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plentyofpetticoat · 4 years

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petfanatic:

Rod followed Felicity to their mutual friend’s kitchen- almost like a puppy. RIght on her heels, right behind, smiling so happily about everything. Seeing Felicity, getting to talk to Felicity, eating Felicity’s yummy food!! He smiled at her once she grabbed the blueberries out of the fridge. “Nope!” He cheered, before popping on in his mouth as well. The blueberry tasted so good- so much better than the ones he had at home… Why was that-

“Oh well!” Rod began as he grabbed the Parmesan cheese. He rummaged around Tina’s drawers, searching for the silver grater until he realize that Felicity had set it. Literally on the table. He may not have been the most perfect cook- or even well versed in Tina’s kitchen (which, said a lot).

“There’s been a lot that’s happened! But also not a lot, you know? Well, right after you left, Allen and Neil started dating and they kept it a secret for…. four months? Five? But we all knew already! And then cause they started dating, Allen’s gotten a lot less, well, Allen-like. He hasn’t told someone off as badly as before. Have you gone to see Allen yet? He redecorated his studio so now it’s more- ahem- ‘post-modernist’.” Rod mocked Allen’s sauve voice with his own, trying to hide his slight Dutch accent in the worst way possible.

Don’t know if Tina told you too but Soseki and Rachel got married in January! It was a really nice winter wedding, they had pies instead of a cake which were really, really good! Oh! Also it was at her farm! So there was a lot of cider and they had this nice bonfire there- you missed Iroha getting drunk! She didn’t do anything weird or awkward- all she did was talk about the last drama she watched which was the most I’ve heard her talk ever! I think Tina took a bunch of pictures- no, she definitely did. She’s gotta have them here! When she’s back we’ll have to go searching for them!”

Rod continued to quickly ramble on and on about events that Felicity had missed, Festivals, how Henry won the last cooking festival with just a pizza, the time Michelle had a little cute magic show for some kids, only for the show to turn to chaos when Rod showed up on a walk with the new puppies and distracted the kiddos (”I was trying to train them to follow me without the need of a leash! I didn’t know Michelle was having a magic show- well, until I heard her scream!”). He told her so many stories in just a few minutes, so many moments that in a year she had missed…

Oh.

He stopped grating the cheese a while ago. Now, he was just standing beside Felicity, with the cheese in a bowl, not knowing what to do with it. He stopped his story, his multiple stories running into each other.

His smile turned into a small frown, his brows burrowing as he stared at the shredded cheese in front of him. “I just realized….” Rod started, his voice quieter than his usual ringing tone. “that it’s been a long time and I haven’t- ummmmm..?” Rod stammered. There was a lot that happened in their little quiet town in the past year- but for him? Nothing. Nothing exciting happened to him. Everyone had cool and awesome stories to share- amazing stories. While Rod hadn’t grown in a year. He was involved, of course, but he wasn’t like the rest of the town.

Nothing exciting happened to him. No changes. Well, none that were major.

Nothing. Zip. Nada.

“Well- other than Michelle getting mad at me for the puppy accident, I don’t think anything too exciting has happened to me!” There was a slight pause as he thought. What did happen that was exciting…. Oh- “I did break one of my fingers like, five months ago!” His face light back up, trying to hide any worries, any anxieties that may have started popping up for the first time. He had to move on, everyone else did. “But, but, but! You still haven’t told me about France, Felicity! Now you gotta tell me your stuff!”

The sizzle of the butter in the pan, the warm, excited tone in Rod’s voice, and the quiet peace of Echo Village just outside the window. All of those things should have put Felicity’s mind at ease, but there was a tickling in the back of her throat that put her on edge. It refused to go away, even when the happiness of being home should have been enough to chase out every bad feeling in her body.

She listened to Rod’s stories with a smile, once in a while interjecting with her own comments.

When Rod spoke about Neil and Allen, Felicity laughed and said, “Somehow that is both the most surprising thing I’ve ever heard and the least surprising thing. Maybe that’s just because I assumed that Allen had a black hole instead of a heart. I guess I’m happy to be proven wrong.”

At the very least, that was something that she could smile about. In her heart, she knew that Allen was not as cold and rigid as he let on. After going to see him several times per year for hair-related business, she had learned to not take his harsh words to heart.

Though, she liked the prospect of an Allen softened by time and love.

However, that gentle optimism was dashed when Rod mentioned Rachel and Soseki’s wedding. Suddenly, the noise and warmth drained out of the room, leaving Felicity with a sinking pain in her stomach.

A wedding. A joyful milestone in the lives of two people that Felicity held in love and high regard. It was such a wonderful thing for not just the couple, but the community surrounding them.

And Felicity had missed it.

“They…” Felicity’s lip trembled as the words began to form. “They got married? I didn’t even…”

She hastily turned away from Rod so that he could see the tears that were beginning to sting her eyes. The last thing that she wanted to do was worry him or turn the situation around and make it solely about her. Rod was telling her great stories with his contagious smile… but all Felicity could feel was guilt. Rachel, her friend, got married to the love of her life. Felicity had not even sent her a pathetic “congratulations” text, let alone send a gift or even show up to the wedding. In fact, the wedding itself had not even crossed Felicity’s mind until this very moment.

Wait… had she even known that they were engaged? Had that also happened while she was away? That had to be the case, because she would have remembered something so significant as a proposal.

Then that meant that Rachel had chosen to not let Felicity know about the engagement. Rachel did not see Felicity as someone who deserved to hear about her happy occasion?

No… That did not make sense. She must have just forgotten about the proposal. That had to be it.

Right…?

She shook her head. In her mini internal spiral, she had managed to miss a lot of what Rod was saying to her. By the time she tuned back in, Rod was talking about himself. His side of things was not particularly thrilling or shocking, but that calmed Felicity’s heart ever so slightly. Maybe it was selfish, but she was thankful that her friend had not taken any life-changing steps without her being around.

Maybe the village and its inhabitants around her had continued to bustle on in her absence, but there were some constants. Warm food, good conversation, and…

She found a smile again and offered it across the way.

“Well, I’m sure those puppies have more than enough excitement in them.” She paused to reach across and take the cheese off of Rod’s hands. “I’m happy to hear about all of the great things that happened while I was away.” She paused again. “Well, except for the broken hand part.”

Through the length of Rod’s stories, the timer for the pasta started ringing. Felicity stepped away and poured the pot into a strainer, waiting until the steam subsided before starting her side of the conversation.

“France was beautiful, of course. Clement’s family owns a farm just outside of Paris, so it wasn’t like I was far from home. My main role was looking after Clement’s niece, but I also got to spend time with chickens and goats. They were so cute! ... I wonder if I could convince Rachel to get some goats.”

No no no. Don’t think about Rachel right now.

She mixed the remainder of the ingredients into the sauce. Garlic, pepper, basil...

“I moved into the city itself when I started working for a travelling agency. They hired me on as their resident food critic after seeing me post about Paris on my blog. It was really exciting!! Intimidating… but exciting. The apartment they had for me was nice. Kind of small, but that was okay. And of course it was incredible to eat at so many high-end restaurants for free. I had wine from 1895 and everything that could be infused with truffle, was infused with truffle. I... honestly don’t think I’ll ever be able to eat truffles again. Please don’t tell Clement.”

She laughed quietly as she retrieved bowls from Tina’s cabinet and forks from a drawer.

“It was the experience of a lifetime, of course. But…”

She began transferring pasta and sauce into the bowls, passing one over to Rod and taking the other over to the table.

“I didn’t have any friends in Paris. It was kind of lonely. If I were to ever go back to Paris or some other culinary tour-de-force, I would want to take someone with me. It gets kind of depressing… eating fancy food at a table by yourself… all the time… for six months.”

She looked down at her bowl, very certain that the scenario that she found herself in at this very moment was far superior to any meal that she had in Paris. Her heart was warm once again as she watched Rod take his seat as well.

“I’d much rather have a home cooked meal, here, in my actual home.”

But before she took a bite of the pasta, she smiled sheepishly at her friend.

“I’m sorry if the quality of this is wanting. I got so spoiled with all of the free food I’m afraid I might have forgotten how to cook.”

#ignore how late and bad this is #pls #<3 #petfanatic

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plentyofpetticoat · 4 years

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petfanatic:

The innocent smile stayed on his face as Felicity explained the lingo, yet it didn’t stick with the native Dutch speaker. “She gave me tea?” He asked again, laughter breaking in between the words. It took him a moment for the lingo to finally hit him, letting out another laugh before he continued, “does tea mean something like gossip?! Cause if it does, then there’s a lot of gossip! And a lot of things happened! But maybe she left out a few things- cause Allen told me a lot and I’m not sure how much of that ‘tea’ she told you!” As he said tea, he used his fingers to make air quotes, still not completely sure what the word meant, but if he was wrong, then that would be a laugh between the two.

“You, Felicity, haven’t cooked in months!” Rod gasped over dramatically (maybe, just to hear her laughter again after so many months a part). The pet shop owner followed her into the living room, yet continued to loudly speak to his friend as she gathered everything to cook. “That’s hard for me to believe you didn’t even cook yourself one little thing! One tiny dessert! Nothing! Nada?” He let out a laugh again (he was just so- happy).

He unwrapped the folder, listening intensively as she spoke. “It’s vintage?” He asked as he pulled the print out, only for his eyes to stare at it with an open mouth- shocked, happy. His eyes just staring into the print, the dogs, the words, it was-

“Felicity…” His voice wavered into a soft tone, almost into a whisper. The artwork was just… beautiful.

A smile beamed back onto pale skin, a

There was so much she missed; there was so much he missed. Whether it was life events, the change of the weather, everything went on. The world moved on, life went on. Rod had the pets to take care of, he had his life. Helping the farmers, learning more about animals hands on, late nights with their friends.

And Felicity, he wasn’t sure what she saw, what she did, who she met while thousands of miles away, but knowing she thought of him… Knowing she thought of him, Rod, when she saw a little dog. Felicity thought of him enough to bring back a print, something that made

His smile wouldn’t leave his face. The tears in his eyes stayed back though, it wasn’t time for him to cry from happiness, from joy. This was a joyous moment. This was…

Get out of your head, Rod. “This is so cool!” He exclaimed quickly, blue eyes shinning back to his friend. “It’s so cool! I’m gonna hang it up right in my kitchen and I’m gonna show the puppies this when I get back! They’re not gonna think a lot about it, but it’s just!” Words were flying out so fast, the ginger was becoming winded and red. Or so, he just thought to himself quickly that his face was so red from how quickly he was talking.

Couldn’t have been something else.

Rod whispered, quietly “It’s so cool.” Blue eyes, shinning like the sky on a clear day, stared at the poster with a smile that slowly turned into something soft. A softer beam of light, like the morning sun waking one up from a peaceful night of sleep. He turned his attention back to Felicity, taking his friend into a hug. “Thanks Felicity! It’s just! It’s really cool!” He held her tight, oblivious to her actions of hiding her face. “Thank you, really.”

He missed this.

He missed Felicity.

“Now, I think you want the tea, right!” He pulled away from the hug, one hand on Felicity’s shoulder (why- why did he keep it there, he didn’t know). “Cause I have a lot of this so called tea for you- Oh, do you want my help cooking too? I forgot to ask.”

As soon as Rod expressed his appreciation for the gift, Felicity let go of a breath that she did not realize she was holding in. The souvenir that she had brought back for him was simple and straightforward, there was no need for her to feel nervous during the handoff.

That did not stop her hands from shaking and her lips from trembling.

But when Rod bridged the gap between the two of them, she was a whole different kind of nervous. All of a sudden, she was self-conscious about how quickly she returned the gesture or how tightly she was holding onto him. Was she squeezing too hard? Did she seem as eager as she actually was to nestle her chin in the crook of his neck?

They had hugged with Felicity’s initiation when they had first reunited, but this embrace felt different, although not in any kind of way that she could put a name to. It did not feel any better or worse than the first hug, it’s just that the sensation was new. She could feel her own heart against her ribcage and feared that Rod could feel it too.

Would it be so bad if he did?

He pulled away far too soon, but Felicity contented herself by placing her hand on top of his that was rested on her shoulder. Somehow, it felt wrong to not be touching him in one way or another. In her mind, she justified it by reminding herself of the recent, year-long physical separation during which he was only reachable by phone. She wanted to make up for all of that lost time as long as Rod would allow.

Still, she had another obligation, both to her friend and to her stomach, which was quietly reminding her that her only food that she had consumed that day had been two cups of coffee and a stale muffin during her train ride to Echo.

“Yes! I do want the tea. And-” she peered over to the steaming pot on the stove, “yes, I could use your help.”

She reluctantly (very reluctantly) stood up and made her way to Tina’s fridge. There, she pulled out a block of parmesan cheese and a stick of butter and set them on the counter. However, as she was closing the door, she noticed a green carton full of blueberries on the bottom shelf. With a mischievous smile, she took hold of that as well and peered back at Rod over her shoulder.

“You think she’ll miss these?” Felicity laughed as she set the berries on the kitchen table. “I think these are from Henry’s farm. Rachel’s produce always comes in pink boxes. Sorry-” she grabbed a handful of the berries and popped them in her mouth, “I am so hungry.”

Still laughing quietly, she reached into one of Tina’s cabinets and pulled out a grater and set it on the table as well.

“Would you mind grating that cheese while I start on the sauce?” She pulled down a pot and set it on one of the other burners. Even the act of cutting the butter up to melt it felt... strange. This was usually her idea of a casual and stressless time, preparing a simple meal in good company. Yet, much to Felicity’s annoyance, her hands were shaking.

She did her best to keep that under control as she turned her attention back to Rod once the pasta was in the boiling water.

“Alright, start from the very beginning.” The longer she spoke to him, the more confident her smile became. “Tina told me little things here and there, but she kept the juiciest stuff to herself. So spill, and spare no details.” She stepped forward and placed her arms on the table, ducking her head slightly to be at eye level with him. “And don’t think you’re off the hook. I want to know everything about you too.”

#HERE!!!#she's feeling THINGS #and STUFF #petfanatic

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plentyofpetticoat · 4 years

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petfanatic‌:

The second he saw her, standing in front of him after a year since the last time, Rod smiled. There she was, after being an ocean and thousands of miles away for a full year, for all 52 weeks. There Felicity was, standing in front of him like she hadn’t felt a year ago with a goodbye and silence.

The minute she pulled him into a hug, a feeling came into his heart; a lump settled into his throat. Rod hadn’t felt that lump since she left. A lump that turned into a few whines to Allen on how he was going to miss Felicity (and her cooking),

A lump that now meant, maybe, something different. It didn’t mean change. It didn’t mean anything new.

She was still the same Felicity in his eyes. The same Felicity with the same laugh; the same Felicity with the same excited voice that he didn’t realize how dearly he missed her laughter, her voice, her hugs.

It didn’t matter that her hair wasn’t the exact same strawberry blonde as when he saw her last. It didn’t matter that she wasn’t all dressed up like the days that now felt like a lifetime ago. It didn’t matter that she changed, physically. Whether it was her hair, her tired eyes, or the year that had past and she may have grown. Nothing like that mattered; it never had to begin with, he slowly realized.

What mattered was Felicity was home. Back home in Echo Village. Back home where she belong… with…

The tightness around his body grounded him back to reality. The reality that Felicity was there, physically, in front of him. Felicity was home. Rod held the waitress back, just as tight, maybe even tighter. He couldn’t tell if he was squeezing her back, but the tight hug from Felicity didn’t matter. Even if she was asking so many questions, it didn’t matter. What mattered was she was back- and a weird feeling escaped him.

“I missed you too!” He excitedly yelled as he brushed himself closer to her. The lump in his throat escaped once he spoke out, but a new emotion nudged into his heart; warmth. Happiness? He knew what happiness felt like, but this was a different happiness. Beating, leaping, a smile that was never going to end.

And once that hug ended, that feeling, weirdly ended.

Yet, he kept that same smile on his face. Goofy, dense, not noticing any fear that may be accompanying Felicity’s mind.

Rod let out a short laugh, loud and light as he put his hands in his pants pockets and smiled at her. “You asked too many questions too quickly for me to answer! But to answer- I’ve been good! Shop is good! I didn’t bring you any tea but Tina told me I had tea, not sure what that meant, but I have lots to tell you and you have lots to tell me! You didn’t have to get me a present, Felicity! Having you back is enough of a present- for all of us!” Rod beamed at every word, shinning like the sunset at the end of every sentence as he got more and more happy. More excited. More…. something.

“Don’t worry about the tea,” Rod shook his head, that smile still on his face. “I was just suppose to give you the tea, but I don’t have any! Tina just told me to tell you that but-” He breathed in, the excitement now getting to him. He really was copying her again, good. “There’s a lot I have to tell you about!” He beamed even more at her, blue eyes sparkling up at her. “There’s a lot that’s happened here in Echo and I’m sure Tina hasn’t told you it all yet! But first, how was Paris? Did you love it? Did you learn any new recipes while living there? Do you want me to come in and cook you something or help you with anything or! We can just hang out! And you tell me all about Paris, I’ll tell you everything here at home!”

Rod had a smile that could move mountains. His smile could stop the rain, chase away the clouds, and hang the sun back in the sky. When she was home, Felicity was one of the lucky select few who got to see that smile on a regular basis.

And, oh, how she had missed it.

When she saw that smile, it made every problem swirling in her head feel less daunting. Though tired and jet lagged, Felicity felt a rush of energy that seemed to chase away whatever blues was lingering. That was just what Rod did- he was always the best thing in the room.

“Oh, Tina gave you the tea.” Felicity laughed, never breaking eye contact with her friend. “She did tell me some things from time to time, but it’s really not the same over text, you know? Come in!! I want all of the tea!”

At that, she turned to walk back into Tina’s living room. She was thankful that the brief turn away from Rod allowed her to get her intense blush under control. He had called her a present!! In his ever-sparking eyes, she was a gift wrapped in wrinkled lounge clothes and lifeless curls. How could anyone blame the red that swept over her whole face? ... and the pounding of her heart? ....... and the way her hands could not seem to stop shaking?

Over by Felicity’s pile of luggage, she noticed a box (which she assumed held the hair products that she had asked for) with a folded note on top. She picked it up and quickly read over it, smiling when she saw that Tina signed it with a “Don’t party too hard without me! ♡”

Felicity turned back to Rod. “Okay. Tina says that she has ingredients for parmesan pasta! Which is good because... Well, I haven’t really cooked much besides jam on toast for months. Most of my food was uh... provided for me...” Felicity pursed her lips... and then tried to laugh. “We can get this started and talk while the water boils!”

So once the pot was set on the stove, Felicity went through her messenger bag to locate a large envelope situated between her notebooks and laptop. She felt the blush threatening to make another appearance as she held it to her chest and sat across from Rod on the couch.

“Okay.” She gave her friend a coy smile, feeling the warmth in her cheeks travel to all tips of her body. “There was this cute little decor shop in the commune where Clement’s sister lives. They had boxes of vintage prints and as soon as I saw this one, I knew I had to get it for you.”

Then she held out the folder across the way, hands shaking once again. The enclosed print was a vintage advertisement for a dog biscuit company. It had caught Felicity’s eye not just because of the dogs, but also because of how happy it was. When she looked at it, she smiled as wide as the woman on the print.

That smile stayed on her lips as she kept talking. “The French on there translates to... hm.” She leaned closer to Rod so that she could remind herself of the text. “The highest reward at Paris exhibitions... the best food for game dogs and chickens!”

When she looked back up, she giggled behind her hand. She did not know why she felt the inclination to hide her face. She did not feel like her smile was anything to be embarrassed about... Maybe she did not want Rod to see just how badly she wanted him to like the gift.

“Of course, every time I saw a cute dog on the street, I thought of you, but I couldn’t very well bring a poodle back to Echo with me. I figured this could be the next best thing.”

Welcome Home {Rod & Felicity}

#we don't have to do read mores!!#when i said that she covered her face i remembered the masquerade!!#hide the blush!!!!!!#petfanatic #<3

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plentyofpetticoat · 4 years

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plentyofpetticoat · 4 years

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Felicity’s first day back in Echo felt like a fever dream. The jet lag caught up to her and it caught up to her quickly. Even with a sizable mug of black coffee in her system, she still felt like she was wobbling in and out of reality.

She talked to Clement for a good while, but eventually he had to prepare for the lunch rush. From there, Tina swung by and helped her move her luggage over to her house. It was a brief trip across town, but Felicity still walked like she had four glasses of wine with her morning coffee. Tina was merciless, mocking Felicity’s struggles and then vowing to end their friendship if the waitress had adopted a “frou frou accent” abroad.

When they got to Tina’s house, Felicity’s head rushed with all of the things that she needed to do now that she was home. And since Tina was the only one present at the moment, she was the sole recipient of Felicity’s onslaught of worries.

“Hossan put the stuff that was left in my apartment in storage... I need to get that. Hossan was already so nice keeping it all there while I was gone... Oh! I didn’t text my sister yet... She told me to tell her when I landed safely. And that was three hours ago!! Oh...” Felicity nervously threaded her hands through her hair... and then her eyes went wide. “My hair!! Oh I can’t go back to work with my hair looking like this!! Tinaaaaaa!!”

Felicity had slumped her weight onto her friend, too tired to do anything about her sudden to-do list.

Tina just laughed and guided Felicity towards the couch.

“Well I can’t do anything about texting your sister, but I can go get your stuff from Hossan. I’ll swing Allen’s and pick up some dye. What color do you use again? Butterscotch Blonde?”

“Sunset strawberryyyy...” Felicity mumbled into Tina’s throw pillow. “I need bleach too.”

“Then I’ll get you bleach.” Tina laughed as she placed Felicity’s messenger bag near her feet. “I can’t promise that Allen won’t chew you out for not getting it done professionally.”

Felicity turned her head to glare at Tina. “I’m not scared of him.”

“Nor should you be! That man’s all bark and no bite.” Tina reached down to ruffle Felicity’s curls before moving back towards the front door. “I’ll drop off the boxes and hair stuff here in a bit but I have to go into the city right after. Will you be fine by yourself?”

By yourself...

Felicity shot straight up so fast that she felt like she was going to be sick, eyes wide with worry. No, she wasn’t expecting Tina to wait on her hand and foot until she was properly reintroduced into Echo’s community, but the thought of being alone so soon after returning home...

Felicity did not want to be alone. Not after spending months doing just that. It did not seem fair. After such an extended case of homesickness, it only felt right that she should take the remedy in all at once. Regardless of whether or not that was realisitc, Felicity did not care. She just did not want to be alone.

Still, she did not want to burden Tina with such thoughts. So she just nodded and answered, “I’ll be okay.”

Tina gave her a thoughtful smile before waving and taking off.

And in that dreadful loneliness, Felicity decided that it would be in her best interest to try and sleep away her hysterics. It was not like she could do much else. There was no fancy food to sample, no baby to rock to sleep, no reviews to agonize over...

Besides, she really did not feel fit to be seen in such a state. Laying low for the time being would do her well, especially if it meant that she could better fix herself up.

So she flopped her head back on the pillow and did her best to find a comfortable position on Tina’s couch (though she could not do so without her feet hanging over the edge). Unsurprisingly, sleep caught up to her in no time at all. And in her groggy state, Felicity just had to remind herself over and over that she was home.

As far as Felicity was concerned, that fact was not going to change for a long time. Not after everything that happened in Paris. Not after her wildest dream came true and turned into a ball and chain on her ankle. She was lucky enough to get out of it in one piece... and yet...

"Felicity!!!”

Felicity was fortunate that she did not roll right off the couch as she scrambled to her feet, yanked from her sleep by a knock at the door and a cheerful voice calling out her name.

She had to pause to sway in place as she took in her surroundings. It was still daytime... but time had passed. How much time? Could she go back to sleep? No. She had to answer the door, right? Someone was calling out specifically for her...

Wait...

Is that...?

The voice that she heard pinged around her brain like a pinball as she stumbled over to Tina’s front door. There was only one person in Echo Village who sounded like that- sweet, sparking, and totally unique. It was a voice that she associated with so many wonderful memories...

The sudden influx of such memories was what cemented a smile to Felicity’s lips as she swung open the front door and threw herself forward (which was only partially due to how wobbly she had been since arriving in Echo).

“Rod!!”

Due to the nature of their height difference, Felicity’s cheek brushed against the top of her dear friend’s hair. It tickled and she giggled as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Maybe it was not the ideal place to calm herself down after such a sudden rousing, but Felicity was too preoccupied with her feelings to care. She just stood there taking deep breaths in between sentences, holding Rod tight all the while.

“I missed you so much!” Breathe. “How have you been?” Breathe. “How’s the shop?” Breathe. “I have a gift for you... oh, I’ll have to dig it out but...” Breathe, Felicity!! “Oh my gosh, I’m so happy to see you!!”

She took a shaking step back to look at her friend fully. He was just as she remembered him, bright orange hair accenting rosy cheeks and sparkling, blue eyes. This was good... Felicity was not sure how she would have handled it if he was somehow different.

Her heart was doing backflips in her chest as she stared at him for longer than what was probably considered normal. It was almost as if he would disappear if she looked away for even a second.

But then she thought of herself... and her stomach dropped. She looked like a mess. If her clothes were wrinkled after her journey there, who knew how awful they looked after a nap. Her hair was half in, half out of a bun, with a few strands dropping in front of her face. And after taking the waitressing out of her daily routine back in Paris, she knew that she had gained some weight. Could Rod tell?

Suddenly, she was shaking. It wasn’t Rod or Tina or Clement or anyone that had changed... it was her.

“Well...” She swallowed hard as her hands instinctively went to try to make some sense of her hair. “What was this you said about tea? Did you want tea? I could make you tea. I don’t know where Tina keeps her tea.”

Welcome Home {Rod & Felicity}

“Hey, Felicity’s back.”

Rod turned his head over to Neil, holding a black kitten in his arms as he titled his head. It wasn’t weird - nor strange- for Neil to talk to him during work hours. They chatted, sometimes Rod talked more than the other animal lover, going on and on about some random story from his childhood in Holland or how what cool, probably not completely factual, documentary he watched on tv the night before (”Do you have a life, Rod?” “Yeah I do! But everyone is going out and-” “Rod, get a life.”)

The kitten angrily meowed in his arms, yet Rod ignored the pleas to be let go as he fiddled with the shiny bell on its collar. “How did you know?”

Dark ruby eyes rolled as Neil slouched back in his seat. “Someone told me and Allen-”

“Why were you with Allen-” Rod interrupted before being interrupted by Neil himself.

“Why do you keep asking me questions?” The death glare from Neil was enough to make Rod look down, a frown on his face. He didn’t feel bad- nor guilty but… “It doesn’t matter. What matters is she’s back in town.”

A silence fell on top of the two men as they stared at each other. Neil, with his ever death glare, and Rod, with his completely blank stare into the red eyes across the path from him. The sounds of animals moving around, puppies barking, and the kitten in Rod’s hand meowing at him to be let down, were drowned out as the two continued to stare at each other.

It felt like an eternity as Rod stayed in his head. Felicity was back- after a year. Had a year really passed so quickly? He couldn’t remember the last time they spoke face to face… But it wouldn’t be awkward to see one of his closest friends after so long.

It wouldn’t be awkward to see her. Never!

The ginger haired man finally gave his friend a huge smile, edges of the smile meeting his blue, shiny eyes. “Well I guess I better go visit her after work then and say hi!”

~~~~

A year.

Felicity had been gone a year. Rod hadn’t even gotten to say a proper goodbye. Just a quick goodbye party, a wave

Things had changed in Echo. Life wasn’t the same as it had been when she left. People grew, people aged. In a year, he watched as the rest of their friends, the other people in Echo (who probably wouldn’t classify him as a friend) fell in love and changed. But Rod was still the same guy he had been a year ago. He still was playing with the puppies during down time. He still found himself running with Toni, like a kid even though he was 22. He was still the same.

But, Felicity would still be the same. She’d still be the same waitress/cook that smiled every time he dropped by the restaurant; the same smile would greet him; the same cheerful energy would be there, smiling and happy to be home with stories of Paris.

And who doesn’t love Paris?

After getting the “tea” from Tina (he never drank tea before- and the loud brunette didn’t even offer him any but she just told him to go give it to Felicity now. Weird), he arrived at the journalist house where Felicity would be staying for a while. Felicity would be staying at Tina’s for awhile, and he was just lucky that Tina was out.

He gave one knock to the door, calling out. “Felicity!!! A little blonde mean bird with red eyes said you were back in town!! So i brought the-” He paused for a second, looking at his side. Empty. “uh… tea?” He finished as he looked back up to the door. “Yeah. I brought the ‘tea’? Yeah! Tea! Do you want tea! Are you even awake or am I talking to an empty door?”

#AAAAAA!!!!#I #MISSED #THEM #SO #MUCH!!!!!!#she's so sleepy she doesn't know what he means by tea yet #oops!#petfanatic

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plentyofpetticoat · 4 years

Text

Homecoming

Sometimes it bothered Felicity that it took her 22 years to find “home.” When she looked around, at her apartment, her job, and her friends, she saw everything that she ever wanted as a child. The town provided for her in a way that her family of origin could not (and did not care to do). It was difficult to chase away the feelings of jealousy that overcame her when someone would rave to her about their parents of their hometown and what a fantastic experience it all was to have that love and security right from the start.

However, when Felicity looked around and saw all of the good that surrounded her, she could take a deep breath and release all of the envy and regret that poisoned her mind. She was lucky to have found all that she did at such an early age. She had an incredible mentor, friends who showered her with love, and a place to call her own. All things considered, that was all she needed to live a happy and fulfilling life. If she wanted to plant her roots in Echo Village and never budge an inch, she could very well do that. The only person who had a say in the matter was Felicity herself.

However, that did not mean that other voices could not sway her.

Out of all of the residents of Echo Village, Felicity was by far the closest with Clement. He was more than just her mentor and employer; he was her lighthouse amid uncertain waters. Though his love for her was not exactly identical to that of a father’s, it still filled a void in Felicity’s life that had been there for as long as she could remember.

And like any good paternal-figure, he always made sure to make Felicity’s birthdays a very special occasion. The first year that she had lived in Echo, Clement bought her a brand new laptop and then hired a band to play at a special dinner party. The year after, he presented her with a three-tier cake and a gift certificate for a boutique in the city.

And as Felicity approached her 24th birthday, she found herself tapping her toes in giddy anticipation. She was not in the business of lying to herself- it felt amazing to be dotted on, especially by someone so admirable. So when Clement simply asked her to stay late at the restaurant on the night of her birthday, Felicity’s curiosity was piqued.

Once all the customers had left and the chairs were flipped up onto polished dining tables, Clement invited her back into the kitchen, where he had set up a smaller table with wine and two big servings of strawberry shortcake. Felicity approached the table, smiled wide, and thanked Clement for the gesture. After a long day on her feet, a relaxing evening with dessert and wine was just what the birthday girl needed.

As they sat, Felicity happily partook in the cake while Clement twirled his fork with a pensive expression. It was not until Felicity asked him what was on his mind that he spoke up.

“Felicity, do you want to go to Paris?”

Felicity scrunched her nose at him as she smiled. “Of course I do! What girl doesn’t want to go to Paris?”

Clement laughed, “That was not rhetorical, dear, it was a real question.”

At first, all Felicity could do was blink at him, unsure if she understood what he was saying. The question was so out of the blue that she had not considered it with any weight. Thus, she had to wait for him to venture further into the conversation so that she could organize her feelings.

“You are passionate about food, yes? Well there’s no better place than Paris to embrace that.” Clement spoke with such certainty that it was clear he had thought long and hard about his words. “I want you to experience that while you are still young, but it is entirely up to you.”

Again, Felicity just blinked at him. However, this time, her head was rushing with thoughts. While the man who sat across from her had become her mentor and dear companion, he was still Clement Delcroix, world-renowned chef who found his start in the heart of Paris. His presence in such a small, quiet town was out of the ordinary. He could have easily remained in France, charging twice as much money for half as much food. But the quaint life coaxed him to stay in Echo Village, only returning to his home country a few times out of the year to visit family.

What were the odds that he would end up sitting at a table with a gawking college drop-out, whose link to the incredible chef was a passion project in the form of an online blog? Clement selected her as his second-in-command strictly based on her passion for good food. He had not even known her name at the time of their first meeting, addressing his initial correspondence to “Ella Versailles.” And yet, somehow, this was where they ended up. Some higher power had thought Felicity worthy of this incredible gift.

With her heart racing, Felicity asked, “You want to send me to Paris?”

“Not permanently, dear.” Clement shook his head. “I would never want to dismiss the best waitress I have ever had, but I think now is the perfect time for you to take a trip and explore more of the culinary world.”

“How long, then?” Felicity’s hands were trembling under the weight of this prospective journey.

“Well, let me begin by saying I have more than one reason for wanting to send you there.” Clement stifled a laugh that did not erase the sincerity in his eyes. “My sister had a baby some months ago, and because that emmerdeur she married travels for work, she has been very stressed. She wants to get back to work, but cannot because of the baby.”

For the first time since the beginning of their conversation, Felicity smiled, and she did so with a raised brow. “You’re hiring me out as an au pair?”

Clement laughed again. “I suppose that is one way to say it. My sister does not need full time care for the baby, just someone to look after her when she wants to get work done.”

“Where does she work?”

“Oh, on her farm.” Clement gave her a big smile. “She inherited the family home in Villiers-le-Bâcle, which is on a beautiful piece of farmland. Right now, she just keeps goats and chickens, but I know she wants to start her garden before the summer months. Having an extra pair of hands around the house would do wonders for her sanity. And you would be paid for your time, of course.”

Felicity nodded as Clement continued.

“The family home is gorgeous and the commune is a lovely place, but on your days off, you could explore the city. Oh, ma cherie, it is a sight to behold. No city on this earth compares.”

In the grandeur of Clement’s words, Felicity found her excitement. The man who had already given her more than any one person deserved was offering her the chance to fulfill a lifelong dream. With Clement’s blessing, she could immerse herself in a culture that she had only ever admired from afar. The obligations paled in comparison to the opportunities that awaited her in a food lover’s paradise.

Her passionate “yes!!” should have come without reservation, but she was hindered by the questions that spilled from her lips.

She asked, “What will happen here?”

Clement answered, “I will hire a new waitress for the time being, but your position will be waiting for you when you return.”

She asked, “How long will I be gone?”

Clement answered, “Annie and I thought that six months would be a good length of time, but you certainly can stay longer or come home sooner if you so choose.”

She asked, “Will it be a problem that I don’t speak French?”

Clement answered, “Not at all, dear. Most of the restaurateurs are well prepared for tourists. But if you would like, I could teach you some basic phrases before you leave.”

She asked, “Do you think I’d be good at taking care of a baby?”

Clement answered, “It will take some getting used to, but you are a quick learner. I would not have brought up this possibility if I did not have complete faith in you.”

I have complete faith in you.

It was that string of words that finally pushed Felicity to give him a certain and enthusiastic “yes.”

Clement had offered to throw her a going away party, but Felicity preferred to keep her “goodbye’s” low-key and intimate. In her mind, it would help with the inevitable home-sickness. If her last moments with her friends were calm and fulfilling, she could look back to them with ease.

Besides, she did not want her last in-person words with her friends to be muddled by wine. The tears would be hard enough to power through without the hindrance of alcohol.

It was no secret that she was going to miss her home and all of the things that had become her “normal” over the course of three years. She would miss baking cookies with Tina just as much as she would miss prying her heels off of her swollen feet at the end of a particularly arduous shift. She would miss Niko’s stories and fresh tomatoes from Rachel and waving wildly across the town square every time that she saw Rod. Paris was going to have food and fun and mystery, but it would never be Echo Village, this much she knew for certain.

So she hugged all of her friends tight, promising to return with gifts and stories in due time. They all expressed their excitement alongside their sadness for her forthcoming and extended absence. Felicity tried to battle her tears by reminding herself that this was temporary, and that she would come back to the same town and all the same people.

Clement escorted her to the airport, quizzing her on French phrases in between sentiments of love. He told her that he was proud of her for taking this leap and that his family would be indebted to her for her gracious help.

At the airport, Clement gave her one final hug.

“I’m just one call away if you need me, dear.”

“I know. Thank you.” She tightened her grasp around his shoulders and smiled. “Je t'adore.”

Her final goodbye was accented with tears, which fell even as she and Clement went their separate ways. This distance was not permanent, but that did not make the sadness any less real.

And yet, as the plane lifted off the ground and into the future, Felicity considered herself lucky that she had a home that she could miss so dearly.

Felicity could have picked out Annie in a crowd of thousands as Clement’s sister. She was similar to him in every way that a brother and sister could be similar, from physical appearance to mannerisms (though she was about a foot shorter and Felicity needed to crane her neck down to look at her). Her accent was on the thicker side, but that did not stop her from showering Felicity in words of adoration once they were both in the family home.

“Goodness! What a beauty!” She had reached up to pinch one of Felicity’s cheeks. “Are you sure you should be a waitress? You look like you could be a model!”

Felicity blushed as she waved a hand across her cheeks. “I’m very happy as a waitress.”

“Still, Clement has you hidden away in that tiny town. Such a shame. You will certainly turn heads here.”

And as Annie went to go prepare a pot of tea, Felicity sat nervously on the edge of a kitchen chair. Were she not frazzled after the long flight, she would have engaged Annie in a joyful conversation or offered to help with the tea. But this was uncharted territory for her. She was out of her element in an unfamiliar house, a stone’s throw away from a city that had fifty five thousand times the people than her home that was miles and miles and miles away.

Her face drained itself of color, and Annie noticed this as she placed two teacups with steaming water on the table.

“Are you okay?”

Felicity cleared her throat before she replied, “Yes. Sorry... I’m just nervous.”

Annie hummed quietly as she took the seat across from Felicity. “There is no need to be nervous- you will fit in well here. Clement says that you are a very determined young woman.”

As she wrapped her shaking hands around the teacup, Felicity smiled. “Did he now?”

Annie nodded in confirmation, but then expressed her desire to know more about her new household help. She asked questions about Felicity’s hobbies and interests and favorite foods (although she never touched the subject of family, which Felicity figured was Clement’s doing). It was an easy conversation, but it eventually turned to a place that made Felicity anxious again.

“Do you have a boyfriend back home?” Annie asked with a coy smile.

Felicity instinctively bit down on her lower lip, though she had no clue why the question incited such an immediate reaction. Her stomach felt like a pit as she choked out a, “No, ma’am. No boyfriend.”

“Aw, such a shame.” Annie offered Felicity an exaggerated pout. “A pretty girl like you should have a gentleman at home waiting for her.”

Felicity could feel the red threatening to take over her whole complexion, so she waved a hand with more fervor than intended. “Well the dating scene isn’t so active in our little village.”

“I suppose…” Annie looked down into her teacup. “You know, after all this time, Clement still brushes me off every time I ask him about marriage. He always talked about having a family, but at this point, he’s going to need to accept being a… er… beau-père.” She paused. “You know! He could marry a woman with a child.”

Felicity laughed and used the mention of children to ask about Annie’s baby, who had been in the next room over, fast asleep in a bassinet. This allowed Annie to segue the conversation into her own home life. She recounted her daily routines, some of which would become Felicity’s obligation in her new role. None of it seemed particularly daunting; besides changing diapers and feeding, it was all things that Felicity had done before. By and large, Annie was just in need of an extra pair of hands. Now, Felicity was not Clement’s personal assistant, but she was no stranger to the more menial tasks that could be pawned off to someone in her position.

So that’s just what she did. After a few quick lessons, she began settling into her new role. It was difficult at first- the only baby who she had ever been around for more than five minutes was her sister’s daughter. But Clementine (who was named for her Uncle Clement, who was named for his mother Clemence) loved her naps, which gave Felicity ample time in the beginning to update her loyal following on her new whereabouts.

Hello all!

I have some very exciting news and I just could not wait to share it with you guys!!

As some of you may know, I recently celebrated my 24th birthday. Much to my surprise, my dear friend has sent me to Paris! I will be staying here for the next six months and I am so excited to explore the city, see the sights, and (most importantly) eat so! much! food!!

I know that this is not what many of you follow me for, but I hope you’ll stay with me through this journey. I’m going to be stepping outside of my comfort zone and trying things that I have never tried before. If you are more interested in my local reviews, they will be back soon! As much as I’m looking forward to my time in Paris, I’m still eager to return home at the end of all of this.

As always, thank you for supporting what I do. I am so excited to share my Parisian journey with all of you.

Until next time!

À bientôt!

Ella Versailles

And exactly one week from that update, Felicity took her first short journey into the grandeur of Paris. She had to constantly remind herself to take things slow. After all, she had six months to see all of the things that she wanted to see. Even still, it was difficult not to run around the city like a kid in a candy store, eyes bright with wonder. She was in a sea of tourists, awe-struck, giddy, and overwhelmed.

Then came the food, from the breakfast nooks and teeny cafes to the street food carts and high end venues, the ones that presented her with some of the most intricate dishes she had ever seen. At first, it was difficult for her to not feel self-conscious in such establishments, especially considering the fact that she was eating alone. But when she looked around, she saw swaths of people who were so absorbed in their own lives and partners. No one would look twice at her, so long as she was quiet and following the dress code.

On occasion, Felicity would look up from her plate at the empty chair across from her and wish that she had a dining companion. Someone who could agonize over what to order… someone whose wine glass she could clink against her own. Making friends in a foreign country was proving to be a difficult task, especially considering the common language barrier. Annie was great company, but stayed firmly on her farm. And while Felicity kept in contact with her friends back home, it did not entirely make up for their lack of physical presence.

Her homesickness came to her in many different ways. It hit her when she read the morning newspaper and when she stopped to pet a particularly excitable dog on the street. Clement promised her that Echo Village would not be changing anytime soon, and that she would come back to something so familiar in due time. That was the saving grace that propelled Felicity through her difficult times…

… until a single email, three months into her journey, threw a wrench in her gears.

It came to her one evening as she was rolling her hair into curlers. She was used to the constant notifications from her phone, whether they were texts from Tina or notes from her publisher. However, this one was from an unfamiliar address, so Felicity opened it up with an edge of anxiety, a feeling that only increased as she read.

Hello Ms Versailles,

I hope that this finds you well and that you are enjoying your time in Paris.

I am contacting you on behalf of Ambulant Fille, a brand new travelling resource for women who are seeking unique travelling experiences that they cannot get anywhere else. Our team has been following your journey with Curls and Croissants and we absolutely love how passionate you are about good food! Because of this, we wanted to reach out to you to discuss a possible career opportunity with our company.

As soon as she finished reading through that first paragraph, Felicity felt like she could not breathe. The email went on for several more paragraphs. It outlined the structure, mission statement, and ultimate goals of the company. They exclusively hired women in hopes that it was the best way to reach and connect with their target audience. Then, they detailed just why they wanted “Ella” on their team. Just as Clement had done countless times, they applauded her passion. Their top criteria for their prospective “culinary correspondent” was just to simply love food. They wanted to trust this person and their opinions, as those would be broadcast to women across the world who were looking for the best Parisian experience as possible.

They concluded the email by essentially saying that the position was Felicity’s to lose, and that they were eagerly looking forward to her response.

Less than ten seconds after she read the final line, Felicity was on the phone with Clement. She frantically summarized the email to him, nearly forgetting to breathe between each sentence. She could hardly believe the words that were spilling out of her lips. It was surreal. It was strange. It did not make sense!!

Once Clement had the opportunity, he spoke to Felicity with a smile that she could hear. “That’s wonderful, dear! You have certainly earned this.”

“Well should I take it?” Felicity had to resist the urge to bite her nails down to stubs.

“Do you want to take it?”

“I don’t know!!” Felicity spoke into her fist. “I-I… haven’t thought about it yet.”

“Well,” Clement replied, “I suggest that you meet with them. Learn about the company. Ask a lot of questions. This is a big decision, so you should feel confident about your answer, one way or another.”

Felicity paused and pursed her lips. She had to give herself some time to process this new information, or else she would drive herself mad. The email did not give her the whole story, and she would benefit from an open conversation with the people who could quite possibly change her life. And as much as this prospect shook her to her core, she owed it to herself to give it a shot.

So Felicity wished Clement good night and took a sleeping pill, figuring that it was the only way that she would find any semblance of rest. And when she woke, she graciously replied to the email, stating that she would be more than happy to meet with the company.

They settled on a time the following week to meet at one of the cafe’s that “Ella” had given a raving review. There, Felicity sat across from two older women, both of whom spoke to her with reverence. This was not an interview, it was a job offer accented with fancy tea and pastries.

When they told Felicity that the job would require her to live in Paris, she had prematurely made up her mind to tell them “no.” There was no way that she could cast aside her roots in Echo Village just like that. She was not willing to leave Clement and Tina and Rod and so many others behind for a fancy new job… even if it had been her dream job for so many years.

Felicity could barely stomach her tea as she listened to the rest of their pitch, nervous about having to reject such an incredible offer.

However, her mood completely shifted when one of the women described what the position would ask of her.

“We would request that you live here for, say, four to six months. During that time, you will produce three to five reviews per week.”

The other woman continued, “We are looking to create a backlog of content that we will publish over time. Right now, our goal is to publish once per week. You would be responsible for two reviews for each issue, one for a high-end establishment and one that is more casual. There are over forty-four thousand restaurants here in the city, so you will never run out of places to try. And all of the food will be compensated, of course.”

Felicity’s jaw dropped. They went on to list other benefits and her stipend and all the while, she just stared. This did not feel real. How could this fortune have possibly fallen into her lap just like that? This was the sort of work that her colleagues and connections would dream about night after night. And there Felicity was, getting handed this opportunity on a silver platter.

Did she deserve it? Did it matter whether or not she deserved it? No. No it did not. All that mattered was Felicity’s answer, which she gave with a wide, excited smile.

“I would love to work with you!”

Felicity fulfilled her initial obligation and stayed three more months on Annie’s farm. And even as time ticked on, the turn of this journey did not feel real. It was nerve-wracking, having such a huge thing waiting for her on the other end of her first six months in Paris. She agonized over the quality of her writing and the impact of her words. Her reviews would be read by thousands of women, and Felicity felt wholly responsible for their culinary experience.

This was the first hurdle that she had to jump over in her new position. Every time that she sent a piece out for publishing, she wanted to beg for it back, just so that she could read it another five thousand times and make sure that it was as perfect as she could humanly manage. But this work that she was doing was so different than anything that she had ever experienced. Back home, her work was laidback and intimate. For the most part, she did everything on her own schedule and paid for her own meals. Curls and Croissants had never been particularly lucrative, and she was content with that. After all, she loved to write. The passion that she had for food also found its way onto her keyboard and motivated her to put out her best work.

It took three months for that passion to all but evaporate from Felicity’s life.

Writing on a schedule was stressful in a completely unique way. It was like she had an ever-present weight on her shoulders that would nag at her every single moment that she was away from her laptop.

Why aren’t you writing, Felicity? If you wait much longer, you’ll have to rush to meet the deadline. Then, your quality will drop and they won’t want you anymore.

Felicity didn’t want all of this time and effort to be in vain. She could not imagine the shame that would consume her if she were to give up halfway through. The last thing that she wanted to do was let anyone down, least of all Clement, who had put so much faith in her already. She had to see this through until the very end, no matter how bogged down or discouraged she got.

The following three months dragged on and on and on. Felicity spent so many stressful minutes staring blankly out of her tiny apartment window, missing the festivals and community and restful ways of Echo. Her contact with anyone other than Clement dropped off severely. If she was chatting on the phone, then she was not working, and if she was not working, she did not deserve to be there. All she could do was cross off the passing days on her calendar and beg the universe to hurry the hell up!!!

April approached slowly but surely. In the end, Felicity had produced over 120 reviews for the travelling company, keeping them stocked for quite some time. That was what gave Felicity peace as she all but sprinted out of her final meeting. Her luggage was already packed and her ride was already arranged. The sooner she got home, the better. She could hardly bear the sight of the Eiffel Tower anymore. By now, 364 days later, it was just an eyesore that reminded her of how far away from home she was.

But with every minute that passed on the plane ride, she felt her spirit lift. She was going home.

Felicity took the train in from the city to Echo- it was eight in the morning when she landed and she did not want to take Clement away from his meticulous daily preparations for too long.

She did not exactly look like the picture of grace. Her hair was wrangled into a bun, with her dark brown roots making an appearance (bleaching and dyeing her hair did not fit the criteria of a “necessary task”). Her sweater and leggings were wrinkled from her long journey, but she could not be bothered to change them. She was so, so tired. As soon as her feet hit the ground, all she wanted to do was sit with Clement and drink fifty cups of coffee.

Over the previous year, Felicity had forgotten what Echo smelled like in the spring. From her first steps in the town, she was embraced with a mixture of cut grass, newly blossomed marguerites, and freshly baked bread. Felicity made a beeline for the source of that last scent, her luggage bouncing behind her on the dirt roads.

She threw open the door to Chez Clement and shouted, “Bonjour!!!”

There was a clamoring from back in the kitchen before Clement rushed out to greet Felicity, immediately smothering her in a hug.

“Oh, thank heavens!! My angel is back!!” He planted a kiss on her cheek before holding her at arm’s length. “I’ve missed you so much!”

Felicity laughed away the tears that threatened to spill. “Is that so?”

“These other girls… they have no fire.” Clement shook his head with a frown. “Everyone has missed your passion. They will be thrilled to see you back.”

Felicity took a long breath and smiled at her boss. This one expression of gratitude did not completely fix her beaten down spirit, but it certainly felt good to hear those words.

Still, she had to take a step back and address him honestly.

“Is it alright if I wait a day or two? At least until I’m all settled back in?”

“Oh, of course, of course!” Clement nodded and then gestured for her to sit at one of the nearby tables. “Let me get you coffee.”

As she sat down with a huff, she thanked Clement. He read her mind (and would likely return with some form of pastry as well) and put her in the right mindset to face the rest of her day. She had given a heads up to her friends that today was the day that she was returning (Tina was given a more detailed heads up, as Felicity was going to be living with her for the time being after giving up her room at the inn), but she did not know best how to approach seeing all of them.

So Felicity took another deep breath and looked out the window. Something was stirring in her heart… something that she could not name. Was it nerves? Was it excitement?

…

Well, whatever it was, she hoped that it would fade and that she could return to the life that she had missed so dearly. That was all that she wanted.

#whew

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