Chapter 771: Fire & Ice Cafe
Monday, March 27th, Evening
She took a UBER into Tree Hill and walked along the streets of downtown. The warming winds told of the dying days of winter as spring had just turned a few days before. The streets weren't packed, but people were moving about checking out the local shops, and some high school kids, probably who skipped school, were window shopping. Her stomach grumbled, and she knew it was time to eat.
Christy Carmichael stopped when she saw this quaint cafe/diner place. The sign over the door in stylized font said Fire & Ice Cafe. She smiled and nodded, enjoying the Robert Frost reference. The scent from the kitchen made her stomach crave for what was inside. Pushing open the door, she was hit by the wave of warmth, the more aromatic scent of the kitchen cooking, and the sounds of music. Behind the counter, a college-age blonde stood, red apron filling sugar containers. Christy and the blonde made eye contact.
"Sit wherever, Ma'am," Eilish Sheridan said.
She raised an amused brow. Was she really looking her age that much? "I appreciate that," she smiles, plopping down in a booth, determined to fill her stomach and soul simultaneously. There was a lot of conflict in her heart, and of all places, here is where her journey to find the strength to resolve it began.
"I'll be right over," Eilish said and finished filling the sugar container. She dusted off her hands and walked out from behind the container. Eilish wore comfortable but skinny-style jeans and a cap-sleeved black t-shirt with Fire & Ice Cafe in red letters. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and she looked at Christy and smiled, taking out her pad and pen. "Do you need more time?" she asked.
"I wonder," Christy mused, looking at the menu, "What would you recommend?" She always asked waiters and waitresses for a recommendation when eating somewhere for the first time.
"It's all good; we wouldn't serve anything that wasn't good for your stomach and soul," Eilish said with an amused grin.
Christy exhaled, "I'll have two grilled cheese sandwiches and a bowl of tomato soup," she smiled, "And iced tea to drink." She appreciated the young lady before her and planned to tip very well.
"Iced tea or sweet tea?" Eilish asked.
She smiles, "Iced tea."
"Very well," Eilish said, wrote it down, and returned to the counter.
She had her phone with her and her paired Apple Watch, and she scrolled a bit, thankful that she didn't have any of her work stuff attached to the particular device in her hand. It was all news and entertainment related.
Eilish returned with Christy's iced tea and placed it before her. Looking over Christy, Eilish cleared her throat. "So, you're from New York, right?" Eilish asked.
Again, she raises a brow in amusement, "How did you know that?" She wasn't offended at all but had been caught off guard.
"Well, your voice and the fact you asked for Iced Tea," Eilish said, "It's a busy place in the summer, and a bunch of northerners come down for the college; they like studying their fish, I guess." Eilish chuckled at the end.
She laughs, "I traveled down here to do some soul searching, to be honest. Feeling a little disconnected and lost." It's all that she felt like sharing at the moment.
"This seems to be the place, so what book did you read?" Eilish asked.
"It's not necessarily about a book," she says, "but there is a personal connection to this place."
"Ah! Usually, people coming soul searching have read a book about this place," Eilish said.
"It's less about the books than about beacons of hope being my guide," she says.
Eilish laughed, "Are you a romantic?" she asked.
"An idealist and also a romantic," she nods.
Eilish nodded, "Yeah, I can see it," she said.
She just shrugs, smiling softly.
"Nothing wrong with that," Eilish said.
"Of all the things that have gone wrong, I'm glad that's not one of them," she says.
"So, what really brings you down here?" Eilish said.
"I'm trying to figure out my next steps," she admits, "I'm in between jobs." It's truthful enough without revealing too much to the young woman in front of her, especially since they'd just met.
"Ahh! Looking for a fresh start," Eilish said as a bell rang; she nodded and returned to the counter. Eilish returned with Christy's sandwiches and bowl of soup a moment later. "Would there be anything else?"
"If there is," she smiles warmly, "I'll be sure to let you know."
"Okay," Eilish said and returned to the counter to refill the sugar bottles.
She's trying her best to hold back her blissful moans. It had been a long time since she'd had grilled cheese sandwiches this well prepared, and there was also something equally as incredible about the soup. She sips on her tea just as slowly, savoring all of it. But thoughts of her last chat with Caroline kept popping into her head. When did it happen, and how had it all gone so very wrong?
Eilish glances up every so often to check on her only customer. She nodded when she saw the pleasure come across the woman's face. Eilish smiled, knowing the quality of the kitchen of her mom's cafe.
She takes her time, and when she's ready, she asks for the check.
Eilish walked over and looked at Christy. "Would there be anything else? We make an excellent pecan pie," Eilish said.
"Any other flavors?" She smiles.
"We have an apple, and we might have a peach as well," Eilish said.
"I'm hoping you have peach; if not, I'll take two slices of the apple and a medium coffee."
"One slice of peach if we have it?" Eilish asked.
She nods, "What other dessert is there?"
"We have carrot cake, chocolate cake, angel food cake, and several types of cookies, brown sugar pound cake, and our specialty Mississippi Mud cake," Eilish said.
"A slice of peach pie and carrot cake, along with the largest glass of milk possible, sounds heavenly right about now," she nods, "I'll also take that coffee. Thank you for your outstanding service tonight, too. I really appreciate it."
"You're welcome, and it will be right up," Eilish said, made note of her order, and headed back to the counter.
She smiled. So far, her visit to this quaint town by the Cape Fear River was going quite nicely.
Eilish returned with a tray this time. She carefully unloaded the tray, and first, the peace pie landed in front of Christy. The carrot cake, a large glass of milk, and a mug of coffee followed this. "Will that be all?" Eilish asked.
"I do have a question about the coffee," she smiles.
"Okay?" Eilish asked, confused,
"Where did you find it? I feel like it tastes familiar for some reason," she says.
"It is some cafe blend the owner found in New York," Eilish said, "The name escapes me."
Her eyes widened. "Of course, it's the House Blend!"
"Okay?" Eilish asked, confused.
"I know the place," she smiles, "I know the place very well because it's my family's place: Viva La Casa, or VLC for short."
She raises her mug, "The house blend is probably one of our lightest blends we've ever served. We usually serve stuff that's a lot stronger."
"Well, I guess so," Eilish said, confused, and looked at Christy. "Would that be all?"
"Yes," she smiles, enjoying her dessert, "Thanks for taking care of me again."
"You're welcome," Eilish said and walked away. She thought she could really put it away, and she was hoping for a good tip.
She had every plan to tip exceptionally well, without hesitation. Not only because she had the means to do so but also because it was how she was brought up. Having worked at the family business in high school, she understood that people who worked in places like this lived off tips.
Eilish added up the bill and printed out the ticket. She walked over with the ticket on a small tray and placed it before Christy. "Take your time, and bring it up to the register," Eilish said and returned to the counter.
She slid her phone back into the inside pocket of her jacket. She reached for some bills, counted them out, got up to the register, and handed them and the receipt to the other girl.
Eilish took the ticket and cash and rang up her meal. "I hope you had a good meal, and please come back now you hear," Eilish said.
"Count on it," she smiles, walking out, refusing to take the change.
"Thank you," Eilish said.
She nodded, disappearing from view and calling for another UBER to take her back to the B&B.