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“Yeah, Danielle tried to sell it, but she didn’t have much luck. She moved down to Sydney to be closer to her kids. But there’s a new café. It’s a bit hipster, lots of plants and clay cups and stuff. Bird and Book is the name. Georgia and Sean, a couple from Melbourne moved up and started it just after Danielle left. They have a baby on the way and a kid named Ben.”

“Where is it exactly?” Hazel asked.

“I was actually heading there now. Do you want to come with me?”

She nodded in reply, ignoring the warnings her sensible side was shouting in her mind. Small little butterflies began to flutter around in Hazel’s stomach.

They set off down the street. As they passed the post office and the gift shop, Hazel relaxed a little as they made small talk. Sam motioned for them to cross, grabbing her hand nonchalantly. His grip was firm, like he never wanted to let go.

When they reached the footpath on the opposite side of the road, Sam didn’t drop her hand, instead he gently pulled her along as he made a sharp turn down the narrow alley between the fruit shop and the ice cream parlour. Hazel noticed a small curved sign hanging above the alley way. It was easy to miss if you weren’t looking for it. Glossy green vine leaves were woven around the sign. Etched in big letters in the centre were the words Bird & Book. Underneath the name was a tiny drawing of a bird perched on a stack of three books.

Hazel followed Sam down the tunnel. The walls of the alley were exposed red brick and seemed to twist and turn. Hazel wondered how large deliveries would fit down this narrow passage. She followed the last curve and was surprised to find a huge outdoor courtyard with a small covered patio.

Again, Sam didn’t drop her hand. Steady and strong, he held her seemingly tiny hand in his giant one. It was rough, calloused from hard labour. But it felt safe. Hazel was pondering all of this when he stopped walking and she finally looked up.

Tables and chairs littered the empty courtyard, afternoon sun covering everything in a golden haze. Aged terracotta pots held lavender and hydrangeas. The patio roof consisted of wooden beams, thick green vines threading through them. From the beams, Hazel could see a mismatch of wind chimes, lanterns and sparkling crystals hanging between the greenery.

“It’s pretty cool huh?” Sam asked.

“It’s like a dream…” Hazel trailed off.

Sam gently let go of her hand, so she could move freely to explore the space.

“I helped with the patio, and some of the landscaping,” he admitted.

She turned back to face him and gave him a genuine smile, before saying softly, “So that’s why it’s so lovely.”

Sam’s lips curled upwards at the compliment.

Hazel continued through the open timber doors that separated the patio from the inside of the café. The café itself was deep, with seating throughout and the kitchen and counter located at the back. There was another set of timber doors to the side, which opened onto a small gravel carpark and the road beyond. Rows of books lined the oak shelves on the opposite wall, broken only by a bay window in the centre. The window gave a perfect view of a little feature garden that centred around a cream coloured bird bath. At the back of the small garden was a brick wall with weathered timber shelves scattered along it. Tiny succulents and plants sat on the shelves, most with tendrils cascading below. As she walked closer, Hazel could see a little fairy wren with a bright blue breast flitting around the bird bath.

“That’s the bird garden,” Sam noted as he pointed to the wall outside. “Up on the top of the wall, there are little saucers of seeds to attract the birds. There’s also little hidey holes on the other side of the wall for the birds to shelter in.”

“How sweet!” Hazel smiled as she watched the bird preening itself in the shallow water of the bird bath.

“Come and meet Georgia.” Sam guided Hazel towards the counter. There was a small display of food left; half a fudgy looking chocolate cake, two blueberry muffins, a small citrus tart and one ham and cheese toastie on Turkish bread.

“Hey Georgia,” Sam said as he rested against the front counter. “This is Hazel. She’s Molly McCleod’s daughter.”

Georgia was tall with chin length hair the colour of cocoa and a matching set of wide caramel coloured eyes. “Hi Hazel! Lovely to meet you.”

“You too,” Hazel smiled. “Your café is absolutely beautiful! I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“Thank you! We appreciate that. It’s always been a dream to run our own café, and I always wanted somewhere where people would marvel.” Georgia grinned.

“You’ve certainly achieved that! It feels like I’m in some sort of fairy land,” Hazel mused as she gazed around the room.

“Would you two like to sit outside? Technically we closed five minutes ago, but we have plenty of things to do before we leave. I don’t mind pressing that ham and cheese toastie you’ve been eyeing off Sam, and I can grab something for you Hazel?”

“That would be great thanks, Georgia. I love your ham and cheese toasties,” he said as he grinned sheepishly.

“What can I get for you, Hazel?”

“Hmm, I can’t go past a piece of that chocolate cake, thanks. It looks delicious.”

Sam handed over some money, declining Hazel’s offer to pay, as Georgia opened the till.

“I’ll bring it all out in a sec,” Georgia said with a smile.