Before them was the mysterious ‘shop’ that Mimi kept trying to talk her into running for her. The massive windows on the unit contained within a large corner brick building just off the square were something to see… maybe. The panes were covered with yellowed newspaper that had obviously been there for a while, and the sign had been taken down from above the door.
A door that Mimi was standing in front of – jingling the keys in the lock.
“Hang on,” Heidi started, jogging from the truck quickly over to where the older woman was waiting, tryingto open the door on her own impatiently. “Hang on and just let me help you – and why are we in such a hurry…”
Her words faded as the door opened with a hollow pop, alleviating the pressure on the door gasket from where it had been sealed shut for so long. The door swung wide open, and her breath caught at the time capsule before her that was just waiting to take its first gasp of life in years. A handful of tiny café tables were covered with dust, and wooden chairs were flipped over on top of them like silent statues watching. A stunning glass case separated the seating area from the open kitchen area that disappeared behind a wall in the distance. Wooden floors, well-oiled and loved over time, would do so again once they’d been swept and mopped… in fact, the whole place needed a desperate cleaning.
“How long has this sat empty?” she managed to ask in a hushed voice, almost like she was afraid to disturb the ghosts of what once was… and hesitated at Mimi’s silence. Turning, she looked at the older woman and saw her eyes were glistening with tears, brimming with memories that made Heidi almost envious. She could see the love, the pride, the longing for times long ago… and felt her own throat tighten in response.
“My grandpa built that case for my grandmother,” Mimi choked out tearfully, looking at her for the first time since the door opened. “I remember so many, many things…”
“Are you okay?” Heidi asked warily, unsure what else to say or do as she wrapped an arm around Mimi’s shoulders, hugging the smaller frame.
“I remember Jack playing on the floor as a boy,” Mimi repeated once more that memory, sharing it with her and obviously lost in the moment, allowing Heidi to take in everything once more, silently.
It was lovely – cozy – and could be so welcoming. She could picture smiling couples, a small chime ringing to indicate another person was entering. A few hellos, some smiles, warmth of the wood, and she could imagine the smells that would fill the room… instead of must, disuse, and neglect.
“I want you to have it,” Mimi whispered thickly, dashing away tears. “I want you to run this place, and I’ll give you the recipes…”
“Mimi…”
“I need someone to,” the older woman started again, grabbing her arm with surprisingly strong fingers as she stared at the display case with a broken expression, as tears slipped past her eyelashes. “I need someone to do this, and I can’t say it to Jack because he’s happy doing his thing… but I’ll be gone someday and the memories with me.”
“Oh, Mimi… I’m sure that…” Heidi began to feel nervous because this stranger, this sweet woman, was putting so much blind faith, so much pressure on her to take this over, and she was scared to fail her.
“Keep it going,” Mimi choked out, looking at her with glassy eyes. “Keepthisgoing, name it whatever you want, but this ismylegacy – and I’m giving it to you, if you’ll stay and promise not to sell it. Stay here, stay with me, be friends with my grandson, and keep this alive so I’m not forgotten when I’m gone…” and her voice broke, the desperation nearly stabbing her in the chest as it hit Heidi that no one really missed her when she left California.
That was a sobering thought…
“It will give you independence,” Mimi began again, clearing her throat and pulling herself together. “It will give you a job, an income, freedom… and a home, here, in Fate.”
Heidi’s watery eyes met Mimi’s at those words that hung in the air.
“You’re home,” Mimi whispered softly, but there wasalmost a zealous tone to her voice as she spoke. “You are home, but no one can make you walk through the door… " You have to want it for yourself,” – and swung an arm around. “Do you want to start your life here? Do you want a chance to see what Fate can bring you? Do you want to be in my shoes someday, looking back at an empty room and seeing all those wonderful memories so filled with life, laughter, and love… because that’s what this key is,” Mimi breathed, taking her hand and pressing a key onto Heidi’s palm. “I’m giving you the key to happiness and life – but only if you want it for yourself.”
Blinking rapidly, Heidi hesitated and then smiled nervously. “I don’t think you can just give away a unit in a building. I’m betting there is a lease or a contract and…”
“Smartandpretty,” Mimi interrupted, chuckling. “This is my building… in fact, this whole side of the street to the corner. My grandfather bought it, and it’s been passed down. Jack never had to work – ever. None of us had to work, but wechoseto be a part of the community. Hard work builds character, not wealth.”
“But Jack is fixing up his house and…”
“I’m living in a small home on his property because he wants me close – not because I couldn’t afford to pay for assisted living. I just never wanted to move out of Fate. This is my home and always will be… and Jack understands that. He’s a good boy,” Mimi finished, closing her fingers over the key in her palm and then patting her hand. “He’s always been the apple of my eye – and a little ornery.”
Heidi let out a choked laugh, wiping her own eyes before hesitating. Mimi seemed to realize that she was on the fence and pulled her forward into the space a little more. It was truly beautiful, cozy in a small town way, but inviting, and it spoke to her soul despite the filth.
“Is this a restaurant or a bakery?” Heidi began,feeling unsure of what to call it. “It looks like a café or maybe a lounge.”
“It’s yours,” Mimi replied firmly and gave her a smile. “I’ll help you every step of the way. If you want it to be a bakery, then sell baked goods. If you want to do meals, then it’s your restaurant. You had one of Dottie’s pickled okra, right? Dottie’s cousin works for the county – and I can get your place inspected and licensed within a week, so you can be up and running.”
“Oh!” Heidi gasped, letting out a nervous laugh. “Um, that’s a little fast, don’t you think?”
“Two weeks?”
“Mimi!”
“Are you in?” Mimi pressed, her excitement palpable and practically thrumming. “This will be so good for you, so wonderful for Fate, and I just know deep in my heart that this was the place you were meant to be.”
“No pressure, right?”
