MILA: Come by the bakery whenever you wake up tomorrow and we can catch up!
SUMMER: That sounds great, I’m on Alberta time and wake up pretty early though. What time do you open?
MILA: Girl. I’ll be there at 5. Come in whenever you wake up.
SUMMER: Oh. Okay :)
When I push open the door to The Nutty Muffin the next morning, I’m greeted once again by that unmistakable aroma of fresh baking and even better, fresh coffee. Then again, anything beats the gas station coffee I used to buy in Calgary. That stuff tasted like dirty socks and burnt tires. But it was cheap.
I’m so grateful Mila reached out and wanted to get together. But I’m nervous. So nervous that I went back and forth with myself over sending that damn emoji so many times last night, I felt like a complete fool. Twenty years have passed since Mila and I were last together, and I feel like we’re starting over. I have never made friends easily, that’s why Mila and Ethan were so important to me growing up. Sometimes I think I missed them just as much, if not more than I missed my dad.
“Hey Summer, I’ll be right out, pour some coffee and have a seat!” Mila hollers from the back. I grab myself a coffee and settle into one of the big armchairs by the window. Looking out the window at the gazebo in the park across the street, a soft sigh slips past my lips. I have so many memories of town festivals being held there, of playing with Mila and pretending to be princesses. My childhood here was amazing, and I find myself thinking about a future here; maybe someday having my own kids play in that gazebo.
Just as my imagination starts to run wild, Mila waltzes out of the kitchen carrying a plate with what appears to be scones on it. I’m salivating already, and I don’t even know what she’s offering. One thing is for certain, Mila has turned into one hell of a pastry chef.
“Do you remember when we used to try and use your Easy-Bake Oven to make cupcakes from a recipe instead of that gross mix that came with it?” I say with a grin as I sip my coffee.
Mila groans. “Oh Lord, do I ever. Especially the time we mixed up the salt and the sugar. What a disaster that was.” She hands me the plate, and yep, those are some mouthwatering blueberry scones. “Thankfully, my skills have improved since then.”
I take a large bite and moan as fresh blueberries and a hint of lemon burst onto my tongue. “They certainly have.”
The next few minutes are comfortably quiet as we eat scones and drink coffee.
“I’m really happy you’re back.” Mila’s words pierce the silence and when I look up from my coffee mug, I see her clutching hers. “Don’t get me wrong, I wish you were back for a better reason than your dad dying, but it’s so good to see you. I want to know everything — all about your life, where you’ve been, what you’re doing. All of it.” She gives me an apologetic smile. “Sorry. That was a lot. I’m nervous.”
“Me too,” I say. “I was so nervous to come here today. I’ve missed you so much, but it’s weird. Right? I mean, a little? I still think of you as my best friend, but I haven’t seen you in so long.”
Mila stands up and comes in front of me. She drops down to her knees, takes my coffee cup out of my hands and puts it down, then pulls me in for a hug.
“You’re back now. Just don’t be surprised if I never let you leave again.”
I laugh at that. Little does she know, I don’t think Iwantto ever leave again.
The tinkle of the bells on the door to the bakery break us apart, and I look over to see two more women walk through.
“My God, Serena Matheson is awake before nine am. It’s a freaking miracle!” Mila cries as she walks over to hug the newcomers. I stay in my chair, unsure who these women are. They seem friendly enough, shooting me welcoming but curious glances.
“Yeah, well, you said it was important,” the tall blonde who must be Serena answers. She hangs up her coat, then joins the other woman, who’s pouring a cup of tea. Mila takes a bite of a scone, and the other two come and sit down beside us. After an awkward moment of silence, all eyes turn to Mila who blinks, looking between the three of us before exclaiming “Oh, right! You don’t know each other!”
I have to chuckle at that as Serena simply shakes her head.
“Serena, Paige, this is Summer, my best friend from when we were kids. She’s back and I want her to stay forever. Summer, this is Serena and Paige, and we’re all going to start a book club.” Mila leans back and takes another large bite of her scone. Apparently, that’s all the introductions we get.
I wave awkwardly at the two women. “Hi, it’s nice to meet you. What’s this about a book club?”
Paige pushes her glasses up her nose and sits forward. “Oh yes, that was my idea. I’ve been doing a lot of investigating into the ways that romance novels actually fight patriarchal societal structures, and when I mentioned my research to Serena and Mila, they decided it would be an enjoyable experience to read a book together and discuss it. We’re having our first meeting next week. I can send you the list of discussion questions if you wish. I think they’re quite thought provoking.”
Well, okay then. Paige’s speech is very formal sounding, and I definitely have never heard someone sound so enthusiastic about discussion questions before.
“Paige owns the bookstore next door and is the book nerd of us all. And we love her for it. But hey, Paige, tone it down a bit for us common folk would ya? We just want to read the sexy stuff,” Serena teases, nudging her friend. Then she turns back to Mila and crosses her arms. “Not that it isn’t lovely to meet Summer.” She tosses a warm smile my way. “Because it is, but why the heck did I have to get up so freaking early for this?”
Paige leans toward me conspiratorially. “Serena is not a morning person.”
She doesn’t seem offended by the book nerd’s comment at all, so I smile at her and whisper, “I can see that.”
“Sue me for wanting my friends to all meet at a time when I’m not knee-deep in customers.”
My attention is drawn back to the discussion between Serena and Mila. Although bickering is more what’s happening, not discussing. Mila’s rolling her eyes and Serena’s narrowing hers.
