Page 63 of At The Coffee Shop of Curiosities
“The Butterfly Fest,” she finished as if she knew better than to ask about Magpie’s.
Lily was a freelance photographer, one of the best. She could often be found snapping photos around town, and she worked local events as well, like the Butterfly Fest. Her bread and butter, though, were the sessions booked by tourists requesting photo shoots on the beach.
“Do you have a minute?” she asked, squinting against the late-morning sunlight.
Ordinarily, I wouldn’t think twice about answering a few questions, but right now the nerves in my body felt fit to snap, and if I didn’t go inside the bakery right this minute to see Donovan, I was going to chicken out.
I reached for the door handle and tried not to feel guilty when I said, “I really don’t have time right now, Lily, but there’s a committee meeting tomorrow night. You can bring up any questions then.”
“Okay, sure.” She glanced into the shop. “Are you here to see Donovan? I heard you two were an item now.”
Dear lord.
“The minute he moved back to Driftwood,” she added, “everyone knew it was just a matter of time. See you tomorrow!”
For a second, I thought about abandoning this foolish mission, but then thought about what Estrelle had said about the things that haunted. I grabbed the door handle and pulled.
The scents of vanilla, almond, and chocolate washed over me as I stepped inside. The shop was a dream, done in sophisticated shades of pink. Four bakery cases stood front and center, full of mouthwatering treats. Cakes and tarts and cookies and tortes and turnovers and muffins. The only thing out of place in the beautiful space was Sienna Hopkins, who was working the register. That was a new development.
“Hey, Maggie,” she said, “I’ll be right with you.”
She was in the middle of boxing up Boomy Eldridge’s order, what looked to be a peaches-and-cream cupcake, and I prayed he hadn’t heard her say my name. I just wanted to talk to Donovan, then get back to the coffee shop.
Boomy turned. “Maggie! How’s that young woman staying with you? I heard she passed out and fell face-first onto the sidewalk and broke her nose.”
The man didn’t know how to talk. He shouted. It was how he’d earned his nickname. Fluffy white hair topped his head and puffed out of his dark ears. Watery brown eyes watched me expectantly, waiting for my response.
“Ava didn’t pass out or fall or break anything.” I cursed small-town gossip. “She was just a bit faint and is fine now. Thanks for asking after her. How’s Rascal?”
Rascal was Boomy’s geriatric Jack Russell terrier and the love of his life.
“Not getting around like he used to,” Boomy said. “Much like me. These old bones are creaking to wake the dead. I’m surprised there’s not a ghost or two haunting me at this point.”
I laughed like I was supposed to, but the mention of ghosts caused one of my nerves to break clean in half. Because I realized even if my fatherwasselling the shop, it still didn’t explain the other odd things going on with him.
I told myself not to care. Tolet it be,as he’d advised me when his strange behaviors started. But I couldn’t. Because even if he was becoming someone I didn’t recognize, I still loved him.
I winced at the headache suddenly hammering my temples and slid a pleading look toward Donovan, who was concentrating mighty hard on those dang cinnamon muffins.
“Oh! That reminds me,” Boomy said. “Do you think you can watch Rascal a couple of days next month? My granddaughter is gettin’ married in South Carolina, and as much as I want him to come with me, I don’t think it’s wise to be taking him on a long trip. You know I don’t trust many to take care of him.”
My jaw ached as I gritted my teeth and took out my phone to pull up my calendar. “Sure thing. What days?”
As I typed in the dates, I slid another imploring look at Donovan, catching his eye this time. I held his gaze, silently begging for mercy.
Instantly, he rushed around the counter. “Hey now, I didn’t realize the time, Maggie. So sorry to keep you waitin’ on me.” He glanced at Boomy. “Maggie and I have a special order to iron out so I need to steal her away from you. I hope you understand.”
“Oh, I understand, all right. Aspecialorder.” Boomy gave us an exaggerated wink. “Been a long time comin’.”
I could only shake my head. Donovan and I’d had only one date.One.
Donovan laughed and put his arm around me. “Too long, am I right, Boomy?”
Heaven help me.
“Don’t know about that,” Boomy said loudly, nodding to the cupcake sitting pretty in a clear plastic cocoon. “Take a peach, for example. Picked too soon, and it’s sour. Hardly worth a damn. Only with patience comes the sweet reward.”
“I like that,” Sienna said on a lofty sigh. “The sweet reward. I heard old people were really smart. You must be, like, a genius, Boomy.”
