Chapter 4
The morning arose with a calm serenity, the air crisp with the winters breeze yet no rain clouds could be seen in the sky. “Rayne breakfast!” Jumping down from the top of her bed she rushed out, fruits filled the table paired with yogurt she sat down quickly almost tipping over the chair in the process as a voice called out “Slow down darlin’. Do you have work today?” swallowing a lump of fruit Rayne called out in reply “Yeah I do Ma, need me to pick up anything on my break to take home once?” shoveling through her breakfast like a starved man, “No I don’t I was just wondering, I’m staying late at the farm again though we need to count how far our equipment has lasted us over this winter to see if we need to prepare anything for the coming spring, but you should hurry up darlin’ it’s almost 8am.” Nodding in response Rayne ran around completing her tasks for the morning to get ready rushing through the door she patting her back to see if her bag is there she quickly heads back inside to pick up the discarded bag in the corner calling out to whoever is home that she’s off to work.
Walking through the city, cars rush by her buildings surround her and the air smells like stale gasoline. Her eyes catch a small building tucked away in an alley ‘Findings for the lost’ her eyes light up with joy as she runs across the road narrowly avoiding cars letting out a breath she was unknowingly holding crossing the road she made way to small antique shop, work seemingly forgotten, as she opened the old rusty door the smell of old welcomed her away from the sour smelling city. “Oh, hello there young welcome in, I’m Rosemary Abel but feel free to call Madam Abel, is there anything you need help with?” Shaking her head, her eyes wandered; dolls littered the high shelves, furniture sagged towards the back, paintings hung on each wall, every trinket told a story.
So distracted by each and every item a loud ringing disturbed he as she pulled out her phone, crap. “MS VISHA! I am so, so, so sorry I’d gotten distracted I’m on my way now! I’ll be there in five minutes not a second later!” Hanging up before Diantha could even get a word in, she said her goodbyes and ran. The bell swung with her entry as the door slammed open and she was greeted by a calm café, Diantha serving the last customer in line. “Rayne Sirius! You are 25 minutes late to your shift already, stop standing there and hurry I need you on the coffee machine, Eirian Marliene shift starts in 30 minutes so she will be here soon so make sure to introduce each other she’s been here the longest and will know the ins and out for when I am not on the same shift as you.”
True to her words Eirian showed up 25 minutes later, holding a pile of at least 15 books while using her foot to attempt to hold the door open, seeing her struggle to enter the café Rayne walked over and opened the door for her just about to say her usual greeting he was bombarded with the pile of books being put into her own hands.
“Ah!! Hello, you must be the new recruit! I am Eirian Marliene nice to meet you, thank you for taking those books now where is she? Oh! Diantha, there you are gosh you are glowing did you change skin care routines since I last saw you, my we haven’t worked together in what feels like a million years! How have you been, and I brought the books for this week’s book club I had to go to like three bookstores because they just could not seem to find out where they sent all these books, you’d think a bookshop would have at least fifteen books and not just four or five!” words spilled out of the girls mouth as if she need not to breathe, by the end she was in fact panting a tad her slightly curly brown hair had fallen out of place framing her tanned face with her darker make up making her look tired but still bright despite her gothic clothes and messed up make up.
Rayne tried to watch her as Eirian went bouncing to the storeroom to grab her apron and start but books obscured her vision, Diantha laughed quietly and helped Rayne by grabbing half of the books and directing her to the back room apologising for not warning her about the fact Eirian could be quite an overwhelming person. Putting down the books on an empty shelf, Rayne walked over to get a cup of water glancing between Diantha and Eirian to see if either would elaborate on the books before remembering that Eirian had in fact mentioned that it was for a book club.
As she walked back out Rayne saw a new customer had entered but one, she recognised as the lady from the antique shop earlier! “Madam Rosemary was it?” she called out to the woman who smiled in response “Abel, Madam Abel. But don’t worry about it dear I saw how your eyes seemed to glow at everything, so I am surprised you caught my name!” Raynes cheeks reddened a few shades easily seen on her golden skin, and as she put her head down to try to hide it and mumbled out apologises not trying to defend herself because she new if she did the words would be lies, it was just everything from the store made her want to jump in joy! Madam Abel just laughed it off and ordered a tea mentioning that her husband might show up if he’s not nose deep in books so she may need a second cup should the time come.
“Ah newbie, I guess I should let you know about all the books from this morning! Diantha runs a small book club probably with about twelve or so members not everyone shows up, but a few times people ask for a second book to lend to another or if we have a new member join, therefore 15 books, feel free to join us we meet once a month but don’t worry you don’t have to read the selected books.” Eirian greeted as she put an information sheet on empty bench space then moved over to help brew the tea.
The doors bell rang followed by someone gently calling out to the man that had entered the café “Ah Bruno dear come take a seat I’ve already ordered the tea, they should be bringing it out soon.” The man had sat down next to his wife and the soft chatter of the two seemed to fill the room as Eirian delivered the tea and Rayne the cups. “So, Bruno we’ve got the new book for next month think you’ll want a second? The book seems interesting something about a witches tale based back in the war with a whole forbidden lover sort of thing, I’ll still be adding it to the podcast though in case you just want to listen to it that way?” Eirian inquires while pouring the teas and the three excluding Rayne chat calmly before Eirian heads back to work.