Stop getting distracted, Mia.This was ridiculous. She wasn’t the awkward, bespectacled teenager anymore. She was an adult. She’d gone to college. She’d had a boyfriend. Granted Thomas wasn’t like Ross but she was pretty sure no one was. Ross was someone special—Ugh. Stop!He was special alright. Special in his ability to peel away the layers and reveal the silly girl underneath.
Placerville was a pit stop. It would be beneficial for her to remember.
Anyway, Ross didn’t like her. At times he appeared to barely tolerate her. He saw who Mia was, who she had always been, and he wasn’t impressed. Forbidden fruit. This was what the attraction was. She was not meant to have Ross because she was moving on. Distraction with a capital D wasn’t enough. The whole word needed to be capitalized with several exclamation points thrown in.
This was the only way to explain her desire to leap in front of El Dorado’s windows, shouting, “Pay attention to me! See me! Like me!” It was part people-pleaser, part thirsty nerd, and full-on pathetic. Mia devolved to where she was ten years ago but, this time, with twenty percent more lonely loser included.
“You doing anything fun this weekend?” Natalie asked while removing the wrapper from a hard candy mint she pulled from her pocket. “Anything that isn’t schoolwork or photography work being done inside your place of coffee work?”
“Photography is fun. And I like being here at this time. It’s quiet. I like to imagine this was my mom’s regular table.” The table was in the quietest corner, framed by sizable potted fiddle leaf trees and cute local artwork featuring girls reading classic literature. Mia could see her mom sitting here and inspecting her latest fabric purchases.
“I take it then you’renotdoing anything fun.”
“And what’s the president of the fun patrol doing this weekend?” Mia tossed a wadded napkin at her manager.
Natalie snatched it out of the air with impressive skill. “I’m doing a 5k with one of my sisters and then there’s a family barbeque. Oh, you know what, in a couple of weeks we’ll be doing Día de los Muertos. I mean, it’s only a small thing, but you should come.”
“Really? I’ve never been to one before.” Mia perked up with excitement from not only being invited but she loved new experiences. A Day of the Dead celebration would be something different for her.
“So you’ve never done Día de los Muertosandyou don’t speak Spanish? Yeah, don’t think I didn’t notice how you passed that customer off on me who was just asking for some extra straws. Are you sure Laura’s Mexican blood runs through those veins?”
Mia’s ears grew hot and her smile melted away.
Natalie grew serious. “Oh, M, I’m just teasing. If it makes you feel any better, I never paid much attention to the tradition either. I’m not really a sentimental person. But a few years ago, my sisters and I went to the one on Olvera Street in LA and it really was amazing. They wanted to do it on a small scale here, so I help them out. It was at the community center, but, this year, we’re doing it at St. Anthony’s. We’ll put together a community ofrenda, have some good food, and do face painting with the kids.”
“I just feel awkward and maybe I don’t belong. My dad has always had such a strong personality, like the Italian side just erased the Mexican side. I feel like I’m missing something.”
Natalie straightened. “Of course, you belong. You can bring one of your mom’s quilts, and put her picture on the table.”
Mia’s eyes burned and she covered them with a hand, attempting to keep the tears at bay. All she could do was nod her head in reply.
Natalie rubbed her arm. “It’ll be okay. My sisters and I will be there to help you. It’s really a celebration, so maybe there will be tears, but we’ll have fun, too. Plus, you can tell your mom you’re working at her favorite coffee shop and we’re friends. Think about how excited that will make her.”
Mia released a blubbery laugh.
“I’m going to also talk to your mom and tell her all about your new boyfriend.”
“You’re such a brat.” But Mia laughed and wiped the tears away.
“Anyway, back to the real dilemma about your lack of fun this weekend.” Natalie’s eyes drifted to the shop door which was covered in flyers. “Oh, I know just the thing. You should go to the silent auction.”
“What? Why?”
“They hold it every year at the Masonic lodge down the street. It’s to raise money for disaffected teens or something. We always throw in a nice gift basket with bags of roasted beans and a gift card.”
Mia shook her head. “I suggest the fun patrol go back to the drawing board.”
Natalie tossed the same wadded napkin back at her. Mia made an attempt to grab it but missed, and it bounced off the middle of her forehead instead.
The Pony Expresso manager laughed. “Serves you right. I’m just saying maybe you should look into it a little more. Not only because it’s a good cause, but I’m also pretty sure the jewelry store participates. I might have seen him there once or twice. I’d go with you but, you know, family barbeque and all that.”
“Hmm,” Mia replied while taking a casual sip of her disgusting coffee.
“Think about it.” A customer walked in, and Natalie stood, moving to the counter. “Oh, and M?”
“Yeah?”
“Your mom’s regular spot was over there.” Natalie pointed to the table on the opposite end.
