All that pink should have been a bit overwhelming, but the overall effect was surprisingly wonderful.
A woman came out from behind the counter, heading toward us with a welcoming smile. She was wearing . . . not pink, but a striking purple summer dress. She had artful highlights of purple in her hair. She was a bright spot of color that blended beautifully with her surroundings.
“Axel, hi!” She gave him a quick hug and turned to me. “This must be Hayden! Hi, I’m Vessie. Welcome to my pink paradise.”
I reached out to shake her hand, but she bypassed it and hugged me. “I’m delighted to meet you. Happy that this knucklehead finally brought you by!” She playfully poked him in the arm, and he rubbed it with an exaggerated ‘ouch.’ They both laughed. I liked her immediately.
“Grab a seat,” she pointed. The place was packed, and we settled at one of the few empty tables.
“Can you stay for something to eat?” she asked.
“That’s the plan,” said Axel. “I was hoping you’d be able to join us for a bit.”
“Can do!” she said. “Let me touch base with the kitchen and I’ll be right back.”
We sat down and I noticed the man at the next table was staring at me. When I caught his eye, he didn’t look embarrassed; instead, he winked, smiled, and gave me a salute. He was quite a character. Tall and thin, he wore black glasses, a bow tie, and a handlebar mustache. When he smiled, one gold front tooth was on display. Who on earth (besides rappers) has a gold tooth? He continued to watch me while I settled in my seat. My eyes darted around the room in discomfort. Finally, he looked away and returned to his meal.
Vessie returned to our table bearing cups of the most delicious, creamy chai. A server brought four platters brimming with an assortment of menu tastings.
“I wanted to give you a bit of everything,” she said. “Don’t expect a platter every time you come in, though.”
“Oh, darn.” Axel rubbed his hands together. “I was hoping this was your new special.”
The three of us had a marvelous time, enjoying the food and our visit. You know that feeling you get when you meet someone and right off you can tell they belong in your life? I felt that kind of warmth with Vessie.
After our feast and visit ended, Vessie walked us to the door and invited me to drop by anytime. I told her I’d make her café a regular stop after my morning run, and she seemed pleased by that.
Axel and I stepped outside just as passengers were coming off the mystery ferry. Signs did not show the ferry’s routes, and any maps I found seemed to be intentionally vague. Whenever I asked anyone about it, I got confusing answers. People would say things like, “It depends on your destination,” or, “Routes change depending on the passengers.” The clandestine attitude was par for the course here in Destiny Falls. I would keep pressing until I got answers.
We sat on a bench in front of Vessie’s to people-watch, chat, and enjoy the water view before we headed back home.
A group of women was standing in front of the ferry landing. They were looking at us and whispering to each other. I glanced around, but we were the only people there, so they were looking at me or Axel. I looked back at them and they looked away. Perhaps it was just seeing a new person in a small town, so I said nothing to Axel, but I decided to be alert to any other odd behavior from the residents of this puzzling community.
4
The sunrise was casting a glow over my room. I gently shifted two sleeping cats away from me. Chanel had started sneaking in here during the middle of the night. Latifa told me she had bad dreams, so there was no way I’d ban her from climbing into bed with us. Although it got a bit squished with two big furballs who gravitated toward the warm human.
I snuck out of bed, changed into my running clothes, and quietly left the room. I relished my quiet morning jogs when few people were out and about. It started my day right. I knew that Vessie would be opening by the time I got there, and I was looking forward to seeing her again, and enjoying a cup of tea and breakfast in her charming café. This could quickly become a morning ritual.
I opened the door to Vessie’s pinker-than-pink café. The butterflies on the walls today were making their way around the room, their wings fluttering gently. The air in the café seemed to reflect the warm glow of the sunrise.
Vessie was making a pot of coffee. She waved over at me and pointed to the coffeemaker. I gave her a thumbs-up, then approached the counter where a man and woman were standing, likely waiting for their coffee. I smiled and said good morning.
They were both wearing uniforms bearing a logo that matched the one I’d seen on the ferry sign. The woman’s name tag read ‘Captain.’ I asked if she was the one who drove the ferry.
“Nope, I’m the one who manages the crew and oversees the voyage.” She gestured toward the man next to her. “Allow me to introduce our helmsman, the man who drives the ferry.”
The man gave a slight bow. “Kerbie Gomez at your service, ma’am.” He reached up to shake my hand. He was shorter than my great-grandmother, five-feet tall on her tiptoes. He was about as wide as he was tall and had the brightest red hair I’ve ever seen.
“Nice to meet you,” I said.
“Likewise,” he croaked in a very deep, gravelly voice, the opposite of what I had expected from his appearance.
“I’m Nakita.” The captain held out her hand to shake. She was staring intently into my eyes, which made
