Chocolate Cake, Girl Talk, and Mysterious Packages

As soon as I walked in, the smell of coffee and sweets took over my senses. A nice slice of chocolate cake caught my eye and I knew that's exactly what I wanted. As I walked up to the counter to order, a familiar red-head popped up from behind the counter;

“Lily!?...”

“Bria, you cut your hair!”

“Yes, and you aren't dead!”

I could only imagine what my face looked like when Bria said those words. I was shocked, mortified, and curious all at the same time.

“Well by the look on your face, which is hilarious by the way, you haven’t heard any type of rumors.” I shook my head and waited for her to finish. “Well after graduation no one heard from you. Sadly, we had no one in your family to ask, and again I’m sorry for your loss, and people were curious. A lot of people assumed you were dead. A few thought you were sold off to some rich man in the city. And there were other really weird assumptions as well.”

I was baffled to say the least. I didn’t really talk to anyone else except Bria, and occasionally the members of the poetry club. So, to hear that people even had an interest in what happened to me was quite odd. But, we did live in a small town after all. My face broke out into a smile and I laughed.

“Wow I didn’t think people would even notice I was gone. I mean you were my only friend after all…”

“And I still am! I mean I’m still mad at you for not keeping contact, but I love you anyway.”

I couldn’t help but smile and feel a weight being lifted off of my shoulder. One that I didn’t know was there.

“Well,” Bria started, “Is there anything you’d like to order before I clock out? It’s on me and we can eat together!”

I forgot how much I loved her. Kind and caring. And she shares the love of food. You can’t beat that.

“Yeah, I’ll have a piece of chocolate cake and a water please.”

“Water? You are still a weirdo… Good!”

She smiled as she rang me up and handed me a slice of chocolate cake in a pretty little to-go box. I sat down at a table by the window and waited for Bria to clock and get her snack as well.

~~~

“And then, and then my brother tripped over his shoelace and fell down the stairs and our dog chased him down there too.” Bria was currently telling me a story about how her brother, Dj, fell down the stairs running from their dog.

She laughed so hard milk came out of her nose and that made me laugh harder and choke on my cake. It’s fair to say we enjoyed each other’s company every time we were together.

“I don’t remember the last time I laughed that hard. I’m so glad you're back and well Lily.”

Little did she know I am happier to be here than she knew. That little old barn was an experience I never thought I’d have, and I never want again. Although, it wasn’t all bad.

“Yeah, I’m happy to be in civilization again.”

“Speaking of which, I’m glad you brought that up. Are you ready to tell me where you have been and what happened?” Bria always knew the right time to bring up something, and that’s something I envied and hated at the same time.

“Do I have a choice?,” I asked.

“Nope!” I already knew the answer but I thought I’d asked anyway.

“To some it all up,” I started as I finished my last piece of cake, “ I felt alone and lost and didn’t know what to do, so I thought I’d pick up and just leave. You know how they do in the movies? And start over. Mom left me a generous amount of money to say the least and I just hitchhiked my way here. I stayed in a little run down barn, came across a guy who looked like a model, slept on some straw for about a month, and then got lucky enough to be picked up by an old man and his wife on the way here. And wha-la now I’m here.”

I managed to get that all out in almost one breath, and Bria listened the whole way through. Only replying with her outrageous and funny facial expressions.

“We’ll get back to the hot guy later, but girl do you have a place to stay!? What about a car, I know good and well you could afford a cheap one, why didn’t you do that before you decided to leave!? Are you okay? Do you wanna go shopping? Come stay with me! I have a spare room! What about-…”

“BRIA!” I somehow managed to get her to stop ranting for a second.

“I’m sorry you just have me worried! You know you could’ve come to me for anything! I actually wanted you to come to the city with me. And we would be roomies! But before I could ask you were already gone, and no one could reach you…”

I was shocked by Bria’s sudden confession and touched at the fact that she thought about me.

“You could still move in if you’d like.. I got a spare room in case you ever popped up again, and we can worry about a job once you get settled. As for a car, which you definitely need, my brother is actually selling his old one! Maybe I can put in a good word for you and get you a deal, but only if you want to! I mean you have your driver's license already and I know your feet are tired by now.”

I couldn’t help but giggle once Bria finally took a deep, deep breath. I mean I have nothing else to lose at this point and to room with my best friend does sound fun…

“Yeah, I’ll take you up on that offer! Roomies with my best friend in a new town sounds better than hay in a barn by myself.”

We smiled at each other and got up to leave. Of course before we left though, I just had to get another piece of that amazing chocolate cake. As I was about to order, the lady behind the register looked up at me with her wide, blue eyes and started crying.

I think it’s safe to say that today was full of surprises and there were many more to come.

“Mrs. Julie, what's wrong? Is everything okay?,” Bria asked the lady who I now know as Mrs. Julie. That name sounded so familiar…

“Lily. Lily Stone. It’s really you. You made it. You finally came.”

I feel like I should know this woman. Like she was an important part of my life or we met somewhere before. Because she clearly knew who I was and it was quite nerve racking to say the least.

“I’m guessing you don’t remember me. But you probably wouldn’t since my family and I moved away when you were younger… After your mom passed. She was my best friend. I used to come around with my son Luke all the time.”

You know how in some movies when a character comes to a revelation, and the bulb pops up above their head lit up? Yeah that’s what I imagine I would look like right about now.

“Mrs. Peterson!?,” I asked in shock.

“The one and only. But call me Julie sweetie. I’m sorry for the sudden tears. And for the fact that we didn’t stay around longer. I didn’t want to separate you and Luke, and I wanted to help you. But the passing of my own childhood friend, my best friend, was too much. And your grandparents insisted that you’ll be okay…”

Tears of my own started to fall as memories of my childhood rolled back in. Luke, my only other friend I’ve ever made before Bria. Back then we did everything together. Mom and Mrs. Julie were inseparable despite them both being married, which I found so funny. The definition of true best friends. Because of that the same went for me and Luke.

“I don’t want to hold you and it looks like our regulars are getting ready to pour in, but I do have something to give you. Give me one sec. Your mom said this day would come.”

I’m going to need a long bath and hours of sleep to keep up with just the events of today alone. Me and Bria looked at each other curiously and shrugged at the same time. What did she mean by that? What could she possibly have for me?

She came back out with a small box in hand, wrapped in brown paper with my name in cursive. Tied with a pretty golden ribbon.

“Your mom left this for me to give to you. I guess she knew we’d both end up here in the city. I kept it here just in case you ever came across my shop, if you ever made it here and here you are. So here.”

I took it and just stared at it. I didn’t know what to make of it.

“What’s inside?”

“That’s for you to find out my dear. Take this chocolate cake on me, and my number as well. Let me know what you find inside whenever you are ready to open it.”

I took the package and my second free piece of chocolate cake today and followed Bria out the door. It was a quiet and short ride to Bria’s beautiful apartment. I guess I could say our apartment now.

Bria showed me my room and told me she’d give me a little time to process the events of today, while she prepped dinner for later. I set down the box and took a much needed bath, and thought about what could possibly be inside.

It could literally be anything. What would mom have possibly left for me? As if she didn’t leave enough. She was always so generous, and kind. She’d give you her last if you asked.

Mom. Luke. Mrs. Julie. The small brown package. What could it all mean…

TO BE CONTINUED..