* * *
Viv and Tandrisettled back into a comfortable equilibrium. There were no further picnics or walks home. Viv harbored a wistful ache that she didn’t examine too closely, and an almost cowardly relief that Tandri didn’t mention their evening at the park.
They stayed busy, and the days brimmed with good smells and unexpected music and companionable work. Her hopes for the shop had been exceeded in every regard.
That was enough… wasn’t it?
* * *
Tandri startledViv by dropping some of her art materials on the table, including a bottle of ink, a slim brush, and one of the mugs.
“I have an idea,” she said.
Viv looked up from wiping down the machine. “I’m listening.”
“So, I think about this a lot. My first drink—I have it while I work. I take a sip when I want, and I make my cup stretch through the morning. I love that.”
Viv nodded. “Yeah, sure. I do the same.”
“Your customers…. They don’t have that.”
“Ourcustomers,” said Viv, but nodded again. “Okay. I’m with you.”
“Well, what if they could take it with them?”
“I’ve wished for that before, but….” She shrugged. “Never figured out a way to do it. So if youhave….”
“We sell them a mug. And….” She turned the cup. In Tandri’s flowing script, she’d written,VIV. “We add their name. They can leave it here behind the counter if they like, but they own the mug. They can be on their way with a drink in hand, whenever they want. All they have to do is bring it back.”
“I think that’s perfect.” Viv rubbed her neck. “Honestly, I feel like a bit of a fool for not thinking of it myself.”
“You probably would have, eventually.” There was that warm pulse again, increasingly recognizable.
Viv was suddenly awash in an old feeling of fraught potential. A critical instant that hinged on the movement of a blade, the placement of a foot, a moment of trust extended or withheld. Failure to act was as much a decision as any other.
“You know, Tandri, this place is… really becoming as much yours as mine. You’remakingit yours.”
Tandri looked dismayed, “I’m sorry, I–”
Viv winced and scrambled to explain. “That’s not what I mean! I mean, it wouldn’t be what it iswithoutyou. I’mgladit’s becoming yours. And I want to make sure you know that… that….” She fumbled her words and fell silent.
Into that confused pause, Tandri murmured, “You don’t have to worry. I’m not going anywhere.”
Viv suddenly found herself lost and alone on a dark road, abandoned by whatever guiding light had led her this far. “I… that’s… good. But what I wanted to say was….”
Really, what did she want to say?
Had she grown so complacent that she’d trust the outcome of this conversation to some mythicalstone? Wasn’t Tandri more important than that? Didn’t she demand Viv’s truest words, offered unambiguously?
The darkness bristled with dangers, some perhaps even worth risking.
Tandri straightened and forced a quick smile. “So. I’ll just add this to the board then, all right?”
“That’s… yeah. We should definitely do that,” Viv lamely replied.
Tandri backed away for them both, and Viv couldn’t decide if she was relieved or disappointed.
22
