[Open - Irish Coffee]

[irishcoffee]

Maggie finished the chalk easel for the front of the cafe, embellishing the announcements of specials with sunny wildflowers and scrolled ivy leaves. As she walked it out to put on the sidewalk in front of the store, she stopped to let the sun warm her face.

It had rained in Faelan's Folly for a week - starting with storms full of thunder and ear-splitting lightning strikes until tapering off to yesterday's lighter clouds and soft soaking rain to last night's light drizzle.

She'd spent most of her off time during the week near the monument, the flat stone just off the park grounds that was, for all intents, the heart of the Folly. There were rumors about it, of course, some of them right on the mark. Not that she'd ever confirm it.

The monument was also where she rechared, reset her magic and reconnected with the elements that bowed to her. At midnight last night, she knew it was time to get back to business, back to herself, and move herself forward.

Maggie pulled water from a nearby puddle, rinsed the chalk from her fingers, and settled in to help her morning regulars get the caffeine they needed to start their day.

Comments

[detectivecontrary]

"If it helps at all, my mother actually prefers you to Bella," he said, shaking his head. His mother probably would march down here to chew Maggie out, not that it would do her much good.

"But I think maybe a line about something like 'The Next Generation of Astors'."

[irishcoffee]

"That's not saying much," Maggie snorted. "That's like saying someone prefers having their fingernails pulled out to slivers being shoved under them. Both are torture," she finished that one with a wink. "Now you're seriously making me wish I'd taken graphic design instead of baking in college."

[detectivecontrary]

"I'm not, I'd much rather have your backing than any graphics you design," he said, snatching up another pastry and taking a bite of it. Even people who hated Maggie had to admit that she had the best pastries and coffee in town.

[irishcoffee]

"I think I'm going to enjoy it when your metabolism catches up with you one of these days," Maggie joked, watching half the pastry disappear into his mouth. Though she knew, looking at his father, that that wasn't likely. Mr. Astor was the same lanky thin his son was.

She reached over then, squeezed the hand not holding the pastry. "Thanks."

[detectivecontrary]

"I don't know, I'm getting quite a bit of exercise in with Bella," he said, waggling his eyebrows at her before squeezing her hand back. Hopefully just knowing that he was concerned about her would keep her from doing anything she really regretted.

"And you're welcome, Mags. Anytime."