for sale. I smile down at the copy ofThe August Chronicles, my finger tracing the name Kennedy Prescott on the bottom. We don’t sell a ton of books—anexpansion project always in the back of my mind—but this author we always have on hand for purchase.
We all got the book lover gene thanks to our grandmother. She passed it down to our father and then him to us. My older sister, though, took it one step further and wrote the current best-selling Romantasy series. Not to mention the entire catalogue she has of contemporary romance. Those put her on the map a few years ago and she hasn’t stopped pursuing her dreams ever since. I was forever proud of my sister, even if she was off living the big city life without me.
Not that I would ever want to leave Willow Grove. This was home to me and I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. The camaraderie in a small town spoke to me on a special level.
Ding, ding.The bell over the front door chimes to remove me from my thoughts. I quickly lay Kennedy’s book back on the dedicated shelf, hustling back to the counter. Only slowing down when I realize it’s just Piper.
“Awfully quiet around here,” she mutters as she ties her apron around her waist. The multitude of pins and small keychains she displays on the front pocket clink together.
“Pipes! Why would you say that?” My eyes bug out of my head as I shoot mental daggers at her.
She giggles, pointing at my face. “So you’ll react like that.”
Grabbing the rag we use to wipe off the counter, I chuck it in her face. Catching it easily, she tosses it on the counter and out of my reach so I won’t try a second time.
“Where’s Ophelia?” She ducks around the door leading to the office.
“Running errands. And probably caving to dinner with Walter.”
Piper sighs wistfully. “We love adown bad man.”
I nod enthusiastically, turning my attention to the espresso machine to give it a good clean so it’ll be ready for the inevitable rush, now that she dared to utter the “Q” word in here. Not that I am complaining. I loved the afternoon rush. School kids came to work on homework, couples stopped by for a quick coffee date, exhausted mothers took a breather while their children were in their many extracurriculars.
And every one of them with their own story to tell as I craft their favorite drink. The happy moment we share as I hand over their lifeline for the rest of the day never ceases to give me my own boost of happiness.
“Oh, speaking of men,” Piper starts as she adds new cups to the inventory we keep beside the machines. “Do I have some news for you.”
I drop my head on a groan. “If you are about to tell me you set up another blind double date, I will probably strangle you.”
“How was I supposed to know the guy that Josh had in mind for you was his twin brother?”
