Page 85 of Time After Time
I walked further into the store, letting my eyes wander across the whole place, taking in every little detail and making sure everything looked just right. A huge grandfather clock stood right in the middle, its dark wood standing out against the soft white linens that were draped over the furniture nearby. The brown and white colours tied everything together, showing up in every corner of the store. It looked perfect. And for a moment, I just stood there, feeling really proud.
Somehow, I had managed to capture a feeling of nostalgia and home that really struck me. I hadn’t lived in any of these eras or seen most of these objects before meeting Cora, even so, a wave of nostalgia hit me hard. It was so powerful that I almost wanted to sit down and just take it all in.
The walls were lined with sepia-toned photographs in elegant white frames. I saw families gathered around a dinner table, a bustling street scene, and an old man with his equally old dog. Each picture made you want to stop in front and allow your gaze to roam all over it, to take in every detail and question who were these people? What were their lives like? What had been of them?
Of course, apart from the decoration I had planned, the store was decorated with antique objects all around. They were pieces Cora had found, most likely not in the best states, but she hadtaken the time and the care to restore them. Now, they looked new, as if no one had ever used them.
Cora wasthattalented.
Two hands suddenly rested on my shoulders, almost making me jump. I quickly reminded myself that jumping in a place like this felt risky. Everything around me seemed so delicate and precious that I couldn’t shake the feeling that I might accidentally knock something over just by stepping inside the store.
Cora gathered her freshly dyed pastel pink hair into a short ponytail, though a few rebellious strands framed her face, highlighting her features beautifully. She had lost some weight when Sebastian left, anxious as it was the first time they were apart, and he was on another continent. Fortunately, her calls with him made her feel calmer, knowing he was alright, and she gained weight back, looking radiant and healthier. “I can’t get over how amazing this looks, Gen.” She stepped forward and enveloped me in an embrace, swaying me and squeezing me tightly. “Thank you so much.”
As we pulled apart, I glanced at her with a smile tugging at my lips, shaking my head gently. “Thank you for giving me this chance.”
We exchanged wide, nervous smiles, our hands clasped in front of us, trembling. We both hoped the store would gain recognition and attract as many clients as possible. At the same time, we were anxious about whether people would love the store’s decor and the details I had prepared for the grand opening. While each of us was more nervous about the parts we were responsible for, we were also jittery and excited for each other.
“People are starting to arrive, ladies.”
The voice startled us, making both Cora and me jump at the same time. We turned toward it, laughing quietly when wecaught each other’s amused expressions. Robert stood by the door, beaming at us, before walking over. His hand rested on Cora’s growing belly, rubbing slow circles as if it had already become second nature.
Gosh, I still couldn’t believe Sebastian was going to be a big brother. I kept picturing him holding a little sister in his arms, and every time, my heart completely melted. I just knew he was going to be the most overprotective brother, taking her everywhere he went. No one was going to love her the way he would.
Cora and Robert had been trying for a baby—and even though they were over the moon, Cora had admitted feeling a little torn at first, wondering if Sebastian would be alright after being an only child for so long. But when they told him?
He had been on his way to class with Reth Inoue, walking down the street, and the second they gave him the news over video call, he had screamed loud enough for the whole city to hear, laughing like a maniac. Right after, he had bombarded his mum with questions, asking if she was okay and if she needed anything.
“Did you talk to my son?” he asked, his eyes twinkling with curiosity. I couldn’t help but grin at the question.
Even though they had always been close, Sebastian never called Robert ‘Dad’ at first. He was afraid it might feel like too much. Robert never forced it, either. He never called Sebastian his son, even if he felt it deep down. But once it happened, once the words slipped out, they stuck. After that, it was always ‘my dad this’ and ‘my dad that,’ and just as much ‘my son this’ and ‘my son that.’
“He’s stressed with his upcoming exams.” Robert nodded at my words as he stepped closer to his now-wife, pressing a kiss on the side of her forehead. Cora had known for a while that Sebastian wouldn’t be able to attend the store’s inauguration.Although he had been disappointed, Cora had taken the news calmly. “I texted him this morning but haven’t heard back.” I pressed my lips into a straight line, missing him deeply. The calendar on my desk was a testament to that. My pages were white and unused except his expected return date, marked with hearts and crossed-out lines indicating the days that had already passed.
Cora gave my hands a reassuring squeeze while Robert flashed me a supportive smile.
“Oh, the camera.” Robert gestured toward a camera perched on a high shelf in the corner of the store, its lens angled to capture a wide view of the room. “Is that a good spot? I also brought this one.” He lifted the camera hanging around his neck, its strap resting across his chest. “I can use it to take close-up shots.”
I needed to compile a portfolio showcasing everything I had arranged for the event—activities, food, invitations, and more—along with explanations for my choices. Therefore, including several photos of the venue was crucial. Robert had kindly offered to help with this, so he had set one camera to record continuously while using the other to capture still shots, both for their own memories and to help me with my project.
Before long, the store was bustling with more people than just the Venturas and St. James families. At first, only a few familiar and curious faces came in, but then the crowd grew beyond my expectations, and to both Cora’s and my surprise, visitors from outside Golden Sands began to arrive. They talked loudly about loving the decoration of the store and even inquired about purchasing specific pieces of furniture once the inauguration party concluded, which Cora eagerly accepted.
As some guests left, others arrived, and the store remained packed with visitors throughout the event. I was relieved that we had arranged for drinks, food, and servers, and that wehad taken precautions to protect the antique pieces from any potential incidents.
I stayed on my feet, constantly overseeing every detail of the event. Despite reassurances from my parents and Cora that everything was in place and nothing could go wrong, I wasn’t ready to relax just yet. I needed my eyes to be wide open and roaming all over around. So, of course, once the evening wore on and guests began to leave after a few hours, I was left feeling completely exhausted, my feet sore from hours of standing and moving from one end of the store to the other.
“You did amazing, sweetheart.” As the applause faded, my parents stepped forward, joining those around me. I sank into a chair that Cora had thoughtfully pulled out. My heels, which I had specifically chosen for the event, were causing me considerable pain. I couldn’t help but admit to myself that my mum and Sylvie were right, and I should have broken them in at home first.
“Amazing falls short,” Mr. Marley said, sitting in front of me and finding my hand on top of the table to grasp it and squeeze it with a proud smile that made his eyes close a bit. His granddaughter, seated beside him, nodded along as she enjoyed some of the leftover treats we had set out on the table.
Robert rested his right elbow on the arm of the chair where I was seated and started showing me the photos on his camera. The images were breathtaking, and as I looked through them, a wave of relief washed over me. The pictures, along with the ones he had taken of the guests and the room, and the ones I had snapped before the event—focusing on the decor and details—were going to make my portfolio shine. I couldn’t wait to compile everything and send it off to the evaluators.
“This is so good,” Aria said, her mouth full of dessert. “The chef or whoever made these did an amazing job.”
At her words, I nodded in agreement. “She’s the best and highest-rated chef I could find who was willing to come to Golden Sands.” Although I was speaking to Aria, my focus remained on the camera, scrutinising each shot. “But I haven’t had a chance to try them myself.” Suddenly, the camera was snatched from my hands, and I looked up to see Robert’s astonished expression, which was echoed by everyone else in the room. “What’s wrong?”
“You haven’t tried them?” Cora asked, stepping closer to the dish and glancing at it with curiosity.
I shook my head. I love sweets. If any desserts or cakes were placed in front of me… well, I wouldn’t be able to control myself. Still, nothing ever compared to the desserts Sebastian baked, and I felt weird eating something someone else had baked because it never tasted as amazing as what he prepared.
