She hurried back inside as the neighbor’s rooster crowed.The blacksmith would be stopping by shortly, and she ought to be there when he did, and then she had to start the pot of soup for tonight’s dinner.
While she had fewer visitors for dinner now than she had in the early years, there were still people who preferred her establishment to the tavern.And she liked to have something delicious prepared for them—and for herself.
Chicken soup sounded good.
Thea smiled in satisfaction as she gazed at the collection of people gracing her table.This was everything she wanted—her, a table full of delicious food, and all the people she loved.Well, maybe not all of them, but most of them.
Eugenia and Gertrude sat next to her, talking to each other about whatever gossip Eugenia was sharing at the moment.Conrad sat further down, talking to the blacksmith and his daughter.She knew they went to the tavern for dinner at times, but tonight they were here, and that made her happy.
Guinevere had also stopped by for dinner, which was unusual, but always welcome.
There were a few others at different tables, but Thea’s table was full of the people that made her happy.
And then the door opened and Nat walked in, a bouquet of flowers in his hand.Thea’s heart skipped a beat as he made his way toward her with a smile on his face.
It wasn’t fair of him to bring her flowers knowing that she’d read his letters.
“Hello,” he said as he set the flowers down on a neighboring table.“I brought some flowers for the café and thought I might stay for dinner tonight.Is there an extra seat here?”
Thea looked down at her table, which did not have an extra seat.Of course it didn’t, now that she would be willing to have him sit at it.
Eugenia got to her feet.“We can get one,” she said with determination, reaching over to the table next to hers and pulling a chair forward, inserting it between her seat and Thea’s.
Thea bit back a chuckle.It wouldn’t do to encourage her, but it didn’t surprise her in the slightest that Eugenia chose to intervene.
If she and Nat ever decided to be together, Eugenia would be the first to start cheering, she had no doubt.
Drawn by the lure of all her favorite people in one spot, Ginger stretched by the fire and joined them, settling under the table at Nat’s feet.
Thea sat down, glancing over at Nathaniel, who was staring at her with a slight smile and warmth in his eyes.
It was dinner time.Then they would talk.
They didn’t get to talk.
Eugenia asked Nat to walk her home to the library, and Thea waited as late as she dared before she was forced to go to bed or be unable to function the following day.
Even so, she couldn’t help reading another letter, and she cried herself to sleep.They’d both been so hurt…could they really come back from that?
The next morning, she descended the stairs, wondering if he’d be by.
But before she started the day, she had to prep.Muffins, more berry tarts, bagels, and sticky buns for the morning, followed by bread, hand pies, and oatcakes for later.
She’d start with the muffins so she could eat one before she opened.
There was a quiet knock on the door before a key turned in the latch, and her heart beat faster than it ever had before.
He was the only other person with a key.
She waited while he opened the door, the dark circles under his eyes highlighted by candlelight.
Apparently he’d also had a restless night.
“Can we talk?”he asked.
The tray of muffins threatened to slip from her hands, and she quickly put it down.Better to not drop it.
Thea’s eyes followed the muffins rather than meeting Nathaniel’s gaze.She didn’t know what to say to him.It was safer not to look at him.How could she, when she had read all his letters and knew he had been hurting just as much as she had?
