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“Right then, it’s been an absolute pleasure chatting with you! I’m so looking forward to seeing you in just a few days. Do take care until then!”

I am excited but I also feel like I could shit a brick right now. It’s even more important now that the right pictures are up and everything is perfect. I can’t be the reason she doesn’t land her dream job after all this.

Checking the time on my phone as I weave back to my house, I realize that Hazel should be opening her shop soon. Giving me just enough time to get ready and meet her at Flick the Bean.

Rushing down the sidewalk, trying to look as inconspicuous as possible, I push the door open into the cafe, finding Hazel already busily brewing coffee behind the bar.

“Cal! You’re here awfully early this morning.” She wipes her hands on the towel hanging over her shoulder as she comes around the bar wrapping me in a hug.

“I know it’s early. But, I wanted to catch you before all the customers started pouring in,” I say as she lets me go.

Hazel sweeps her hand towards one of the tables next to us as she moves to sit down at it. “What can I do for you?”

“I wanted to check in with you about possibly making drinks for a secret grand opening of Selene’s gallery on the 31st. Is that something you can help me with?

“Of course!” she squeals and claps her hands together.

I swear I’m going to lose my hearing at this rate between all these squealing women.

“I have a delicious mocktail that would be absolutely perfect for the event! I can make a signature artisanal juice named ‘Moonlight & Memory’. What do you think?” Hazel eyes sparkle with excitement.

I shrug my shoulders because I don’t know a thing about artisanal juices or what would be best. “I trust your judgement.If you think it would be a good fit, then I will have to agree. Thank you for doing this.”

“Wait right here.” Hazel pushes back from the table.

She disappears through the swinging door with the same whirlwind energy she entered with, the sounds of the soft clink of glasses and the whirl of a juicer come from the back. While I wait, I scan the cafe taking in what Hazel has done with the place. The warm colors, soft lighting, and the open shelving along the walls. The art she chose features mountains and beautiful flowers in bloom. The massive chalkboard centered behind the bar features looping script and hand drawn petals, oranges, and wild lavender.

When she reappears, she’s holding a tall glass that looks like it was poured straight from the midnight sky—deep purple with silver shimmer swirling through the liquid like she captured the stars.

She sets the glass down in front of me as she slides it closer to me. “Moonlight and Memories.”

I blink at it, unsure what exactly she is serving me. I spin the glass around, watching the liquid create an entrancing view. “Is it meant to look like a spell in a cup?”

Hazel grins. “Exactly! I combined butterfly pea flower, blackberries, and lemon. Shaken gently with edible glitter and poured over crushed ice. I think it’s a perfect fit for the night. It fits the magic, nostalgia, and a hell of a lot of feelings.”

I take a sip. It tastes like memories, almost like everyone would experience something different.

I tilt the glass, letting the taste linger on my tongue. “She’ll love this. It’s perfect.”

She claps excitedly. “Then it’s yours.”

Chapter 29

Caelon

Wednesday, July 30th – A Place Made For Her

Tomorrow is the day and I feel like I might explode from the amount of energy and nerves running through me. Each night this week Selene has shown me the project that Lou has her working on and I’m amazed at how much she’s grown in the recent weeks. Don’t get me wrong, her work has always been beautiful, but you can really tell that the skills Lou has taught her are already working.

With the walls painted, the lighting installed, the tables put in, everything is finally coming together. I can only hope that I did it right, that she will love it. What if she didn’t want to run a gallery? Was that even a dream of hers?

There’s only one way to find out.

Gail comes rushing in like a storm on a bright summer day. Her arms are full of plastic bags as she pulls a wagon behind her full of boxes. She pushes the door wide open as the wagon comes through before she lets it swing closed.

“Oh good, you’re here. What are you doing standing around? We have way too much to do today,” Gail says as she comes over, handing me some of the bags.

“Well good morning to you too Gail.” I chuckle as I set the bags down on one of the tables to start pulling stuff out.