?

  “Would you like a coffee?” I asked, hoping Indigo would at least hide while I distracted the dad.

  “Not today, I’m cutting caffeine out of my diet. Doctor’s orders.” He scratched the bottom of his chin. “Just the book today, whatever she picks out.”

  I nodded and kept a smile on my face, trying to not glance in that direction.

  “Molly, remember, only one…” He turned to face that way, and I glanced over as well.

  Molly had a book open on the floor, along with a second one next to her. She nodded at something, not paying attention to us at all.

  He let out a sigh and headed that way.

  That’s when I noticed the Cat had vanished.

  A meow came from the floor near the big table in the center of the room.

  Molly’s dad paused in his march and bent down to give the Cat some scratches.

  “Hello, little guy.” A smile came across his face. “You are such a handsome boy. I haven’t seen you around in a while.”

  “Daddy, can we get a dragon?” asked Molly.

  He chuckled as he stood up from petting the Cat. “No, but maybe a cat. I miss having one around the house.”

  “Oh, a cat would be good! We could cuddle.” She held up a book about dragons and tacos. “I want this one.”

  He took the book from her and headed back my way.

  I quickly rang the book up, and he paid before handing it back to her.

  “Alright, Molly, let’s figure out dinner.”

  “And a cat!”

  He chuckled as he grabbed her hand before heading out the door.

  As soon as the door snapped shut, I turned toward the children’s area.

  “Indigo!”

  “What?” Her head peeked out of her hideaway at the far end. “Can I come out now?”

  My fingers tapped on the counter. “Are you sure you stayed hidden during that visit?”

  Before she could respond the Cat leaped onto the counter. “That wasn’t our only…”

  The door shook as someone stepped inside.

  Indigo’s eyes grew wide, and she vanished.

  “Welcome to the shop!” I said, trying to get a better look as I turned.

  In stepped a pair of ladies chatting about cooking. One glanced at me as the other, with glasses, headed to the bookshelves. Both had on jeans and sweaters. They had to be in their late twenties, a little older than me, but I wasn’t sure.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  “Oh, maybe you could help us,” she said as a bright golden color flashed around her, highlighting her purple sweater. “We just took a cooking class and need a good cookbook to keep us going. Something for beginners.”

  I stepped out from behind the counter, and toward the shelves. “I can show you what I recommend. I started cooking earlier this year, and it’s definitely been a learning experience.”

  I found the other lady already staring at the shelves of cooking books with wide eyes and an open mouth. I tapped on three different spines.

  “This one talks about the different ways to cook food. There is also a short show on a streaming service about it.”

  She pulled that one off the shelf and started flipping through it.

  The other lady pointed to the second book I tapped.

  “This one will help you learn how to cook a little of everything, along with several different common techniques.”

  The third she ignored as she pulled the second one off the shelf. Both went quiet as they flipped through them.

  “Let me know if you all need any more help…” I said as I stepped out of the shelves and toward the counter. I only moved a few feet before the bell rang again, as someone else entered the shop.

  “Welcome to the shop, let me know if I can help you find anything.”

  This time it was a young man with a beard. He smiled in my direction.

  “I just wrapped up a cooking class and I’m looking for some suggestions…” His voice trailed off as I chuckled.

  “A few others just came in as well. The cooking section is over there, and I recommend both books those ladies are looking at. We have multiple copies.”

  He practically glowed as he dashed over that way. A small conversation broke out between the three of them as I made my way back to the register.

  The Cat sat on the counter, watching that area.

  “I didn’t expect this…” he muttered.

  It didn’t take long for the three of them to head my way, each with copies of the two books I’d recommended.

  “So, Saturday, then?” asked the first lady who entered.

  “That’s perfect. We’ll see how each of us does,” replied the guy with a grin.

  “You guys find everything?”

  “Both of these look perfect,” added the second lady with glasses. “We’re going to do a dinner party, and see who does the best.”

  “It isn’t a competition,” said the first.

  “Maybe a little,” added the guy, who chuckled.

  I quickly checked them all out with a smile as more small talk broke out between the three of them.

  The chatter cut off as the door closed behind them.

  “That was fun,” I said to the Cat.

  Indigo peeked out again, this time her eyes wide. “Is it safe now?”

  “It…” The Cat stopped again as the door opened once more, the bells ringing.

  This time it was another guy, wearing a nice jacket and hat.

  “Let me guess, cooking class?” I asked with a smile.

  “Not me, I’m looking for a gift for my girlfriend. She loves to read fantasy books…”

  “Spicy or not?”

  He blushed. “Spicy.”

  “I have a few in mind.” It didn’t take long to pick out a new one that’d come out pretty recently. Though, as he paid, I couldn’t remember what delivery that had come in.

  The bells jingled as he left the shop. My mind went to the golden outline on the first lady, and I wondered if I’d done whatever needed to be done. That one I hadn’t gotten any other impression with. Just that something needed to happen.

  Hopefully, the cookbooks helped. Or that guy I sent their way. I wasn’t sure if I caught a glow from him or not.

  “I’m coming out,” said Indigo as she launched herself across the space toward the counter. She sped right to me and skidded to a stop on the counter.

  “Can I see the picture now?” she asked, glancing around for it. “Sorry, about not hiding. I like Molly.”

  I pulled the drawing out and laid it on the counter.

  “So pretty.” Her eyes grew wide as she stared at it.

  The bells on the door rang again, and Indigo scooted off behind the counter, taking the drawing with her.

  “Hello, welcome to the shop.”

  The guy who entered stared at his phone and only glanced up as I spoke. Bright blue eyes stared at me, almost taking my breath away.

  “By any chance, do you have any journals?”

  I nodded and motioned to the shelf that had journals and blank notebooks. The selection wasn’t that large, only two shelves.

  “That’s what we have…”

  He nodded and turned to look through it.

  “This wasn’t in the book.” The Cat rubbed his whiskers on my elbow. “Only those cooking ladies.”

  I nodded, but didn’t respond. Not with someone in the shop.

  We didn’t have a sign stating our hours, so I couldn’t rush the guy, but I couldn’t help but wonder what was going on, and why we were still open.

  KEEPER & KINDRED (Meow: Book 2) is officially LIVE and available now! ????

  Thank you for being part of this journey. I wrote this book as a warm hug for anyone who needs to feel like they belong somewhere magical. I hope you find that belonging in the Emporium today.

  May your tea be hot and your stories warm,

  Cozy wishes, Toni