Starlight by Lauren Jade Case

Author:Lauren Jade Case [Case, Lauren Jade]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-08-16T22:00:00+00:00

10

Minds That Wonder

Katherine’s Koffee and Kakes was calmer now that the Island’s children had returned to school for the summer season. Adults still came and went, so did the business moguls, but the families would only come on the weekends now.

Natalia was thankful for the dwindling numbers. The few days she’d taken off had been during the half-term, and when she’d come back, the slog was nearly over. Nearly three had passed since her short-notice trip. Three weeks of running around the neighbourhood at night to build her strength and stamina, and baking in a sweaty shop or reading her nursing notes during the day.

Mid-March was Natalia’s favourite time of the year. Full bloom spring was near. As she baked in the back of the café, she could peer out the window and watch birds dive over the island cliffs. There was mowed grass to smell when a door was propped open and the sun would constantly feel warm the breeze.

“How’re you getting on, Nat?”

“Fine!” Natalia called back.

Katherine came into the kitchen anyway. She smiled, her new pink lipstick rich on her lips. “I’m glad you’re back,” she said, sounding honest.

Natalia took the tray of cooked white and dark chocolate cookies from the oven and let them rest beneath the open window. “I was away only for a few days,” she said. The trip had meant to be a few hours but it’d turned into a mini vacation she’d not packed for, but thankfully Sarah had given her a few things so tide her over at the time.

“You better not be planning any more last minute road trips for a while.”

“I hope not,” Natalia half mumbled.

“In case you do,” the way she said it made it sound inevitable, “I’ve hired another hand.”

Natalia spun on her boss. “What? Really?”

For as long Natalia as had worked here, Katherine had gone back and forth about whether hiring more help was necessary. There had been another temporary worker, but they’d left before Christmas without notice.

Katherine stepped aside. Noah stood there, braces showing as he flashed a dopey grin. Natalia glanced between the two of them. “Hey, princess,” he laughed.

“He’s been begging me for weeks,” Katherine said, clearly faking being annoyed.

“Noah!” Natalia cried.

“Natalia!” He chimed back.

“There’s something I need to discuss with you both.” Katherine’s voice was solid, almost grave sounding, catching Natalia and Noah’s full attention. She closed the door to the café, obscuring the view of the few customers. “When you left, Nat, I knew where you were going. And why.” Katherine spoke steadily, taking great care with how she worded things. “Not because your dad told me, but because I know the Council.”

Natalia’s heart froze. “The Council?”

Katherine nodded. “I told your dad that I wanted to be the one to tell you. He knew the real me. He wanted to tell you before you left, he admitted that. Only because I’d waited and he thought you could do with someone else to talk to. So this is me telling you now.”

Katherine touched the tops of her ears and snapped them.

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