CHAPTER 7
784 Words
Chapter 7: The Village Festival
The news spread through Maple Creek Village before sunrise.
“The Harvest Festival is tomorrow!”
Colorful banners appeared along the main street, children ran through the square with paper lanterns, and every shop owner was busy decorating.
Sunflower Café was no exception.
Lena stood on a ladder, trying to hang a sunflower wreath above the entrance.
“It won’t stay straight,” she muttered.
Daniel looked up from the doorway.
“You’re going to fall.”
“I am not.”
The ladder wobbled.
“Lena…”
“I’m fi—”
Before she could finish, the ladder tilted.
Daniel rushed forward, catching her just before she hit the ground.
For a heartbeat…
Neither of them moved.
Lena looked up into his eyes.
Daniel realized he was still holding her around the waist.
They quickly stepped apart.
“I… um… thank you,” Lena said, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
“You were right.”
“I usually am.”
She rolled her eyes.
“Don’t get used to hearing that.”
⸻
By midmorning, the café was overflowing with customers.
Everyone wanted to place orders for the festival.
“Pies.”
“Cakes.”
“Cinnamon rolls.”
“Three dozen cookies.”
Lena scribbled down order after order.
Daniel stared at the growing list.
“Can we actually finish all this?”
She looked at him with determination.
“We have to.”
“This festival only comes once a year.”
“It’s our busiest weekend.”
Daniel nodded.
“Then let’s get to work.”
⸻
Hours passed in a blur.
Flour dust covered Daniel’s apron.
His sleeves were rolled up, and despite making a mess of the dough more than once, he never complained.
Lena caught herself smiling as she watched him carefully decorate a pie.
“You missed a spot.”
He frowned.
“I did?”
She stepped closer.
Without thinking, she reached up and brushed a streak of flour from his cheek with her thumb.
“There.”
Daniel froze.
“So… was that the spot?”
Lena blinked.
Realizing what she’d just done, she quickly stepped back.
“Y-Yes.”
She turned away before he could see the blush creeping across her face.
Daniel touched the place where her fingers had been.
For reasons he couldn’t explain…
His heart was racing.
⸻
Late that afternoon, the café door opened.
A little girl, no older than eight, peeked inside.
Her clothes were neat but worn, and she clutched a small cloth purse.
“Lena?”
Lena smiled warmly.
“Hi, Emma. What can I do for you?”
The little girl slowly emptied her purse onto the counter.
A few coins rolled across the wood.
“I wanted to buy one cinnamon roll…”
She counted the coins again.
“…but I’m short.”
Lena gently pushed the coins back toward her.
“Then today, it’s free.”
Emma’s eyes widened.
“I can’t—”
“You can.”
“It’s my festival gift.”
The little girl’s face lit up with joy.
“Thank you!”
She hugged Lena before running out of the café with the warm pastry in her hands.
Daniel had watched the entire exchange in silence.
“You do that often?” he asked.
Lena shrugged.
“If someone leaves my café smiling, it’s worth more than the money.”
Daniel looked out the window at Emma skipping happily down the street.
A faint smile crossed his face.
“Your grandmother taught you that too?”
Lena nodded.
“Every loaf of bread feeds a stomach.”
“But kindness feeds the heart.”
Daniel lowered his gaze.
No wonder everyone in the village loved her.
⸻
That evening, after closing, Daniel stepped outside to lock the café door.
As he turned the key…
He noticed something tucked beneath the flowerpot beside the entrance.
A black envelope.
No name.
No stamp.
His expression hardened.
Slowly, he picked it up.
Inside was a single card.
YOU CAN’T HIDE FOREVER.
There was no signature.
Only a small silver emblem embossed in the corner.
Daniel’s face lost all color.
He knew that symbol.
He hadn’t seen it in over a year.
Without another word, he slipped the card into his pocket before Lena could notice.
“What is it?” she asked from behind him.
Daniel forced a smile.
“Nothing.”
But that night…
Sleep refused to come.
Somewhere, someone had found him.
And for the first time since arriving in Maple Creek Village…
The danger he had escaped was no longer miles away.
It was at the doorstep of Sunflower Café.
- Writer
