“Who is?”
“The mysterious chess player.”
The elderly gnome was indeed unfolding a wooden board onto the table out front. After carefully setting out the pieces, clearly reproducing a game in progress, he strolled into the shop.
He peered over the counter top, and in a voice like rumpled velvet said, “One latte, please, m’dears. And one of those delightful confections.” He pointed at the glass jar of Thimblets.
“You bet,” said Viv.
As Tandri was brewing his drink, her tail did a few quick back-and-forth slashes, which Viv was coming to recognize as one of her anxious gestures. Eventually, the woman couldn’t stand it anymore, and asked with exaggerated casualness, “So… waiting for someone?” She indicated the chessboard through the window.
The little old man looked surprised. “Not at all,” he replied and took his drink and pastry, bobbed a nod, and returned to his table. Within moments, Amity had appeared as if by magic and curled up under his table again.
Tandri scrunched her mouth into a frown. “Damn it,” she said, under her breath.
Viv chuckled to herself, and with no customers waiting, brewed another coffee and strolled into the other room to watch Pendry play. He’d taken one of the outdoor chairs and moved it inside to sit on, which seemed a bold move for him. Viv approved.
Eyes closed, he lost himself in his playing, fingers flying, crooning another song that Viv didn’t think she’d ever heard before.
When the tune concluded and he took a brief break, she walked over and handed him the drink. “You’re good.” She glanced around. “No hat or box for coins?”
He looked surprised. “I, uh, hadn’t thought of it.”
“You should.”
“I… okay,” he stammered.
“So, that music you were playing the first day. It was… unusual.”
He winced and looked like he was going to apologize.
“Not bad,” she said quickly. “Just, different. Maybe you should give it another try, now that you’ve warmed them up a little.” She gestured with her head at the diners behind her.
“It’s something I was… experimenting with. But maybe it’s a bit much.” He still looked a little green around the gills.
“You weren’t always a musician, huh?” She pointed at his blunt and weathered fingers, so much different from the callused fingertips of a lifetime lute player.
“Uh, no. No. The, uh, family business was—is—a little different.”
“Well, keep at it. And maybe bring that other lute back when you feel like it.” She nodded and left him goggling after her.
* * *
“Hello again,Cal. Good to see you,” said Tandri.
Viv turned to find the hob on the other side of the counter, where he eyed the interior critically, as though fearing it might collapse at any moment.
“Place seems to be holdin’ up all right,” he declared.
She almost expected him to test a wall by kicking it. “Your usual?”
“Hm.” He nodded.
Tandri smiled with genuine warmth as she started the grinder. It grumbled for a moment, there was a sputter and a long whir, and she cut the switch. “Oh hells, the bean hopper is empty.”
“I’ll get a bag,” offered Viv.
“No, I’ll take care of it.” Tandri briefly touched Viv’s arm and headed for the pantry.
