Fated to the Mothman

Starting My Life

I wake up early the next morning to make muffins. I love to bake, and my dream is to open a bakery, no matter how long that may take. Maybe Towerbrook will be the place that happens. The fastest way to the heart is through the stomach, so I figured a batch of sweets might butter up my new employers, pun fully intended. Popping them in the oven, I set a timer, then head to the bathroom to do my hair and makeup.

Twirling my round brush styler away from my face for some volume on the crown of my head, I grab some light-hold hair spray, spritzing it around my head to keep everything in place. It’s a losing battle, it’ll be limp against my head as soon as the summer humidity hits it, but hey, a girl’s gotta try. I throw on some jeans, and a flowy cropped blouse, then slip my feet into leather sandals. Dressing nice, even if it’s casual, makes me feel confident. Powerful. Beautiful. I hear the ding of the timer and go into the kitchen to pull the muffins out of the oven to cool while I’m out getting coffee.

Watching my feet while jogging down the wooden back steps, I then walk around the building, heading towards the local coffee shop I noticed last night when walking to The Pour. Last night. Memories of the winged creature I met yesterday flood into my mind. He looked like a fallen angel under the glow of the moon. Oh my gods, get a grip, Audra. You met him twice and… already your mind is plagued with the memory of his velvet skin against your body. A chill goes down my spine and I shrug my shoulders to try and relieve myself of the sensation. My mind goes to Millie, Scott, the pub, anything except Ellis. Millie was really fun, that’s the kind of friend I need. Someone vibrant, extra. I’ve always been drawn to those types of people, someone who will push you out of your comfort zone.

Looking around me, it’s hard not to notice how well-kept the town is. Flower planters hanging from the street lights boast vibrant blooms of varying colors, with leafy vines that spill over the planters’ edge. The sidewalk is clean even on such a busy morning. I meet humans and other creatures walking in and out of stores as I make my way to the coffee shop. A soft chorus of, “Excuse me” and laughs ring out every so often as the residents make their way to their destinations. Ahead, I see a naga-like creature and someone who looks mousey, with fawn-colored fur covering their face and whiskers coming from either side of their snout, letting out hooting laughs as they go in for a sort of bro-hug.

The smell of coffee beans floods my senses, the coffee cup sign ahead of me hangs off the front of the building swinging in the soft breeze. I open the door as a human woman and her Minotaur mate come out with a grumpy-looking child, with little nubs for horns, drags his feet behind them, his little tail thrashing in irritation.

The monster community tends to lean toward mate traditions rather than typical Western weddings. There are two kinds of mates, the Chosen and the Divine. Chosen mates are what you would imagine, more similar to many human cultures the Chosen mate is a mate proposal. You choose your mate or your family will choose mates if arrangements are part of their culture, though that’s less common in our area. Divine matings are more rare, nobody knows why they happen, only that something decides for you. Everything I’ve heard says it’s very much a when-you-know-you-know thing, whatever that means. When a different species takes a human mate, they usually end up doing a western wedding in conjunction with whatever traditions that species also has for a mate bond or mate joining. While it’s all very interesting, I also find it confusing but luckily that’s not an issue I need to worry about.

Smiling to myself, I step up to the front counter as a tall, slender Fae woman turns to face me. Her disinterested look, purple shag-cut hair, and septum piercing tell me one thing… This is going to be the best cup of coffee I’ve probably ever had. I order a large iced white chocolate latte with a caramel drizzle and walk to the end of the counter to wait for my drink.

I read through the small food menu on the wall behind the counter. Breakfast sandwiches, wraps, easy to prepare foods. The Plexiglas case sitting on the counter holds a few different kinds of cookies and a couple of pastries. Premade ones they’ve purchased to resell. I imagine the jumbo muffins I have at home perched in the case, my signature coffee cakes getting scooped up by customers grabbing a latte for their morning commute. Smiling to myself, I make a mental note of their sad food case for when I get my own business started.

The Fae, Asha, her name tag reads, hands me my drink and I take a long sip. My eyes nearly roll back in my head. When I look up, Asha is staring at me with an eyebrow quirked and a half grin plastered on her face. I nod my head up and down dramatically and shove a handful of $1 bills in the tip jar. She chuckles, turning to walk back over to the line of customers waiting to have their orders taken.

It’s Saturday, so I continue my stroll down to the farmers’ market that was listed in the events pamphlet Sienna left for me in the apartment. I don’t feel like sitting around at home until work. Who doesn’t love a farmers’ market? Seeing the vendor booths set up brings a familiar warmth to my chest. Growing up my mother used to love taking me on lazy Saturday morning strolls through the market in our hometown. She would stop at nearly every booth, looking through the artisan stands with especially lingering eyes. She was never much of a cook but was always a foodie at heart. We would lug home a canvas tote bag full of bread, local honey, and any other treats she could get her hands on. When we got back to the car, she would crack open the goodie bag so we could decide which treat we would split for the drive home.

My nose pricks as tears start to form. Looking up to the sky for a moment to I try to compose myself. A bit of homesickness washes over me. I’m not far from my parents, maybe an hour, but no matter your age, being away from the ones you love can be hard. Homesickness doesn’t creep in in unfamiliar places but in the places with unfamiliar faces.

Get ahold of yourself, it’s not that serious Audra. It’s a freaking farmer’s market.

I stand to the side, reading the flier that was handed to me at the entrance, seeing all the offerings before diving in. Feeling a tap on my shoulder, I look up to see an organizer with a branded market shirt standing next to me.

“Hi, new to the Towerbrook Farmer’s Market?” the man, about my height with sandy blonde hair smiles at me tentatively.

“Yes, I am! Well, new to town in general actually. I was hoping to find some honey. Also, do you have any bakery stands? I didn’t see any on here,” I ask, holding up the flier.

He gives me a sad look, “Honey at the Lavender Farms stand, he’s towards the end of this row. As for bakeries, no, not anymore. Mrs. Smith used to have the best in-home bakery in town. She did my birthday cakes as a child and made different sweets for others, including businesses in town, but she passed away recently.”

I feel bad for asking now.

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that,” I say, because, what else do you say to something like that?

“That’s okay, she was a nice woman but she was pretty old so…” he shrugs his shoulders. Well, that’s an odd thing to say, but okay.

“Hey, you said you’re new to town. How about a local takes you out to show you the sights?” He gestures towards the town square, where I’m sure most of the sights are in a town this size. “The name’s Jack by the way.” Gesturing to himself, he bows in a dorky but slightly endearing way.

I laugh and agree to the date, and exchange numbers. I don’t have any intention of dating dating him, but I’ve been wanting to get to know more people around here so maybe this is my chance. Plus he’s pretty good-looking in a conventional sort of way, so why not? I continue down the street, grab my honey and head back to the apartment to relax a bit before my work shift at 4:00 tonight.

**************************SCENE BREAK

My sneakers thump on the pavement as I make my way to The Pour, the container of muffins tucked under my arm. As soon as I open the front door Millie waves from her place behind the bar.

“She has returned!” Millie squeals, throwing her hands in the air.

I shake my head, laughing as I make my way to her. It’s hard not to return the smile of someone with a bubbly personality like hers. I set the muffins on the counter sliding them over slowly, a sly grin on my face.

“Bribes huh?” Millie grins at me.

I shake my head, “No bribes here unless you accept that is…”

Millie laughs again.

“These are the result of my whole reason for moving here. I’d love to have a bakery one day, even just an in-home one. My mom never was much of a cook or baker but we used to love getting sweet treats together. So, I learned how to bake, and it turns out, I love it.” I shut my mouth abruptly, realizing I’d just word-vomited.

After taking a huge bite from the baked treat, her eyes bugged as she chewed.

“What other things can you make? Do you think you could come up with a dessert for this place? We could feature a few different ones throughout the week and on holidays!”

I could see the wheels turning behind Millie’s wide eyes, a look that likely mirrored my own.

“You’d want me to? Really? I mean, I’d love to, there’s lots of things I can make, and so many I’d love to try making,” I exclaim.

“Of course, I want you to! This place needs something to spice it up, it’s been the same since Scott and I purchased it together. We could make some signature drinks to compliment the special dinner and dessert offerings. This will be so much fun! We’ll pay you, of course. You can work as a waitress still if you’d like but we can purchase the desserts from you. It’d be perfect.” Millie is practically buzzing with excitement at the idea, and I’m standing there stunned, my mind reeling with the suddenness but also the flood of ideas working their way into my brain.

We spend the rest of the dinner shift power walking to tables, serving everyone as best as we can. We’re getting closer, I’m already considering her an honorary friend for being so nice to me and jump-starting my business. Even if it’s not started yet, I’m already grateful to her for the blind support she’s shown me. We finish up our closing duties, and make our way to the door.

“Hey Aud, before I forget, here’s a business card for our accountant who is basically a business know-it-all. His name is Ellis, he does a great job and is like, super smart when it comes to business stuff. Scott and him have been friends for a long time and he took our dream of opening this place and turned it into a reality by pointing us in the right direction when it came to the details and “how” of it all. He’s a little odd but very sweet. You’ll want to make an appointment at night, he’s nocturnal. He can totally help you figure out how to get your in-home bakery going,” Millie says, holding his card out to me.

I stare at her blankly and reach to take it. She raises an eyebrow at me but turns and goes back to her work. I school my face and continue my closing duties, whatever look she saw in my features must have made her not want to open that can of worms. I don’t know if I want to either but I need his help, my future is more important than the hesitation I’m feeling. I know what my hesitation is though. I’m excited to see him. I’m attracted to this creature. And being his client would complicate me exploring those feelings any more. Maybe I can suck it up, get to know him slowly while we’re working together, then make my move after the bakery is open. Yes, perfect idea, that will work for sure. I give the number a call as soon as I clock out, and the sound of the voice that answers makes my stomach twist. He wants to meet tonight. I tell him I can be there in an hour and hang up.