"Make sure to message me so I know your ship hasn't sunk somewhere in the middle of the ocean," I said as I let go.
"Yes, Cassie, I'll message," she responded dutifully."Anything else?"
"Have a fantastic time."
"Oh, we most definitely will," she said with a smile that made her look much younger."Alright, off I go."
"I'll carry your bag downstairs," I offered.
"No need."She grabbed her wand and pointed it at the suitcase while she muttered a spell under her breath.It lifted up in the air and Betty jumped on it right away, not wanting to miss a free ride downstairs.Such a lazy, lazy cat."Cruise time!"
"Message me when you get to the docks!"I called after her.I really did feel like the responsible adult seeing off a child.
Gran simply waved on her way out and departed while chantingcruise, cruise, cruisewith Betty.There was a bit more stumbling downstairs, the sound of the front door, and then silence.
I let out a sigh as I took in the empty kitchen, trying to work out how I was feeling.It was my first time being alone in the coffee house since I'd come back but it wasn't a bad feeling.It was nothing like being alone in my old flat when Agatha was working late.
No, this was...nice.I looked forward to spending a bit of time on my own and reconnecting with myself.
ELEVEN
The coffee shopwas cold and quiet when I made my way in with a tower of cake boxes, our assortment for the day.Balthazar looked tired and extra grumpy with the fur on his head sticking up wayward, but he was following me in nonetheless.
"What about breakfast?"he grumbled between dramatic yawns.
"We'll have breakfast after this.I just need to put the cakes away," I said.
"If I knew we'd be up this early, I wouldn't have agreed to be your familiar."
"That's a rude thing to say."I dropped the cakes on the counter and turned the coffee machine on for my morning brew.I might as well, since I was down here anyway.
Balthazar hopped up, entirely disregarding the rules about not putting his paws on eating surfaces.He yawned again but I was fairly sure that one was fake.
I gave him a pat on the head."Don't be so grouchy.You know, now that Betty is gone, you don't have to share your tuna."
His ears perked up."Does that mean I get a double portion?"
"No, but I have a special can that I've been saving for a special occasion and it's all yours," I said, thinking today was a good day to bust out the expensive stuff.Betty was likely whiskers deep in her fish buffet so Balthazar deserved a treat too.This was our first solo morning together and a part of me had been afraid that he wouldn't show up.But no, he'd woken up in his bed with the most grumpiest face and followed me down instead of waiting upstairs for his breakfast.
All signs indicated that we were bonding, even if it didn't always seem that way.Especially because he wasstillwearing his old bow tie.I'd hoped he would've noticed the new collar hook and put it to good use but nope.I was going to have to ask him about it and potentially make things super awkward.
That was a problem for later.
I put out the cakes in the display, mentally preparing for the day ahead.I was going to be in charge of the coffee house while Gran was gone.I'd done this before so I didn't foresee any problems but it was still a big responsibility.I wanted to make sure there would be no disasters later on today.
I only turned my back for ten seconds but when I looked back, Balthazar was standing right next to the carrot cake with a flawless buttercream top and was holding out his little paw.
"No!"I shouted, dashing over and snatching him away."Those are for our customers."
"But I'm hungry and I want cake," he grumbled, still looking at the cake with longing in his eyes.
"I understand but weneverjust bite a whole cake.You can have a sliceafterbreakfast and you can have it on a plate, like a gentleman."
He finally looked away."I suppose a gentleman ought to have patience."
It wasn't until the cakes were safe that I realised I was holding Balthazar in my arms.It almost felt like an embrace and I didn't want it to end.
"If you like cake so much, we could have one for our ceremony," I said, slowly moving back and forth until I was swaying him without him noticing.Was it sneaky?Yes, but he didn't seem to notice.If anything, he seemed quite content to be held.
