But now…perhaps having cinnamon rolls at the café wouldn’t be the end of the world.
Thea closed the door behind her and flipped over the sign saying that she would be back shortly.
She had to go shopping.
She tried to go at the same time every week, but she’d been sick and now she’d run out of coffee, which wouldn’t do.
Nathaniel and Guinevere had left a couple of hours ago, which meant there was no one to mind the café for her, so she’d have to hurry.
She picked up her basket and hurried toward the general store.She could perhaps save money if she dealt directly with Montgomery, who supplied the general store, but it was worth the slight upcharge to not have to deal with him.She had never much liked Beatrice’s father, and the more she’d grown to know Beatrice, the less she liked him.
Besides, the shopkeeper’s nephew would help her carry her basket home if it was too heavy, which was very nice of him, and she would rather her money go to nice people.Darian reminded her of a young Nathaniel, which at times felt rather like picking the scab off a wound that had barely begun to heal, and at other times, was simply a reminder of the good times they’d shared.
Today, it felt like it would be a good thing.
Thea hurried through the streets, looking up at the sign to make sure she was at the right building, as if she hadn’t been here hundreds of times before.She could probably make her way through the store blindfolded.
“Good afternoon,” Darian called as she entered.“We were wondering where you were.”
“I was ill,” she explained, “and now I’m out of coffee and couldn’t wait until next week.”
And since she was delayed, she was almost out of a couple of other things.
Fortunately, her coin purse was heavy, and soon, her basket would be also.
She began her shopping, filling her basket quickly and efficiently.She knew where everything was, and the convenience of having it all in one place made up for—and was worth—the extra coins.
“I hope you’re having a pleasant day,” Darian said as she brought her basket to the counter, and he began to jot down the items she purchased, along with the tally of how much she owed.“Business going well?”he asked cheerfully.
“It is,” she said, smiling up at him.
He began to whistle, and Thea smiled at the merry tune.Nat had always favored singing over whistling, but she couldn’t help remembering how much it had annoyed her when he first joined them.
As he finished doing his math and told her the total, she began counting out coins.
“Do you need help carrying it home today?”
“No, she doesn’t,” a familiar voice said behind her.
Thea turned halfway, looking over her shoulder at Nathaniel, who was smiling down at her as if everything was right in his world now that he had found her.Her heart quickened, and she couldn’t help but smile back at him.
“Of course.Thank you, Mr.Alder,” Darian said.
“I would be happy to carry your basket for you,” Nathaniel told Thea, who shook her head at him.
“I don’t suppose you’re going to sing at me while you do it?”she said.
“Would you like me to?”he asked, all too quickly.“I have a tune I have been saving just for you.”
“It’s not necessary,” Thea said, even if part of her wished to hear him sing again.
“If you say so,” Nathaniel said, taking her basket and offering his arm.
Thea stared at it before gingerly taking it.He hadn’t offered his arm to her since Riyel, and she wasn’t sure if she should take it or not.If anyone in town were to see them, they would tell Eugenia, and Eugenia would tell everyone else in town.
But as she placed her hand on his arm and felt the warm solidness of it beneath her fingers, she couldn’t help relaxing, as if everything was right in the world again.And the satisfied grin on Nathaniel’s face as he began to hum a merry tune said that he felt the same way.
He walked her home, carrying the basket into the kitchen and setting it on the counter.
