7. Aurora: Getting Over It

Chapter seven

Aurora – Getting Over It

I wake up before the shrill sound of my alarm, not that I was asleep anyway. It was all a jumble of restless night and angst, eagerly waiting for day to break. Three minutes later, my alarm goes off, blinking 7:03 am in bright neon green. I feel something twitch beside me. It’s Mr. Snow, of course. He must have snuggled in at some point when I had managed to fall asleep.

He climbs up on my chest, not in the least disgruntled by the high-pitched sound of the alarm. Usually, he glares at me with haughty eyes and struts off to his corner of the house whenever he gets disturbed. But this morning, he merely climbs my chest and inspects my face, his intelligent eyes looking straight into mine. I laugh.

“I’m fine, Snow-Snow, nothing to worry about. How’d you sleep?” I ask him, scratching his ears. He cocks his head to one side as if calling me out on my first statement. I laugh in reply. “ I’m fine, really.” Grinning, I continue. “Now, tell me, how’d Your Highness sleep?”

I could swear he narrows his eyes at me right before he purrs, snuggles deeper into my chest, and falls back off to sleep. I love to hear his breaths coming out in soft snores and purrs.

To think I saved him from a shelter on the brink of its shutting down. He was one of the few animals left, and I wondered how and why he wasn’t snagged up already. The kind old lady told me he hadn’t been adopted because he was ‘too big.’

Apparently, people mostly wanted to adopt only kittens and puppies. And the other older pets had been adopted because they had seemed tame, and he had not.

It took only one look for me to be completely in love. He wouldn’t let me touch him from his cage, only stood there haughtily, staring at me with absolute pride. As if to say, ’Yes, I’m beautiful and I know it, now, judge me like the rest and get out of here. I’m used to it anyway.’

But I never saw any problem with him. A cat that beautiful is allowed to be proud. In fact, I didn’t want him tamed, he needed only to be trained. But it turned out I had no problem with that.

He never messed in the house or even in the cat house I had designed for him under the staircase. Instead, he had dragged his litterbox into the backyard, well hidden behind the rose bushes. How strange is that? He wants to do his business outdoors, but in a litter box!

I named him Mr. Snow obviously because his fluffy fur is as pure as untouched snow, not even a speck of color on him. He’s very beautiful and he knows it too .

Then I allow myself to think of the reason why I had a sleepless night. You mean whom, not why , my subconscious snorts out. Yeah . . . whom, I agree.

Last night had turned out to be a crazy turn of events. All the admiration I’d felt at first was fast flushed down the drain, replaced with anger and embarrassment. And in a corner of my mind was confusion. What had gotten him so angry? Or maybe I had imagined the gentle smile on his face at first? There’s no need trying to figure it out. He’s just a big jerk who thinks he’s better than everyone because he’s from the city.

Well, Mr. City Boy, I don’t take crap from anyone, and you will not be an exception. The next time our paths cross, I’ll be sure to tell you exactly what I think of you.

I know of jerks and almost married one, I think bitterly. Jake is just another handsome man who feels the world owes him for being . . . handsome. And I will never let anyone put me down again. It took me a while to get here. I promised myself that never would I allow a man to make me feel small and helpless, as I had allowed my ex-boyfriend to do.

Feeling the need to do something, I decide to go to the pastry shop today and do some of the baking myself. Baking relaxes me. I try to stand up slowly to avoid jostling the cat into a rude awakening, literally. But he opens his eyes as soon as I slowly sit up. He glares at me, and I grin at him. Man, I love this cat!

In the sitting room, I switch on the television for some background noise and return for some food. I don’t feel like cooking, so I settle for a bowl of cereal. Actually, I don’t have the appetite to stomach something else anyway. Sitting on the top of the kitchen island, I slowly munch on my cereal .

Because it’s a Saturday, I decide to go for something comfortable. Blue jeans, with a grey long-sleeved shirt, and a pair of comfortable black sneakers fit the bill. A quick, hot shower with my fresh citrus body wash has such a calming effect. I throw on my clothes and the only things left are a quick brush through my hair, a swipe of mascara on my lashes, and some lip balm.

Powering up my newly juiced phone, I notice I have some texts from Ryan and Britt and an unknown caller. I have an inkling of what the texts might contain, so I just tuck it in the corner of my mind to check them later.

Stepping out, I feel the weather beginning to cool down. Soon, we’ll be seeing the spooky Halloween decorations and adorable little children trick or treating. Enjoying the cool breeze, I dig into my purse and bring out my hair bands so I can put my hair up. Yum, now I can feel the cool breeze caress my neck. It makes me smile to myself.

October means winter is just a few months away, and I’ve always enjoyed the cold, and even freezing, atmosphere—the smell that comes with it, dressing cozily, and my favorite pastime of winter: snuggling myself in a blanket, enjoying a delicious cup of hot chocolate, and reading an equally good book.

I already feel better after inhaling the crisp air. My mood is surprisingly uplifted. A K-Pop song comes on the radio, so I let it play, enjoying the happy beats. The sun is just beginning to rise, casting a warm golden glow on the mildly bustling streets. I roll down the windows, letting the gentle breeze brush against my face.

Heading towards my pastry shop, I’m ready to start my day. I had planned to bake some of the goodies to be artfully displaced in the showcase, but I didn’t quite make those earliest baker’s hours, so I left it to Ava—as usual, I must admit. She’s totally awesome in the kitchen and all the customers rave about the goods. When I tell her that, quite often, she actually blushes!

The town is coming to life as I approach the shop. I see the friendly faces of fellow shop owners, setting up their displays and preparing for the day ahead. I notice the toy shop opening already, and I spot a huge fake purple spider inside. The Halloween decorations will probably begin sooner than I thought.

As I near my shops, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and delicious baked goodies wafts through the air. That familiarity is comforting.

I park my car around back behind the pastry shop to save front parking for customers. The charming outdoor seating area is still empty. By noon, the place will be filled with locals and visitors, sitting under the colorful umbrella tables, cozily indulging themselves in mouthwatering pastries and soaking up the town’s atmosphere on a Saturday.

The outside of my café next door is equally empty. It boasts its own inviting outdoor space. I have ensured there is comfortable seating and vibrant potted plants. It’s the imagery that was painted in my mind when I decided I wanted to own a café too. It’s the perfect spot to sip on a cup of coffee or enjoy a leisurely brunch. Just like the pastry shop, come noon, you see people engaged in lively conversations, playing board games, or simply just relishing the peaceful ambiance.

Together with my bar across the street, these three create a perfect trio, earning the area the nickname of The Dynamic Trio .

As I expected, when I step into the pastry shop, I’m hit with the aroma of freshly baked goods. Ava, my baker extraordinaire, is carefully and artistically arranging some of her baked treats into the display case. We keep the shelves full to the brim to make mouths water all day long.

The shop walls are painted in pastel shades of baby blue, pale pink, and lavender, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Glass jars filled with colorful candies and sprinkles add a touch of warmth to the counter. I love the cozy seating areas scattered throughout the shop, with plush cushions and comfortable chairs. I make sure to keep fresh flowers in small bud vases on each table.

“Good morning, Aurora. Hope you had a good night’s rest.”

“Thanks, Ava! And how are you doing? You started early, and I’m sorry I didn’t make it in to help.” I check the pancake-shaped wall clock hanging above the counter. It reads 8:15. She must have come in really early for so many treats to be ready by this time.

“Yeah. Just finished my exams, and I guess no more late-night reads are helping me get up and at ‘em. Do you want a muffin? I could text Liam to bring over a cup of coffee from next door.”

“I’d appreciate it very much Ava.” She has always been so sweet. She works hard for her mom and her little sister, and she is putting herself through the town’s college. I try to pay her extra for whatever she does, but she doesn’t like accepting it.

Either way, I’m sure to pack some pastries and actual food for her to take to her mom. And anytime she tries to argue, I tell her it’s for her mom and her little sister. She smiles and shakes her head, gratitude shining in her eyes. I know the sleepless night is just an excuse.

Coming in here early even before work hours is her way of saying thanks for the princess-themed cake I baked for her sister’s birthday last Saturday. My phone chimes and I unlock it to see it’s another text from Britt. She says she’ll be dropping by my bakery after her morning jog. Yup!

She knows me well enough to know I’ll be here this early, especially because of yesterday’s incident. The time on my phone reads 8:25. She’ll be here any moment now.

“Could you text Liam to bring me an extra cup of coffee, please?” Ava nods and asks if she should also bring muffins for two. I nod yes and smile my thanks, heading to my office. I have an inkling about what Britt’s meeting will entail, and for the first time ever, I’m not looking forward to her presence.