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Eva walked briskly, no destination in mind other than away from the empty apartment and its suffocating silence. The summer evening air was balmy, carrying the scent of grill smoke and fresh cut grass.
When she came upon a local Chinese restaurant, Eva decided to treat herself to takeout. But waiting alone for her order to be ready, she regretted the decision. Watching families and couples laugh over shared meals intensified her isolation.
Eva hurried home, containers of kung pao tofu and fried rice in hand. At least she could distract herself with mindless TV while she ate. She browsed through channels before settling on an innocuous sitcom.
But the laughing soundtrack grated on her nerves. Everything in this apartment reminded Eva of what she had lost.
After forcing down a few more bites, Eva abandoned her half-eaten dinner on the coffee table. The undeserved sense of betrayal still simmered under the surface months later.
Eva knew looking at old photos would only stoke the embers. But masochistic curiosity drew her to Liz's social media that night. She scrolled through images of Liz beaming next to the woman who had stolen her happiness. Something in Eva fractured all over again.
Exhausted by the emotional turmoil, Eva retreated to the cold, empty bed. Tomorrow she would focus on her true sanctuary - the bakery. Tonight she just needed to sleep and stop obsessing over her ex.
Chapter Seven
Claire awoke before the sun had fully risen. The moon still shone brightly in the sky, but the first traces of light were giving definition to the edges of objects around her. She was looking forward to breakfast at Sweet Delights again, and exploring more of the town. She was also looking forward to painting some more. She hadn't wanted to paint this much in weeks. She could feel David there with her, quietly giving his approval with a slight nod as she worked.
She padded softly into the kitchen with Daisy in her arms, the old hardwood floor creaking slightly under her slippered feet. The familiar ritual of making coffee was soothing, and she needed that sense of comfort this morning. She had dreamt of David. Of his smile. Of his laugh. He would have loved the cottage. He would have gone for walks all the time, exploring the little town. He’d talked about leash training Daisy someday. Now she wished he would have gotten that chance.
It had been good to see him again, even if it had just been a dream. She missed him, missed talking about him. His family had never really approved of them being together. And her friends had been vocal about their apprehension as well. She’d been twenty-two and he had been almost forty. But they’d had ten years together. Ten perfect, wonderful years.
She would have rather it had been a lifetime.
Now she found herself alone in a place she barely knew, trying to remember what life had been like before David had become such an integral part of her existence. As she moved to fill the coffee maker with water, Claire thought of all the mornings they had spent curled up on the couch together, cups of coffee warming their hands as they talked, laughed and planned for the day ahead. Those memories flooded her with bittersweet comfort. The familiar motions and aromas of brewing coffee calmed her troubled mind, though she knew it would take time to adjust to this new stage in her life without David by her side.
She opened the cabinet where she kept the coffee tin and scooped some grounds into the filter. With a flick of the switch, the gurgling and hissing noises began that signaled the water was heating up. While she waited for the coffee to brew, Claire opened another cabinet and retrieved her favorite mug. It was a simple round ceramic mug with bluebirds painted on the side in primary colors, handmade by an artisan. David had given it to her only a few months before he passed away. Holding the mug now brought her bittersweet comfort, a reminder of his memory and their life together.
She wondered how long everything would continue to remind her of him, his scent still lingering in the air like a ghost. The sound of his laughter haunted her, ringing through the halls and echoing in her mind. And then, swiftly, she realized that even though it hurt to remember him, she didn't want to let go of the memories either. She clung to them like a lifeline because as long as she held those memories close to her chest, it was as if he were still there with her, alive and well.
As the coffee brewed, Claire leaned against the counter and watched the sun rise over the garden. It was a beautiful view from her new home. She wondered how many people had gazed at that same sunrise throughout the years, and felt a sudden kinship with those nameless strangers. She was a part of their history, and they were a part of hers.
Claire poured herself a steaming cup of coffee and sipped slowly, savoring the rich, earthy flavor. The coffee and quiet moments to herself had given her the boost of determination she needed to make the most of her time. First, she would walk to the bakery down the street for a pastry and a chance to explore the new neighborhood. Then, she would find a sunny spot in the yard to sit for a while with Daisy, listening to the birds and enjoying the fresh air. And in the afternoon, after a simple lunch, she would go to her art studio and paint. It was a perfect plan for a day when she didn't need to get anything done but simply enjoy herself.
Claire stepped out onto the back porch, relishing the warmth of the morning sunshine on her face. She settled into an old wooden chair that groaned slightly as she sat down. Daisy wandered outside and immediately jumped into her lap. She curled up over Claire's thighs and began to purr softly as Claire started petting her.
She continued to pet Daisy with one hand as she sipped her coffee with the other, enjoying the stillness of the early morning. The sun had just risen over the trees in yard, its warm glow bathing Claire and Daisy in a peaceful light. A light breeze carried the scent of freshly cut grass and blooming roses.
Claire savored the last few sips of her coffee, letting the warm mug cradle her hands as she enjoyed the rumblings of the neighborhood coming to life around her. Shutters clattered open, car doors closed in driveways, and the muffled sounds of people chatting and moving about filtered through the still morning air.
A few early birds flitted between branches as the sunlight crept higher, dappling the garden below with shifting patterns of light and shadow. Claire watched a squirrel dart across the lawn, pausing to sniff inquisitively at a fallen pine cone before scurrying up the trunk of a maple tree in a neighboring yard.
When the final drop of coffee was gone, Claire retreated inside. She set the mug in the sink and made her way down the hall to the bedroom. In the bathroom, she turned on the shower and let the warm water heat up while stripping off her clothes.
Steam soon filled the room as Claire stepped into the water, sighing contentedly as the water fell over tired muscles. She lathered shampoo into her hair, working up a rich foam that smelled of lemon and ginger.
After rinsing the remaining soap from her body, Claire reluctantly shut off the water. She toweled herself dry and got dressed in fresh clothes, feeling renewed. Making her way to the kitchen, Claire smiled to herself. Maybe she and Daisy could make a new life here together.
"Bye Daisy," she said, giving her cat a kiss as she lay on the arm of the couch, soaking in the morning sunshine. "I'll be back soon."
Claire had barely made it outside when a car unexpectedly turned into her driveway. She paused and looked over in surprise as a beat-up old blue sedan came to a stop. The driver's side door opened and her sister, Julia, stepped out, a huge smile on her face.
She immediately made her way over to give Julia a big hug hello. Julia wrapped her arms around Claire in return. "What are you doing here?" Claire asked, still beaming at Julia.
"I wanted to come see the new place," Julia replied. "I hope you don't mind some company."
Claire shook her head vehemently. "I love that you're here. Thank you for coming to visit me. Let's go to breakfast. I found the cutest bakery yesterday."
Julia grinned, linking her arm through Claire's as they walked towards the bakery. "Lead the way," she said. "And tell me all about this new place of yours. Do you like it here?"
