| |
The next morning, Finn entered Aunt Rosa’s cafe with his messenger bag filled with his manuscript pages and a package of highlighters. He had to put all thoughts of wedding planning out of his mind, at least until he met his deadline. That year of writer’s block had put him all off-schedule, and he’d been working hard ever since to keep to the terms of his contract. Maybe once he turned this book in, then they could start discussing making plans.
Finn had left Enzo at home, busy prepping canvases for the next series of paintings he was contracted to create for a new client. Like Finn, Enzo had deadlines to meet.
The cold, biting winter rain had tapered off last night, leaving this morning crisp and sunny, perfect for a walk if he bundled up. Inside, the cafe had been lit with twinkling white fairy lights strung along each wall. In the front window there was a small Christmas tree, a Menorah, and a Kinara filled with unlit candles. The decorations brightened up the cafe without being too much. Thankfully they didn’t play any music here. He’d like an escape from the constant holiday music most stores had been playing since Thanksgiving.
“Hey, Finn. I’ll get your usual.” Lydia waved from the counter. Her mother – the famous Aunt Rosa – was busy setting out pastries in the front glass cabinet.
“And a pastry please!” He took his usual seat in the corner, although since he wouldn’t be working on his laptop today, there really wasn’t any need to be close to the wall outlet. The lights were plugged into it anyway.
He took out his folder with chapter one and spread the pages out on the table. Since that disastrous bout of writer’s block, he’d changed his process a bit. These characters were more important to him now that he’d started writing books about men like himself, no longer hiding his sexuality from the world.
“Here you go.” Lydia set down a coffee cup and a small plate with a chocolate croissant on the only free space he’d left on the table. “Latte with cinnamon.”
“My favorite.” He grinned up at her, playing with his pink highlighter. “You guys did a nice job in here. Very festive.”
“Thanks. Although I really prefer the Fall decorations. We sell so much pumpkin spice that way.”
“You’ve got to come up with a mint special or something. Give people another reason to get in here.”
Her eyes lit up. “Oh, now that’s an idea. Mint syrup with crushed bits of candy cane on top.”
That sounded delicious. “I’ll be your taste tester. If it’s good, make sure you name it after me!”
She laughed as she went back up to the front counter to play with the espresso machine. Over the course of the next hour as he worked, she brought him several samples. The first were too sweet, while the next had far too much mint. Eventually Finn pronounced it perfect.
“I’m going to call it ‘Morgan Heart’s Mint Surprise,’” she told him as he gushed over the perfected drink.
“I hate the name, but it will sell like hotcakes,” he admitted. He didn’t mind Lydia capitalizing on his fame as Morgan Heart. Anything to help the cafe and by extension, Enzo’s family. “You’ll have a Christmas rush in no time.”
“I hope so. I might send Ben out later with free samples along Broad Street.” She got that look on her face, the one that meant she was scheming. Lydia had a good sense for business and had single-handedly kept the cafe going during the bad years.
“Oh, I wanted to ask if you were coming to the cafe Christmas party. I forgot to mention it to Enzo yesterday. We’re shutting down to the public and doing a little thing for the regulars and old staff.”
Ben had worked nights with Enzo, back when Finn first started coming here. But now that the twins had quit for a job in her field (Anabell) and to attend grad school (Mirabell), Lydia didn’t have anyone else working the day shift. It would be nice to see everyone again.
“Text me the date. Should we bring anything?” He made a mental note to order some copies of his new book to hand out. The regulars would appreciate getting it before everyone else since it wasn’t scheduled for release until December 22nd.
“Nah, we’re good. Just yourselves.”
That reminded him that he had something else to ask her. He’d been mulling for months over Enzo’s Christmas present. And despite his determination to focus on his book, his thoughts about Enzo’s ring yesterday hadn’t left him. He couldn’t very well throw a surprise wedding, but he hadn’t been able to come up with anything that didn’t seem shallow in comparison.
“I wanted to get your opinion on something.”
“Oh?” Lydia inclined her head.
“I’m struggling to come up with a good gift for Enzo this year.”
“Let me think about it for a bit. I’ll see if I can think of anything.” She went back up to the counter while he returned to his work.
He managed to get through all of the first three chapters and two cups of coffee before he decided it might be time to head back home. His belly growled, and instead of filling it with more coffee, he should probably have a real lunch. There was a deli on the walk home, so he sent Enzo a quick text asking for his order. That way he could pick up lunch for both of them on the way back. They couldn’t live on Aunt Rosa’s pastries alone.
After packing up his stuff, he brought his dirty plates back to the front counter, where Lydia was counting out Tami’s change. Finn nodded at her. “I haven’t seen you in ages.”
“Oh it’s Sylvie’s nap schedule. It’s all over the place, so I have a hard time getting away some days.” She gestured to the stroller beside her where her daughter slept peacefully. Her coffee was safely ensconced in the stroller’s cupholder. “When Scottie comes home from school it’s all chaos, so I take my quiet when I can.”
“So,” Lydia leaned forward on the counter, “We came up with a Christmas gift for Enzo.”
“Oh?” He hadn’t known they were chatting about it.
“You should make him a painting,” Lydia said.
He blinked at her statement and opened his mouth to tell her it was a silly idea. But, really, it was a gift Enzo wouldn’t expect, and he’d definitely appreciate the work Finn put into it. Still, there was a very large problem with that. “I have absolutely no art ability.”
“That’s okay!” Tami nodded. “Every Thursday I go out with the girls to one of those paint and sip places. They show you how to do everything, no matter your skill level. You should come with us this week.”
That should sound more ridiculous than it did. He pictured himself surrounded by Tami’s friends, most likely other stay at home moms and couldn’t see himself in the photo. He’d be the odd man out, and a part of him feared the headlines: “Famous Writer Morgan Heart found cheating at art.”
“I don’t know,” he said. “Maybe I should check out the art store and see if they have a kit or something I can pick up.”
Enzo was always talking about Parallel, the fine arts store where he spent far too much money on supplies. Maybe it was time Finn took a step into his world. The prospect intrigued him. At the very least, he could always use it for research for another book. He’d written about a sculptor before, but never a painter.
“All right. Well you have my number if you change your mind.” Tami took hold of the stroller’s handles and started toward the door – just in time too, because her daughter started to stir from her nap. Tami waved to them both before heading out.
Finn said his goodbyes as well and left, his mind full with ideas. The most concerning of course, was what would he paint?