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Oh, she did like it here. The all-year-around warm temperatures seemed to put everybody in a good mood. Next time she visited she’d bring her photography equipment and take some good shots for her Instagram page.
Déjà Brew, the local coffee shop, was buzzing as she pushed open the door and walked inside. Most of the tables were taken – with families and groups of friends, along with workers or students typing furiously on their laptops, and occasionally taking a break to sip their mochas or macchiatos.
Lydia inhaled deeply, the aroma of coffee making her mouth water. She could probably get high on this smell alone. Joining the order line, she found herself unable to stand still, her muscles as desperate for a caffeine fix as her mouth was.
“Hey you!” Ally, the coffee shop owner, said as Lydia reached the front of the line. Ally was one of Autumn and Griff’s friends. Married to Nate, who co-owned the shop, she was tall and slim and ran along the beach every day without fail. And from the grin on her face she was happy to see Lydia.
Feeling exactly the same way, Lydia reached over the counter to hug her. “Hey. How are you?”
“Great.” Ally grinned. “I didn’t know you were here. You come early for Skyler’s Naming Day?”
“Yep. I promised Autumn I’d be here in good time. Plus I get to have lots of cuddles with my gorgeous niece.”
“I bet they’re all happy to see you. When was the last time you were here?” Ally asked.
“When Skyler was born.” Was it really that long? She’d spent most of December in Europe, at the ski resorts and taking tourists around the Christmas markets. And January and most of February she’d been in Mexico and Guatemala.
“Well I’m glad you’re here now. What can I get you?”
“Just an Americano. Straight up, please.” Lydia looked around the coffee shop. “I don’t suppose you sell coffee carafes, do you?”
Ally shook her head and called out the order to the young kid behind the espresso machine. He looked up, his eyes widening as he saw Lydia standing there. She smiled and he grinned back.
“No we don’t. We thought about selling some coffee machines, but why encourage people to drink coffee at home? We want them here.” Ally tipped her head to the side. “Why do you need one?”
“I kind of broke Autumn’s in my desperation for a caffeine fix.” Lydia grimaced. “I need to get them a new one before they’re home from work. Any ideas where I can find one around here?”
“I can’t think of anywhere. Maybe Frank’s hardware store?”
“Frank’s closed today,” Ally’s husband, Nate, said, leaning over the counter to kiss Lydia’s cheek. “And Hi. How’re you doing?”
“I’m good.” She beamed at Nate. “Or I will be until Autumn kills me for breaking her coffee pot. I guess I should just try the internet?”
“Why don’t you head to the mall near Silver City?” Ally suggested, while Nate took the next order.
“How far is that?”
“About twenty miles. Just up the highway. You can find it easily.”
Lydia ran her finger along her bottom lip. “I don’t suppose there’s a bus route heading that way?”
“Why do you need to take a bus?” a deep voice asked from behind her.
Lydia turned to see Jackson standing behind her, an alert Eddie at his feet. “Oh m
y god, look at you,” she said, leaning down to ruffle Eddie’s ears. “You look so happy. Has Jackson been treating you well?”
“Jack?” Ally said, sounding amused. “Is that dog yours?”
“I’m looking after him,” Jackson told her.
Lydia stood and smiled as Eddie licked her hand. “He’s fostering Eddie until his family is found. Brooke’s on the case.”
Ally nodded sagely. “I’ll call her. I can’t wait to hear her take on all this.”
“Why do you need a bus?” Jackson asked again. “Where are you going?”
He was wearing dark jeans and a grey t-shirt, but no cap this time. Lifting his hand, he raked his fingers through his thick, dark hair.
