Page 1 of Craving Stardust

ONE

Iris

Istood at the window of my tiny farmhouse sipping a strong cup of coffee as the sun slowly rose on the horizon. My fluffy black cat, Katie (Purry), perched on the windowsill, her tail whipping back and forth. She made little chirps in her throat as she imagined herself hunting the birds pecking their way across the side lawn.

“You get ‘em, girl,” I said, and she twitched on the windowsill, shooting me a look full of scorn, as if by speaking, I’d scare her prey away.

An indoor cat, her prey was safe for now.

Once the pink rays had faded from the sky and my cup was empty, I gave her a quick pat and placed the mug in the sink. I strode through the cozy farmhouse I’d inherited from my deceased grandmother, entering my bedroom to get ready for work.

Katie scampered behind me, jumping up onto my bed and flopping with a heavy sigh. She rolled onto her back, exposing her big belly for rubs.

“Silly girl.” Leaning close, I stroked her fur. “Look at that chonky tummy. So cute!” I’d inherited Katie from my grandmother, along with the farmhouse in decent shape, a barn in not-so-decent shape, plus fifty acres of overgrown fields and woods. Katie was a bit feral when I arrived, but once I brought her inside and fed her lots of treats, she turned into the spoiled kitty she was born to be.

Until a month ago, I’d lived in a city and managed a bookstore. My inheritance offered me a new start after my divorce. I’d recently rented a storefront downtown and fulfilled my lifelong dream of opening my own bookstore.

Romance books only. Sorry, guys, but you could buy your military hero books elsewhere.

Fortunately, my old job had paid well, and I’d saved all I could. Added to what Grannie left me, which wasn’t a lot, I had enough money to cover my expenses for a few months until my bookstore took off.

Which it would, because . . . romance. Who didn’t want to read about true love?

Katie and I lived a simple life. Sometimes I longed for someone kind to share it with me, but what I was doing now fulfilled me in ways I’d never thought possible. I could make peanut butter, chocolate chip cookies and eat five if I wanted to. I could lounge around on Sunday in leggings and a t-shirt without being told I needed to “dress nicely”. Both things my ex had frowned upon.

After lying on the bed beside Katie and giving her lots of pats, I rose and booped her nose—she swiped at my hand.

“Missed. Ha.” With a grin, I strode through the house and out to the big barn where my grandfather used to restore old cars for a living, and climbed into my vehicle parked inside. I drove into town, parking behind the building housing my bookstore. Inside, I flipped the Closed sign to Open and started straightening shelves.

It wasn’t long before my first customer arrived, raving about the enormous monster romance selection I’d created. More eager readers followed, and the endless ca-ching of the cash register made my heart sing.

Finally, I had a lull in the action and flopped onto the stool I kept behind the register. Ten already? Whoa. Time did fly when you were having fun.

“Morning, Iris,” Tessa, the fifty-something woman who ran the bakery next door, called out as she bustled through the entrance. “Here you go, honey.” With her ever-present grin filling her lovely brown face, she rounded the counter and handed me an antique plate holding a donut. She served all her customers on real plates, not that foam stuff that might make you sick. They were a mix mash of all sorts of patterns, and I wasn’t sure she had more than one of each, but it worked. Customers loved it and it made her happy. What could be better than that? “The donut is freshly glazed and still warm from the oven.”

Oh, yum. The sweet smell of sugar and cinnamon filled the air, making my belly rumble.

She was the first person to befriend me in town, and we’d been best buds ever since. Like me, she struggled to get by. At least I had the farmhouse and my small savings. Tessa rented a house farther down the road from where I lived. But she had a ready smile and a positive attitude I emulated. I wanted to be just like her when I grew up.

“Oh my god, you’re the best.” Lifting the treat, I took a big bite, groaning at how amazing it tasted. Sweet, doughy, and warm. I’d gone to donut heaven, and I wasn’t coming back anytime soon.

“Only the best for my friend.” She handed me a covered cup of coffee. Not foam, though not antique stuff. She used paper that kept the coffee piping hot. “Listen, I’m hosting a costume party this Saturday night. I think you should come. It'll be a great way to introduce you to the rest of the community.”

“Absolutely count me in.” Anticipation bubbled inside me.

“Everyone’s wearing a costume.” She grinned, and her eyes sparkled. “I know it’s not Halloween or anything like that, but I thought it would be fun.”

I frowned. “What kind of costumes are we talking about?”

Her eyes sparkled. “Whatever you choose to wear is fine. Maybe something fun. Not a toaster. The last time I held a costume party, there were three.”

“Not a toaster then.” Not that I’d thought of dressing like one. I frowned and popped the last bite of donut into my mouth, chewing as I handed her the pretty plate. “Any ideas?”

“A refrigerator?”

I scowled, though it was just pretend.

She snickered. “At least it’s not a toaster! How about dressing as a witch?” she asked.

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