Page 6 of The Autumn Leaf Bookshop (Everly Hollow #1)
She taps her fingers gently against her mug, speaking in rhythm to the low music playing in the background. “Kerathea is the Goddess of Spring. Sateathea, her sister, is the Goddess of Rain. There are seven sisters, four that represent the seasons, and three that represent certain elements."
I give a wide-eyed gape. That’s new. I guess that’s where the seven-pointed star on the stone stands for.
“It’s old magic,” Jas says, as if she can read my expression, which probably screams utter and complete confusion .
“Every festival here is for one of the sisters, but spring…” She pauses, her smile fading into something much softer.
“Spring is when everything begins anew.” She tucks loose curl behind her ear, continuing.
“So, the festival was beautiful and magical, but little did I know that stumbling across a honey stand would change my life. Aaryn was a beekeeper; it was his family business. He was tall, gorgeous, with dirty blonde hair, and the most beautiful green eyes. I loved his ears. ”
She smiles. “They came to a point. He even had one of them pierced, and I was young and thought that was so damn sexy,” she laughs, and it’s so damn infectious it makes me join in.
“I’m sorry if I’m oversharing,” she says, wincing a little.
“Are you kidding? I love this meet-cute story. Please continue.” I lift my enchanted latte, still steaming, and take a slow sip, savoring both the drink and the story.
“Well, we talked and he asked me on a date. We spent the entire next day together, talking about nothing and everything, and he showed me his favorite spots around town. That evening, he kissed me in the rain.”
She sighs. “We dated long-distance after that. I finished my degree in business, and when I graduated, I moved here. I knew I wanted to open a café, and he wanted to infuse his honey into everything. So we built this place together.”
She gestures at the other booths, the honeycomb wall, and the decor. “We married the following spring. Our daughter Seren was born the following June. We were so happy.”
“She was one when Aaryn started getting sick. When he was diagnosed…we didn’t have that much time. He tried to stay as long as he could. He fought like hell, but cancer took him from us.”
A heavy silence surrounds us. I reach across and squeeze her hand again.
The café door pushes open, and a warm, scented breeze of flowers and soil flows through the door.
“Mama!” A little voice calls out .
I turn to see a beautiful little freckled-faced girl, a miniature version of Jas, with adorable Elven ears, described like her father. She’s wearing a cute powder blue summer dress, and her ponytail bounces as she runs toward her mother, clutching the stems of wildflowers in her small hand.
Jas stands, swiping a hand under her eyes, both of them beaming at one another. She reaches out to pick up her daughter, enveloping her in a warm embrace.
“Hello, my little star!” She announces, burying her face in her daughter’s hair. Her little face turns to me, and she gives me a toothy grin. She’s a beautiful little version of Jas.
The door opens again, wider, letting in a tall, broad-shouldered man with rich brown skin and roped locs that hit his shoulder. His beard is well-manicured and trimmed to frame his sharp jaw.
The way Jas described her husband, I wonder if every man, creature, or beast that lives here is just as stunning.
He’s dressed in a long sleeve shirt, the sleeves pushed back to reveal thick, muscular arms coated with dark hair and work-worn jeans smudged with dirt. He’s holding a potted moon lily in one arm like it’s something sacred. I recognize the flower from seeing it in Grandma’s garden.
Flower pot.
Thick hair.
This must be the werewolf who owns the flower shop.
His bright, deep brown eyes scan the café in an instinctive sweep, protective, and then calm before his gaze softens the moment it lands on Jas and Seren .
Jas puts Seren down on her feet.
“Look what we made, Mama! Dominik let me pick flowers for you, and he let me water the baby roses. He told me I’m the best flowerist in the world!” She hands the wildflower bouquet to Jas.
He laughs heartily. “Florist.”
She looks up at his tall stature, her nose crinkling. “That’s what I said.”
Jas and I laugh, sharing a glance, and when Dominik’s eyes meet mine, I stand to introduce myself.
“Hi, I’m Raene, Vera’s granddaughter.”
He takes his hand in mine, giving it a firm shake with a smile on his face. “I’m Dominik, a friend to Jas and Godfather to Seren. Vera told us you were visiting. I’m glad you arrived safely and hope you enjoy your stay here in Everly Hollow.”
“Thank you.” I smile warmly.
“I’m sorry to interrupt.” He turns towards Jas. “She insisted on delivering her creation in person.”
“You’re not interrupting,” she says, looking up at him. Compared to his size, she looks tiny; there has to be a foot difference between the two of them. “I just made a new friend.” She turns to me and winks.
“And this is for you, too, Mama! We planted it for you. He said by the next full moon, when school starts, there will be more blooms! It’s beautiful, huh? Like you!” She does a little dance with a proud grin, showing her missing teeth, and it’s adorable .
Then, without missing a beat, Seren turns and plants her small feet on top of Dominik’s boots, reaching up to hold onto his hands as they walk together across the floor in tandem.
“I said the thing!” She announces, throwing herself into a fit of giggles.
His eyes crinkle at the corners as he grins widely and lifts her easily into his arms. “You nailed it,” he says, spinning her once before resting her against his chest like she belongs there, and honestly, she does.
I don’t even know these people, but the fact that she has a father figure in her life is amazing. This small town must be one hell of a loving community, with everyone knowing everyone.
Gathering my purse, I give Jas a grateful smile.
“Thank you for the honey bun, the latte, and the company. Seriously.”
She waves me off with another wink and a promise to catch up again soon.
Time to check off the next stop on my to-do list: the bookshop.