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Chapter 2

2

A udrey pushed open the door of Haven Café, a welcome blast of cool air washing over her sun-warmed skin. The familiar chime of the bell above the door announced her arrival, and she breathed in the comforting scent of freshly brewed coffee and cinnamon rolls.

"Audrey! Your usual?" Lisa called from behind the counter.

"Yes, please," Audrey answered, making her way to her favorite corner booth. She sank into the cushioned seat with a sigh, feeling the ache in her muscles from the hours of landscaping work she'd already put in this morning.

Lisa appeared at the table, setting down a tall glass of iced coffee. "Rough morning?"

"Just hot," Audrey said, wrapping her hands around the cool glass. "Mrs. Johnson's new garden is coming along nicely, but I swear that woman changes her mind every five minutes."

"Sounds like you've earned your lunch break," Lisa laughed. "I'll be back with your turkey club in two minutes."

As Lisa walked away, Audrey took a long sip of her coffee, savoring the taste and willing the caffeine to get her through the second half of her day. She leaned back, letting her eyes drift closed for a moment. The quiet hum of conversation and the clink of dishes surrounded her as she thought about her next job. Thankfully, it was only a ten-minute drive away, and the owner of that house was much more laidback than Mrs. Johnson.

Opening her eyes, Audrey caught sight of her reflection in the window. Her black hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail, a few wayward strands clinging to her neck, damp with perspiration from the morning's labor. She looked tired, the faint lines around her green eyes more pronounced than usual, but there was a spark of satisfaction there too. Despite the challenges, she loved her work. The ache in her muscles and the dirt under her nails were signs of another job done. Her landscaping business was thriving, and with each garden she transformed, she felt more rooted in this coastal community she now called home.

Audrey sipped her coffee and let her mind wander. She thought about the garden she'd just left behind, envisioning how it would look once the roses bloomed. There was something deeply satisfying about coaxing life from the earth, about creating beauty where there was once only bare soil.

Her phone buzzed, taking her away from her thoughts. It was a text from her newest client, confirming their appointment for the following week. Audrey quickly typed out a response, grateful for the steady stream of work that had allowed her to rebuild her life here in Morro Bay.

Lisa appeared at her table, setting down a plate piled high with a turkey club sandwich and a side of crisp, golden fries. "Here you go."

"Thanks," Audrey said, her stomach rumbling as soon as she caught the scent of the toasted bread and fries.

A waitress took Audrey's plate, and Lisa slid into the booth across from Audrey, a warm smile on her face. "Sorry. We just got busy after you came in."

Audrey finished her ice coffee before she shook her head. "I never expect to get a chance to talk to you when I come in here."

"And that's why I was thinking that we should try this new restaurant that just opened up. I thought maybe we could check it out together, grab some dinner. What do you say?"

"Today?"

Lisa nodded.

Audrey hesitated, her mind already jumping ahead to her evening plans. "I'd love to, but I've been meaning to work on my neighbor's garden. It's been neglected for a while now. I haven't been over there in almost two weeks, and it's starting to get messy."

Lisa's expression softened. "You're still looking after Lily's garden?"

Audrey nodded, a sad smile tugging at her lips. "I can't just let it get overgrown. Lily loved that garden."

"Do you think the house will ever be sold?"

Audrey shrugged, her gaze drifting out the window of Lisa's cozy café. "I don't know. I've never seen anyone come around, not even to check on the property. Lily never really talked about her family. I never asked what happened. But they must know about the house, or maybe they just don't care," she finished with a sigh.

Lisa reached across the table, giving Audrey's hand a comforting squeeze. "I'm sure whoever they are, they'd appreciate what you're doing."

Audrey met Lisa's gaze, a grateful smile on her face. "Thanks, Lisa. I just... I feel like I owe it to her, you know? After everything she did for me when I first moved here."

Lisa nodded, understanding in her eyes. "Of course. But don't forget to take care of yourself too, okay? The offer for dinner still stands, whenever you're free."

"Thanks. Maybe next week?"

"If it's next week, I'll be persuading you to do dinner and a movie."

"Another Jake Griffen action thriller, whatever," Audrey said with a flick of her wrist.

"It's a tradition at this point."

"Thankfully, there's always a woman to distract me from Jake Griffen's sweaty, chiseled body."

"And that's why you keep coming with me. Good luck with your afternoon project."

"Thanks."

Audrey watched Lisa walk away. She was so lucky to have a friend like Lisa. Audrey had spent a lot of time with Lily too, but it was always gardening or going for a walk on the beach. With Lisa, she got out of her comfort zone. Lisa always wanted to try new restaurants or go away for the weekend. Lisa even came to gay bars with Audrey when she was feeling particularly adventurous, back when she'd first moved to Morro Bay.

That was only four or five years ago, but it felt like a lifetime ago. Audrey couldn't even imagine going to Los Angeles or San Francisco for the weekend like they used to. She'd almost accepted that she wasn't going to be in a serious relationship again. Yes, the divorce had left her feeling bitter, but even as the years went by, and she found a new place to call home, she hadn't felt that need to put herself out there again and try to meet someone new. She didn't need to. She was happy just the way things were. Every once in a while, Lisa tried to set her up with a friend of a friend, but even Lisa might be ready to give up on her.

Audrey sighed, her thoughts drifting back to her neighbor's garden. She couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness as she thought about Lily. The older woman had been such a comforting presence in her life, always ready with a wise word or happy to just sit together on the deck and watch the sun set. Lily had been the first person to make Audrey feel truly welcome in Morro Bay, and even though it had been two years since she'd died, Audrey was missing her more with each passing month.

Audrey paid and got another iced coffee to bring with her to her next job. As she pushed open the door of the café, the warm California sun embraced her once again. She squinted against the brightness, her hand automatically reaching up to shield her eyes. The walk back to her truck was short, but Audrey found herself taking her time, her mind still lost in thought.

She climbed into the driver's seat, the hot leather sticking to the back of her thighs. The engine roared to life, and Audrey reached for her shades, sliding them on, ready to get back to work.

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