Page 22 of Our Darkest Summer
“The only good street in town. Whatever you need, you”ll find it here.” She smiled. “Movie? Dinner? Ice cream?—”
“I think I got it.” I laughed.
“So, what would you like to see first?” she asked, her dark brown eyes landing on me. “There’s the library.” She pointed at a big brick building. “And that’s our old school, but it’s lame,” she added, pointing at another building. “The church is a few streets down but?—”
“There,” I said, my eyes landing on a small corner shop that looked like it sold souvenirs. I could also kill for an iced coffee in this heat. “I’ll just buy one postcard, and then maybe we can get a coffee before we start the tour?”
Aaliyah laughed and my brows knotted. Did I say something funny?
“It’s such a shame my parents are out of town, they would’ve loved you,” she said, linking her arms with mine. “They own a café.” She pointed toward the other side of the town square, where just like here multiple shops lined the sidewalks. “It’s actually why they are not here. They went to Costa Rica to try out new coffee beans. Of course, they left me and my sister behind to run the business.” She sighed, and I gave her a sympathetic look. “But we could stop by after you buy the postcard. We sell the best coffee in town.”
“That would be great.” I smiled as we headed in the souvenir shop’s direction.
“I’ll just text Cora to meet us there. She wanted to come with me this morning but had to help her mom out at the last moment in the library.”
We stepped into the small shop stuffed with paintings, magnets, hats and mugs, and I mumbled anokayto Aaliyah, already searching for the postcard stands. I found them on the other side of the shelf that divided the room, with a lot more options than I expected. After five minutes of trying to decide between two, I finally chose the one with the lake on it over the painted town square with the white gazebo.
“That’s a nice one,” Aaliyah said as we stepped to the cashier.
I felt stupid for buying this, but I knew I would regret it if I didn’t. I put the postcard down on the counter and noticed a map collection of Coldwater hanging behind the cashier.
“And one of those, please.” I pointed at the one that also had the lake and the surrounding houses visible on it.
The woman placed everything into a small bag and two minutes later, we were on our way to Aaliyah’s family’s café. There was a girl standing under the lilac sign ofSunnyside Hideout Café, the only café on this side of the town square, and Aaliyah darted ahead jumping into the girl’s arms.
I lingered behind, not wanting to ruin their moment and instead looked over the street. The café was between a beauty salon and an abandoned-looking flower shop with aFor Salesign hanging on the door.
“The owner died,” Aaliyah chimed, and I jolted out of my wonder. “My parents are thinking about buying the place.” She sighed. “They say it would be nice to expand the café, but I’m not so sure.”
The blonde girl shifted closer and Aaliyah chuckled. “Sorry. Cora, Kinsley. Kinsley, Cora,” she introduced us.
“Nice to meet you.” I held out a hand and Cora took it. “I heard a lot about you.” I smiled, and even though I only met Aaliyah last night, it wasn’t even a lie.
Cora’s smile widened at my words, and Aaliyah rolled her eyes.
“Hi,” Cora said after a moment, shaking my hand. “I’m sorry I missed your tour, but I hope it went well.”
“It…did?” I replied with a question because I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to say. So far I haven’t seen much of the town but Aaliyah did say that this was the only interesting part.
“See,” Aaliyah opened the door to the café, “I told you I’m a great tour guide. She even bought a postcard.” She pointed at the bag in my hand.
“You really did.” Cora chuckled. “I’m impressed,” she said as we stepped into the café.
The sweet scent of vanilla and fresh pastries wrapped around me like a hug, and my mouth instantly watered. Soft chatter, clinking cutlery, and the gentle hum of music from a vintage radio filled the air.
“Thank you.” Aaliyah grinned. “And thank you for lending me your car as well,” she added, kissing Cora and dropping the Jeep’s keys into her palm.
I tried to pay attention to the rest of their conversation, but the view that greeted me stole my breath. Aaliyah’s parents’ café looked like something out of a romance novel, with its cozy wooden interior, white-paneled walls, lilac-cushioned chairs, and fresh flowers arranged in glass jars on every table. We found a free spot by the window with a clear view of the green town square, where benches lined the winding pathways that crisscrossed the park and led to the gazebo at its center.
“Look who decided to finally show up,” someone said, and I turned my gaze up to a girl, probably in her late twenties, standing next to our table. She was wearing a lilac apron with a name tag on it. “You’re three hours late to your shift.”
“Kinsley, meet my sister, Lila.” Aaliyah sighed, without looking at her sister. “She’s mad because she says I forgot to come to work this morning, but I didn’t. I texted her that I had other things to do.”
“Hi.” Lila tried to force a smile onto her lips as she looked at me, before turning back to her sister. “And you did not.” She crossed her arms.
“I so did,” Aaliyah argued. “You should check your phone sometimes,Grandma.”
Lila opened her mouth but then closed it. Her nostrils flared and she blew out a long breath. “What can I get you girls?” She turned her attention back to me and Cora, ignoring her sister.
