thinking of you!! -xoxo
With a smile, I double-tap on Jessica’s wintery wonderland holiday picture, select a blue heart emoji as a reaction, and pocket the phone again. My fingers are getting numb from the cold, and I bring Mogbert onto my lap, burying my hands in its fur.
“I guess she was right, Mog,” I say softly. “I kept the café opened for nothing. I guess nobody’s looking for a latte when they could enjoy New Year’s.”
Mogbert purrs softly. Plushpeck chirps and leans its fluffy head on my elbow. Starbii has been asleep against my thigh for a while, now. Above us, the heavenly vault spreads in all its glittering splendor. The silver winter stars shine brightly in the Gold Leaf night. On a clear day, one can see all the way to the Emerald Bay, over the vast expense of the sea. On a clear night such as this one, one can even see the city lights trying to outshine the stars.
It’s easier, since we’re sitting in the dark. All the café lights are off. The chairs are on the tables, the bar is empty, the floor is spotless. There’s a lump in my throat, a sort of lonely stillness that no critter cuddle can seem to shake off. My thoughts are so loud, they drown the song of the night, the little critter noises, the ruffles in the leaves, the footsteps--
Footsteps?
I look up from my pile of half-asleep critters onto the path that leads up to the café. Why, yes, there is someone walking up towards us. It’s a long way to Honeycrisp Grove, and it’s already late at night. Who could possibly… ?
“Excuse me!” a young voice calls out.
“Yes,” I call back, “good evening!”
I gently push the critters aside and get on my feet. How fortunate that I wasn’t done with tidying up the terrace. I switch on one of the outdoor lights, and the newcomer all but crumbles into my arms.
“Oh, I’m so glad-- I got lost-- I was so scared-- I remembered there was a café here, you know, but I wasn’t seeing any lights, and…”
Mogbert is purring with full strength, the sure sign of an upset human. Not that I need its guidance today: our new friend has a hiking backpack, a broken hiking shoe in one hand, and eyes full of tears.
“It’s okay,” I say, giving them a pat on the back. “Let’s get you inside. Why don’t we warm you up, and then you can tell me everything about it?”
* * *
“… And that’s how I found myself here.”
“What an unlucky way to end the year,” I say, pushing towards their side of the table another slice of my signature Catcus iced cake.
“Thank you…. Ah, this cake is really good.”
“Thank you, it’s our specialty.”
“Coffee, too. Really nice of you to open back for me like this.”
“Of course.” I wave away any concern. “I’m just glad you’re in the mood for latte and cream cheese.”
The customer smiles and leans back in their chair. They still look a little red on the cheeks, but sugar and fat are doing wonders to bring them back to life. I’ve set them up in the nice plush sofa by the window, the one shaped like a critter paw, with its back to the front door.
The rest of the Café is still plunged in the dark of night, with the coffee cups drying on the rack and the critter toys put aside. The critters themselves have now spread out and gone to rest. The air whispers of their soft snoring and my late-night customer’s slowly chipping away at their cake.
I get to my feet, slide behind the bar, and reach out to my trusty instant cappuccino box at the back of the cupboard. It’s the terrible, commercial stuff. Add warm milk, and you’re set. I’ll never serve that to a customer, but it’s all I used to drink back when I lived in the city. There’s something familiar, and thus comforting, in its sickly-sweet sweetness. The convenience, too. I hid a yawn behind my hand, and gently stir the mixture with a spoon.
I bring the cup to my lips, and soon my taste buds are overcome with warm, sugary, artificial flavouring goodness. Even at my lowest, I must admit that anything Jessica taught me about brewmanship is better than this, and yet--
There’s a thud outside, muffled by the window. My customer hisses, stands up and points at the window.
“The fireworks!” they say.
“Oh yes! That’s what we were outside for,” I say, quickly coming over. “Let’s go, we’ll see them better from the terrace.”
Outside is just as cold as I’d left it, although now I have the warmth of the mug in my hands, and the wonder of pyrotechnics in my eyes. Emerald Bay is entering the new year in a flurry of red, green, blue, gold… silver, pink… red again… now gold…
Mogbert headbutts my ankle, purring, and I scoop it up along with Starbii and Glowli, who was ready to climb up my leg. With each new star exploding across the dark mirror of the sea, my shoulders get a little looser, and my heart a little lighter.
Next year… next year is this year, already, so new and fragile. So tender in the crisp winter night. Yet here all the same, full of possibilities, ready to be what I want it to be. The sky lights up one last time and cleanses my doubts away.
I was right to come here. I was right to keep the café open for New Year’s.
I’m going to be okay.
