AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter1
Avery
“Hey Laney, how’s it going?” I ask as I walk into the Reindeer Cafe.
The older woman looks up at me and grins. “All’s well my dear. The boss and Helly are out for the week. Those damn love birds up and left me with ship captain duties here this week. Which reminds me, would you mind checking on Elvis twice a day through Friday?”
Today’s only Monday, but Laney’s just about the sweetest thing and I can never tell her no. She lives three houses down from me so it’s really no trouble. I just don’t reallywantto check on the cat nine times between now and then, I’ve got a busy week planned for Valentine’s Day.
I plaster a smile on my face before saying, “Sure, no problem. And I’ll have my usual please.”
“You got a date for Wednesday?” she asks as she gets my coffee with cream—no sugar—and glazed donut ready to go.
“I do actually,” I say while giving her a wink. “Everything’s still going really well with Marcus. We’ll just do a casual dinner on Valentine's night. But we’re planning to go to Vinonova for a wine tasting and one-night getaway at a cabin near Smith Mill Lake on Friday. I can’t wait!”
Even I can hear the giddiness in my voice. I’m falling hard, real hard. Marcus is such a sweet and funny guy.
I’m the head medical receptionist at the local hospital and am going to be late if I keep chit chatting.
“Sorry Laney, gotta run. I’ll stop by and check on ol’ Elvis on my way home later. Good luc—”
A crash sounds from the kitchen as Finn, another coffee shop employee, yells some not-so-kid-friendly words.
“Yes dear, thank you so very much,” Laney says as she waves goodbye to me and makes her way back to the kitchen for some, what I assume is, disaster control.
Chuckling, I walk out into the cold Canadian winter day and get in my car to head to work.
My phone dings just as I’m walking into the building; it’s Marcus saying he can’t wait to see me Wednesday night and to call him after I get home this evening.
We’ve been officially dating since the beginning of last month, but I’ve had a crush on the man formuchlonger than that. I remember the first time I saw him was at the coffee shop, Laney introduced us in line. I can still feel the heat that built up in me from the sight of that man. We always seemed to run into one another around town. Hell, he asked me out in the grocery store parking lot. Yes, we live in a small town, but still, it seemed kinda weird how happenstance our encounters were.
Marcus does have one red flag though: he always comes to my place, we’ve yet to even stop by his. But that’s fine, not everyone’s perfect, right?
Maybe he’s just ashamed of where he lives? He uses the excuse of his roommate not liking company.
It’s fine, it’s all fine. I think to myself as I get my workday started.
* * *
Pullinginto my driveway I take a minute to finish my favorite Mammoth WVH song before getting out of my car and walking the few houses over to Laney’s. She definitely hasn’t made it home yet, the house is pitch black from the outside.
Using my spare key, I open the door and shout, “Elvis! I’m home! Well, you know, not home, but here!”
All the houses on our street are small, bungalow-like single story homes. Laney’s is the mirror opposite of mine with the guest room where Elvis mainly spends his time to the right down the small hallway.
Opening the bedroom door I say, “Hey bud, just here to check up on you. Laney should be home soon, but with the cafe short staffed for a few days she’ll probably be late all week.”
The cat doesn’t even attempt to acknowledge my presence, barely looking at me then slowly laying his head back down. I check his water and food then clean up the litter box real quick.
“Bye grump, I’ll be back tomorrow,” I say while closing the door.
A light squawk comes from the hall, mildly startling me as I make my way to throw the litter box trash out.
“Hey birdy, Bird. Wasn’t sure if you were in or not.”
Laney has a semi-pet bird that sometimes uses a cracked kitchen window to come inside. The small love bird lands on my shoulder and rubs his head against my neck. It’s the sweetest little thing. Laney’s never named him though, saying he’s not hers to name, so I just call him Bird.
Cleaning up a few things throughout the house, I recount everything that happened today to Bird. When I lament, the bird does his version of a sigh and when I laugh Bird does too. Iknowhe can’t understand me. But sometimes it sure as hell seems like he can.
