star dust

Reaching immediately for the placed coffee, Gabriel muttered another quick thanks. A momentary distraction though it was, for each time she spoke he found himself more certain that he knew her, somehow… he was grateful for the brief respite. He had not really gathered his thoughts, but swallowed a mouthful of coffee regardless and set the mug down. “Uh,” a pause, Gabriel averted his gaze to the menu before him once again. “Some buttered toast would be great, too.” Swallowing thickly, he leant back in his seat and dared to ask the question on his mind. “I think that’s it, thank you… uh, what’s your name, sorry?” Perhaps that knowledge would help.

He accepted the offered menu with a rejuvenated smile and resigned himself to silent confusion over just why she seemed familiar – irrefutably in a way deeper than simply having seen her around before. It was the first time Gabriel had stepped foot into Sally’s and in truth he could quite confidently say that it was her voice, rather than her face that rang a bell. “Thank you, that’s perfect.” Promptly taking a nearby empty seat and silently grateful for the temporary pain relief sitting granted, Gabriel half-concentrated on the menu before him until the mystery woman reappeared again, and he came to the conclusion that he’d not decided what to eat. In a panic, he said the first thing that came to mind. “Could I just have bacon and eggs? Please.” Not what he had had in mind, but it would do have to do.

“Mornin’,” he greeted warmly, surprised he even managed to muster up such a tone given the relatively early hour. It was the first time in a long time Gabriel had not slept through most of the morning; eleven being his usual wake up hour – but he took it as a good sign and plastered a smile across his face as he shut the coffee shop door behind him. “I’ll start with a coffee, please. And browse the menu for food if that’s alright with you?” He met her gaze, vague recognition ringing in the back of his mind, but he was certain it came from having seen her around Redwater, rather than anything deeper. It wasn’t as if the town was so large that recognising an inhabitant one hadn’t actually met was out of the question.

Dot pouted, in spite of herself. Or rather, in spite of her father’s training. She was never to show any emotion at all, if he had his way, but she’d been openly passionate since birth and he couldn’t stop her. Nobody ever really could rein her in. “Well that’s lovely, you are a much better cook than I am. So far. If given a chance, though, I’m good at anything,” she smirked. “In any case, call me if your oven breaks or something. I’m better with machines than food.” Or people, she thought.

Lily smiled gratefully, tugging at her skirts in mild nervousness. “I just want to do well. I’ve never been that great at cooking and I want to surprise my husband with something… nice.” 

graham smiles at the relief that seemed to come to her, the woman relaxing in the booth slightly. during the time he had known her, she had always been a bit of a worrier. all the more reason this would do her some good, he thought. he nods at the question, wanting to reassure her just as she was reassuring herself. “that’s great, really,” he says, leaning forward on his elbows, “i would just–write it all down. anything and everything, whether you think it’s important or not. then, you can really sit down and start writing.” graham nods a bit, “obviously, you don’t plan on publishing this, but if you should still edit and all of that. just so you get more time, thinking it back over, getting it out of your system.”

“thank you.” ginny nodded slightly, glancing over the menu. grace was right - there was a lot of good things available that it took ginny a few moments to settle on what to get for breakfast. but, when grace returned with her orange juice, ginny had decided on “the scrambled eggs and rye toast, please. can could get some fresh fruits with that?” 

Andy wasn’t expecting the knock, but she was glad to see grace. she was one of the few people she could stand for longer than a few moments. She was a good woman and surprisingly good company. Andy held a small smile, “Well, considering that it’s my day off and I was about to phone you to see if you wanted to do something today, I’d say not inappropriate at all.”

Rory sometimes liked going out for breakfast more than dinner. There was less of a rush, and it was something that motivated him to get out of bed. So, to Sally’s it was. When he got there, he gave Grace a little smile. “Oh, I think I’ve been here a few times.”

@gracecolliers

dancing was fun, it didn’t hold the same allure that it had, but it was still fun nonetheless. plus, having grace with him was a bonus. she was one of the only people that put up with him through out high school and genuinely liked talking to him. he didn’t know why, but she was a comforting presence. he found himself having to remind himself to have fun and be in the moment. he wasn’t going to let his memories ruin tonight. 

they were having fun dancing, and for a moment, eli turned away to see some anomaly in the crowd, but it was gone before he could even get a look at it, so he shrugged it off. he turned back to grace and saw something change over her face. he didn’t know what it was, but something in the back of his mind was telling him that he did know. he knew all too well. he was still confused but he was able to herd her out of the dance floor and slip through one of the side exits to get outside to the fresh air. 

“hey, grace,” he spoke softly, not sure what to say, “are you… are you okay?” he knew the answer though. the real one at least.

“… back again, I see, Ms.” 

Lily looked up from her coin purse and smiled as the cashier regarded her with a curious head tilt. He eyed the mountain of groceries on the counter and chuckled in quiet disbelief. 

“My first pie didn’t go according to plan.” Lily explained with a small shrug. “Apparently, it is not wise to double the oven’s temperature, for it does not bake the pie faster.” It was a lesson well learned at the expense of the now very charred blackberry pie behind her house. Lily turned to the person next in line and twisted her gloves nervously. 

“I’m sorry, this might take a while…”  

at the request, graham quickly puts down the newspaper he had been reading, giving his full attention to the woman. it wasn’t often a conversation was preceded by that, even if he was speaking with grace. they often spoke of the serious things in life, he felt like he knew more about grace than he did anyone else in life. he took pride in being her go-to, and was happy to drop anything else whenever she needed his help. scratching against beard, there’s a serious look on his face as he listened. as this seemed like something important, he didn’t rush into an answer, sitting in silence for a moment as he thought if over. “yeah,” he says, finally, focusing back to grace, “i think that’s a great idea, actually. better than keeping it all to yourself.” things always got easier, the more you talked about them. not that, as quiet as a person as he was, graham ever took that advice, but he knew it to be true. 

beth nodded her head, a polite smile on her face. “i do enjoy a bit of toast and jam in the mornin’. not much, but just enough.” she looked around the shop with curious eyes. “it’s a lovely place. it’s very invitin’. i see why you enjoy it so much.” 

It was always the eyes that gave away when Dot had done it again. She was always running her mouth, thinking she was being kind or helpful when she was just offending everyone. She blushed and pursed her lips, as though physically trying to keep her words to herself. “Come now, Gracie, we both know I can handle it. I’ll even make my own breakfast and I won’t get in anybody’s way. Promise.”

ariel smiled in that lazy way he always did, eyes tracking the barista as she tried to stop the flow of coffee. “wouldn’t say that, usually stick to considerin’ myself a life taker,” his smile grew as he spoke, half teasing and half being a little too honest, drawl heavy from lack of sleep. “but ya’ could always repay me with another cup, if ya’ want. wouldn’t say no or nothin’.”