After a rushed shower and towel-drying her hair, she made her way toward the first floor, having changed into crisp linen slacks, a mint-colored top, and cozy plush house shoes. She'd decided to leave her handbag behind, bringing just her cell phone and the room's key, which she'd slipped into her pocket.
Harper followed the scent of cinnamon and coffee through an arched doorway into a spacious dining room. Sunlightstreamed through tall windows, casting warm patches across the polished hardwood floors. Round tables draped in cream-colored linens dotted the room, each with four chairs upholstered in deep burgundy fabric.
At the far end, steam rose from silver chafing dishes arranged on a long buffet table. The aroma of eggs, bacon, and sausage mingled with fresh-baked pastries. And, of course, coffee. She received a cheerful greeting from Katerina, who appeared to be nursing a cup of coffee with heavy-lidded eyes.
Movement in the adjoining lounge caught her eye. The room opened to the dining area through another wide archway off the lobby, and was dominated by a massive stone fireplace flanked by couches, loveseats, and upholstered chairs. Harper blinked at the unexpected sight of an enormous white dog sprawled across the hearth rug. His shaggy fur reminded her of a polar bear. A small tabby cat lay curled atop the dog's side, rising and falling with each of his deep breaths.
"Oh, my!" Harper stared at the incongruous duo, her heart melting at the sight of the unlikely companions. A smile tugged at her lips as she watched the tiny cat shift position, stretching its paws before settling deeper into the massive dog's thick fur.
Katerina's sleepy giggle drew her attention. "That's Tony and Maria. He's a Great Pyrenees. They're practically inseparable. In fact," she mused, "I don't think I've ever seen the one without the other."
Harper blinked, processing the names. A slow smile spread across her face as she made the connection. "Tony and Maria? Like West Side Story?"
"Exactly." Katerina's golden eyes sparkled with amusement. "Angus and Renee have an appreciation for musicals. Though these two get along much better than their namesakes - no star-crossed tragedy here, thank goodness."
As if aware they were being discussed, the tabby cat opened one eye, gave them a imperious look, then snuggled deeper into Tony's fur. The big dog didn't even twitch an ear, continuing his peaceful slumber.
At the opposite end stood extended buffet tables covered in crisp white tablecloths, featuring a lineup of warming trays. As she surveyed the spread, she discovered fluffy scrambled eggs - both regular and eggs scrambled with ham-and-cheese - alongside strips of bacon, thick-cut ham, plump sausage links, golden pancakes, and crispy potato hash. A do-it-yourself waffle station caught her eye, complemented by bowls of seasonal fruits and an array of syrups. Positioned diagonally from the main buffet was a display of freshly baked goods - tender biscuits, assorted muffins, and flaky pastries. Adjacent to that, another surface held various beverage dispensers filled with steaming coffee, hot water for tea drinkers, rich homemade cocoa, and crystal pitchers brimming with assorted fruit juices.
"Wow, they go all out," she remarked softly, her eyes widening at the impressive display.
Katerina looked up from her coffee long enough to nod her head in agreement. "The morning meals were always my favorite part of being a guest here. Everything's delicious, but Renee's baking skills are absolutely incredible! You'd be doing yourself a disservice if you passed up her blueberry muffins. Trust me on this."
"I'll definitely try one," Harper said, selecting a muffin before heading back to the spread of food. She grabbed a heated plate and filled it with fluffy scrambled eggs and crispy bacon strips, then made her way to the drink station to pour herself a glass of orange juice.
Harper dug into her breakfast, then paused to look around. “Where’s Becca? I was hoping to meet her again. Now that I'm, you know, not asleep on my feet.”
“She's outside working in the garden,” Katerina assured her. “She grows vegetables for the inn, and sells the rest at farmers markets. There are berries, too, that she uses to make jam.”
Harper made a face, remembering the trail of deceased houseplants littering her past. "I have the proverbial black thumb. The only plant I've ever been able to keep alive is an air fern." Even her attempts at growing herbs had ended in disaster - the basil wilted, the mint shriveled, and the supposedly unkillable spider plant had given up the ghost within a week.
Katerina's lips twitched, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "That's because they're already dead."
"Well, yes," Harper admitted, ducking her head as warmth crept into her cheeks. "But it looks alive, so that counts, right?"
"I've never met anyone named Harper before," Katerina said, her golden eyes sparkling with interest. "How did your parents come to pick it, do you know?"
Harper had to laugh at that. She put down the slice of bacon she'd been about to bite into, the savory aroma making her stomach rumble. "My mom was big into Anne McCaffrey, and her Dragonriders of Pern series." A fond smile tugged at her lips as she remembered her mother's extensive collection of dog-eared paperbacks lining the shelves of her childhood home. "She said if she couldn't have a fire lizard of her own, at least she could name her daughter after the musical guild in the books."
"Oh, right! I love those stories!" Katerina enthused, her golden eyes lighting up with recognition.
Harper grinned at her. "Believe me, I know them all by heart. They inspired me to learn to play the harp. I have both a lyre harp, and small Celtic lap harp. They're packed with the rest of my things being delivered by the moving company." The thought of her beloved instruments wrapped in layers of protective padding made her a touch anxious - she'd never trusted anyone else to transport them before.
"We've got to introduce you to Nathan," Katerina said. "He's human, but knows about us. He is a musician, and teaches at a local music conservatory. We've been encouraging some of our youngsters who live in the area to take classes there."
"I'd definitely like to meet him, and to see the conservatory," Harper said, and even her fox, Reyna, who'd been depressed these last days, perking up with interest. The thought of connecting with another musician made her heart lift a little. Music had always been her refuge, her safe space when the world seemed overwhelming. "What does he play, do you know?"
"Stringed instruments, I think," Katerina said, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Cello, I know for sure, I don't know what else."
"My grandmother, Maroulla, will be coming down in a few days," she continued, her fingers drumming an excited rhythm on the arm of her chair. "We're going to have a meeting with the most visible people here in the community, those most likely to be coming out, or to hold key positions as we move forward. A war council," Katerina added, her golden eyes bright with anticipation, a hint of her feline nature showing through.
The term 'war council' sent a shiver down Harper's spine, and Reyna curled tighter inside her mind, seeking comfort. The phrase carried too many echoes of conflict and danger. But, she supposed, that's pretty close to what was needed. The shifter community was going to need strategy and strength to handle what lay ahead, now the whole world knew about them.
Katerina's expression shifted from excitement to concern. "I know this is all overwhelming, Harper. Moving across the country, starting fresh somewhere new - that's tough enough without adding supernatural politics to the mix."
"It's a lot," Harper admitted, picking at the remains of her muffin. The earlier warmth of the conversation had dimmed slightly at the mention of meetings and councils. Her shoulderstensed as memories of the past weeks crowded in. "I keep thinking about how different everything was just a month ago. I had my routine, my little apartment, my regular clients at the bank..." She trailed off, throat tight.
Katerina reached across the table and squeezed her hand. "Change isn't always bad, you know. Sometimes it leads us exactly where we need to be."
