Page 4 of Sebastian

“Hi there! Welcome to Emma’s. What can I get for you guys today?”

“I want a hot chocolate and a chocolate cookie,” the precocious little girl said. She flashed a dazzling smile, complete with two missing front teeth that had Emma giggling.

“Adeline Sears, what do you also need to say?”

“Oh, right mama. Please?” Her over-sized hazel eyes pierced through Emma’s soul.

“Good job,” the woman praised.

“A hot chocolate and a chocolate cookie. We can absolutely do that, sweetheart. Anything for you?” Emma asked the woman, who looked to be in her early thirties. She was well put together, dressed in a business suit, with her hair pulled back into a slick bun.

“I’d love a flat white. Oh, and what the heck, a chocolate cookie for me too, please. We are celebrating after all, aren’t we, Addie?”

“Yes!”

“Feel free to sit anywhere, and I’ll get your order right out to you.”

Hands full of drinks and cookies, Emma made her way towards the table where the mother-daughter duo sat.

“So, are y’all new to town? Or just visiting?” she asked as she placed their order on the table.

“We just moved here, actually. I was lucky enough to land the new receptionist’s job at Montgomery Equities. It’s just a huge blessing.”

“I imagine you must have quite the impressive corporate background for someone like Sebastian Montgomery to hire you.”

“Well, his background check sure was thorough!” the woman laughed. “He even asked me about the time I shoplifted when I was thirteen. I’m not proud of it, but I spilled the beans right then and there about the dangers of peer pressure. I think he appreciated my honesty.”

“So, it’s just the two of you here?”

“Most of the time. My husband is a doctor. He wanted us to be in Rogersville, closer to the bigger airports, you know? But I didn’t want to live there. I love how quiet and quaint Bell Ridge is. So, we settled here.”

“I miss daddy a lot because he travels for work,” the little girl added. “But mom said I can take dance classes here like I did before we had to move.”

“Wow, that does sound so exciting. What kind of dance classes are you hoping to do?” Emma asked.

“I did tap and contemporary back home, but I really want to be a ballerina when I grow up. I’m going to be seven soon and I need to start taking my dancing seriously.”

The woman laughed. “As you can see, Addie is a very serious and determined kiddo. If you know of any local ballet teachers, I’m in desperate need of recommendations.”

“Is Addie your first?”

“The first and only, why?”

“Oh, my mom used to say the same thing about me when I was around her age. Just so funny how attributes can be assigned to your birth order.”

“That’s probably so true. I’m the baby of my family and definitely more whimsical than I think Addie will turn out to be.”

“Nothing wrong with a little whimsy. And, actually, you are in luck! One of my regulars is a dance teacher. She’s really amazing. Let me get you her number and I’ll tell her to expect a call from you when she stops in later today.”

“Oh, that would be amazing. Thank you!”

“I’m Emma, by the way.”

“Oh, gosh, please forgive me. I’m Natalie. My brain is frazzled after the move and with the excitement of heading back to work. I’ve been out of the workforce since she was born, and it just feels overwhelming to be going back.”

“Well, it’s really nice to meet you, Natalie. If you ever need anything, feel free to just pop in here whenever.”

“Thanks, Emma. I will.”

---