Page 51 of Somewhere We Belong

“I’m so excited, mama,” she said, jumping up and down.

“I know, baby girl, but we have all day here,” I said, as we watched most of the people on the bus get off before we walked off.

Music was playing and the smell of strawberries filled the air. Sol squealed as she grabbed my hand, making our way to the woman taking tickets. She tore ours, allowing us entry. Sol and I walked towards the enormous banner that said welcome. We took a selfie in front of it like we had done before. Seeing Sol growing in the pictures was a favorite of mine and I loved having this moment with her. It was hard just being us, but I loved these moments of just us.

“Come on! Croissants and coffee!” Sol yelled, dragging me through the crowd that thankfully wasn’t too crowded. As the day went on, way more people would amass.

We stopped in front of a small tent with a cafe that was from Mountain View. The line wasn’t too bad, considering the smell coming from their tent was so delightful.

“What can I get you?” Darcy, the woman who helped run the coffee shop, asked looking up at us.

“Sugar!” She beamed at my daughter.

My heart warmed that she remembered Sol.

“Ms. Darcy!” Sol jumped up and down.

“How are ya, munchkin? I have a surprise for you.” Darcy waved at me, turning around to get a box.

“Eeek!” Sol squealed.

Darcy put a box on the table, opening it to show four croissants with a sun painted on them.

“These two are strawberry and these two are pistachio,” she said, showing us which was which. “But don’t tell anyone I made you pistachio ones, ok. I remember how much you loved them last time.”

Darcy whispered the last part as Sol nodded her head. “I won’t.”

“What can I get you, Nova? A flat white? A snickerdoodle latte?” she asked, remembering my past orders.

“What's new?” I looked at her menu. “Actually, surprise me.”

“Oh, can I have tea?” Sol added.

“You got it!”

“Babe, can you make a pistachio latte with oat milk?” she called out to a man with gorgeous blue eyes and tattoos on his arm.

Word was, Darcy had two boyfriends or should I say husbands by the look of the ring on her finger.

“Got it,” he said, getting to work.

I pulled out my card and handed it to her. She ran it, giving me a receipt that only said three dollars.

“Darcy, I think you charged me incorrectly,” I said, handing the receipt back to her.

“Nope, that's right.” She smiled. “Come back and tell me if you liked the croissants, Sugar!”

Sol grabbed the box as the handsome man gave me my latte and Sol her tea.

“Thanks,” I said.

“It’s Darcy's newest concoction, it's pretty damn good.” He nodded, going back to work on orders that Darcy called out.

“Say thank you,” I whispered to Sol.

“Thank You, Darcy!!!!” She yelled.

Darcy grinned, waving at us. “Enjoy!”

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