‘What would happen if someone else arrived before me?’
‘Well, we don’t need to think about that, do we?’
Greta’s head flooded with questions she couldn’t keep inside. Her time here felt too precious to devote to pleasantries, such as the weather and traffic, so she dived straight in. ‘I’ve been exchanging messages with someone called Edgar Barker. It sounds like he’s been here, too. Do you remember him?’
Iris showed no sign of recognition as she carried on grinding her ingredients. ‘Many patrons have visited over the years,’ she said. ‘I’m only the current guardian of this coffee shop, and I won’t be the last. It’s been around much longer than you, much longer than I . . .’ She pressed her lips together, as if choosing not to reveal more.
She made the shop sound almost ancient, and Greta frowned. ‘I brought my husband to visit, but the building looked abandoned. Why did it appear differently to him?’ She reached up to touch her pearl necklace. ‘Andthis?How did I get it? Someone gave it to me in Mapleville, yet it followed me here. How is that possible?’
A knowing glint appeared in Iris’s eyes. ‘You don’t need to know the answers to everything in life. Sometimes thenotknowing makes things more interesting. Were you the kind of child who enjoyed watching magic tricks, or did you always want to know how they worked?’
Greta blushed, her rosy cheeks giving away the answer. ‘I’d just like to understand things, that’s all,’ she said. ‘Like, how did you find this place? How did you end up working here? What’s your background?’
Iris smiled to herself. ‘Not many people ask me things like that. They’re usually more concerned with themselves. But then, maybe it’s better that way, don’t you think?’ Without elaborating further, she bent down under the counter and produced a small jar with the white rabbit label. Greta’s name was written on it. ‘I assume you’re looking for this?’
Greta reached out for it, her excitement laced with caution. She noticed Iris had evaded most of her questions, but she let it go. ‘What if I want to spend longer in Mapleville this time?’ she asked. ‘Can I make the coffee stronger?’
Iris’s eyes narrowed. ‘I’ve already told you. Rules are rules for a reason. There are no shortcuts and no guarantees. The coffee will be in tune with your desires. Do you need me to run through the rules again?’
‘No, thank you.’ Greta hadn’t meant to offend her. She was just curious. ‘I know the rules by heart. I just wondered what might happen if someone didn’t follow them fully?’
Iris pressed her lips into a fine line. ‘I would say that is most inadvisable. There are some things, once done, that cannot be undone. Both from my perspective and from the effects of the coffee.’
Greta shivered. Iris’s words sounded like a warning. Ignoring a glimmer of worry in her stomach, she carried her jar to the booth, eager to carry out the ritual. ‘Am I okay to start?’ Iris studied her for a moment, as if appraising her. Then she nodded. She set a small glass coffee-pot, cup, saucer, spoon, and a small jug of hot water on a tray and carried them over.
This time, Greta didn’t feel as apprehensive. Taking off her coat, she made herself comfortable in the booth. She carefully spooned coffee from the jar into the pot, poured in hot water, then watched the grounds swirl. While the coffee brewed, she inhaled its rich, earthy aroma with a quiet sense of well-being washing over her.
Finally, she pushed the plunger down and poured the coffee into her cup.
‘Have you considered your second wish?’ Iris asked. ‘I overheard the first one. You said you wanted your life to be like a coffee commercial . . .’
Greta blushed. ‘I suppose that sounded silly?’
‘I’ve heard stranger requests, more extravagant ones, too.’ Iris chuckled. ‘Sometimes, what we want most is a way of avoiding things we don’t want to face.’
Greta stared into her cup, the surface of the liquid rippling slightly. The weight of her next wish felt heavier now. She didn’t want to tamper with her original one too much because everything had felt so right the first time around.
She thought back to precious moments on set with Jim and Lottie, when everything had felt simple, in sync. She missed the ease of being together, how natural and warm things used to be between them. Could Mapleville be a place she could rediscover that connection with her family again?
‘If I drink this, I will go back to Mapleville, won’t I?’ she double-checked. ‘Just like before?’
Iris stepped closer. ‘Yes. The coffee amplifies what’s already inside you, what you’re seeking. It works though your subconscious, aligning it with your inner truth. But remember, Greta,’ she added firmly, ‘it can only offer a mirror, not a solution. Perfection isn’t always the answer we think it is . . .’
Greta swallowed. It wasn’t something she particularly wanted to hear. She wasn’t looking for a lesson, just an escape. A chance to leave her everyday life behind and immerse herself in a place that felt more welcoming.
Despite Iris’s warnings, she still wanted to drink the coffee.
A chorus of cheerful greetings from friendly Mapleville folk echoed in her mind. She imagined herself wearing a tailored dress and heels, and a smile formed on her lips when she pictured Jim in a Panama hat. The charming version of him in the Maple Gold commercials felt far more appealing than the one who was starting to feel like a stranger.
Greta picked up her cup, taking her first sip. She stared into the brown liquid, this time actually believing her wish would work.
‘My second wish,’ she said, her voice clear and steady. ‘Iwishmy family could be perfect again, just like we were in the Maple Gold commercials. I want us to be friendly and supportive, a real family unit, and the best versions of ourselves.’ She took another sip.
As before, nothing seemed to happen at first.
Then the edges of Greta’s vision blurred. The room felt like it was revolving, and sounds around her began to muffle.
She didn’t have to repeat her wish this time around.
