Vivien K. Wilk

Suddenly alone in the room, only among strangers, Grace shifted a little uncomfortably on the bench before she actually decided to take a look at the card. At least then she had something to hold on to. After just a few glances, it became clear that the restaurant served hearty food, very seasonal and with things that were mainly available in the area. The exceptions were the desserts, because there was a tiramisu in addition to various types of cake. It wasn't long before a young waitress came out of the kitchen and brought the water over to her. When people started to get up, Hannah was already coming out with the first dishes.

"I can tell you grieving is a long affair here," she said while placing sandwiches, rolled pancakes, a small casserole and cheese skewers in front of her.

"What do you mean exactly?" Grace raked.

"Well, first there is the mass, then everyone meets and we eat and, above all, drink until the last one can no longer. It is fascinating to see from an outsider."

"Mr. Steel said you moved in like him. Where are you originally from?"

As if the question was throwing her out of balance, Hannah paused for a moment. She avoided Grace's gaze while furrowing her brow thoughtfully.

"Ukraine. I studied in London and met Celina there. Then we moved here."

Grace straightened up, a little surprised. That Hannah wasn't even from Great Britain, she hadn't expected that.

"So already your second culture that you had to get used to."

"You could put it that way," said Hannah with a smile, "Although it wasn't that difficult. When you get past the first difficulties and misunderstandings, the people here are really nice and helpful. It also helped that we met Evellyn and Björn. It gets easier the more people take you into other circles of acquaintances. "

Hannah sat down at her table and then looked at her invitingly.

"So try it. I also have a few other things in the oven, but you might like some of them. Besides, it's a potato casserole, so it doesn't matter how long it stands."

"You are the expert."

Grace took the pancakes first, which she found filled when she began to cut them apart. In fact, she wouldn't even have needed the cutlery. Hannah had rolled it so that it was easy to eat by hand. Probably useful at an event like this where you wouldn't wash three hundred plates afterwards.

"As I said, I can recommend you to buy a little alcohol. But people will certainly bring something with them," said Hannah.

"Noted," Grace replied, "and your food is really good. Sorry for being so hesitant."

"You don't have to apologize for that. We don't know each other, you don't know my food. It could also have been that I serve you a stuffed pig's head."

Grace twisted her mouth and let her food sink back onto the plate.

"I think I'm full."

Hannah burst out laughing.

"Sorry. I keep forgetting that not everyone is used to my humor."

"But really ... I have a feeling that everyone here is nice to me and that I keep them all at bay."

It surprised her when she felt Hannah's hand on her arm. The cook smiled encouragingly at her.

"Anyone who resents you is an idiot. You are a stranger here, you have to cope with Evellyn's death and you do not know whether someone is only thinking of his own well-being. It would be stupid of you not to be careful. I heard you've had a meeting with Mr. Hagreth I'm pretty sure he'd tell you anything to sell him the bookstore and nobody else. "

For a moment Grace stared at the hand that was still on her arm, but actually only so she wouldn't have to look Hannah in the eye. It was seething inside her. The cook had mentioned something that had been on her mind the whole time. And the desire to express these thoughts, to make someone understand how terrible she felt, grew bigger and bigger. It tore and pulled at her until she gave in and dared to leap into the unknown.

"You're the first to say that I could sell the shop."

The pressure on her arm changed a little, as if Hannah were sitting down and leaning something on her hand. There was a long and deep sigh.

"Don't get me wrong, I can understand them. But I can also see what situation you are in. You ... are still studying, aren't you."

For a moment it had seemed like Hannah had to look for the right word. Grace slowly raised her eyes and just nodded once.

"You don't know anyone here. You haven't been here for a long time from what Evellyn told me. It would be unfair to expect you to leave everything on your own to come and take over the bookstore. Even if it did mean a lot to some here. "

"Evellyn talked about me?"

"Of course my love."

Hannah's expression seemed to brighten like a sun, warm and loving.

"She always talked about you. You know, she was very proud of you. She said you had a special talent for numbers. And she talked about the time when you and your sister visited her."

Grace's shoulders slumped while her head sank forward.

"I don't understand why me," she whispered softly.

"I think because Evellyn saw a lot of herself in you. And from the stories I heard, you were always very happy here. Maybe she wanted to give you the opportunity to remember them and .... To say goodbye. "

"Take a farewell?"

Something in those words touched her. Maybe because it was a reason Evellyn had left her the inheritance? Melody, who had also had a happy time here, had helped her while she was alive. Was it just because of that, that she left the house only to her? It was a small nod from Hannah, but Grace's tension was slowly easing. She had to admit that for some reason she had seen more than good things behind Evellyn's actions. It had almost felt like she'd shouldered a burden on her in the expectation that Grace would fail. That everyone could see how little her memories were worth to her. But it didn't fit in the picture, what she had done for Melody or the way others talked about her. But what kind of person was she that she was looking for a negative reason why her aunt had left her the shop?

"The bookstore means something to many, doesn't it?"

"To be honest, yes. Everyone who has been there regularly associates Evellyn's friendly nature with the feeling of being at home and not being alone. It is certainly not easy to understand what the bookstore meant, but nobody can ask of you just paying attention to the wishes of others. We'll probably have to see ... what we'll do next. "

Hannah's gaze wandered a little absently before she sighed.

"And I'm not making it any easier right now, am I?"

"Yes you do. I feel really bad thinking about selling the place. Like I owe someone something. Evellyn in particular."

"And why should that be the case?"

"Maybe ... because I've been too busy with myself in the last few years and ... I've forgotten about her ..."

"Have you ever thought about whether this is mainly your guilty conscience that causes you such problems. Grace, life happens. We will always wish that we had stopped at one point to do things differently. If this happens to us, we can think about it and then we have to tick it off. The only thing we can do with it is keep it in the back of our minds and carry it into the future. I also wish I had shaped my farewell from my home differently. That I would have known earlier that there is only one way that ..... can make me happy. Maybe then I could have prepared better for it. "

Hannah gave her an encouraging smile.

"Have you wellbeing in mind. Someone may be disappointed, but we are all adults. We have to see for ourselves how we manage."

Grace didn't know why, but something about the phrase irritated her. Maybe because it sounded a bit drastic? It was a bookstore, not a vital place.

"Thanks. And I'm sorry that I have now dumped all of this with you."

"It's okay," Hannah squeezed her arm again before she sat up, "I'm glad you did it. To be honest, it showed that you were uncomfortable with something."

"Honestly? Well, wonderful," Grace grimaced disgruntled.

"Don't worry, most of them will blame it on mourning. And that you are a stranger here. So? What do you think? Of the food, I mean."

The sudden change pulled Grace out of her brooding over Hannah's words and she glanced at the table.

"To be honest, it tastes really good. Prepare something for Monday. The undertaker said that we can count on a hundred people. Just send me the bill."

"I will. If you want, I can take care of the drinks too. We have a van that we can use to move everything."

"Agreed. That's the best solution. I don't even have a car and Mr. Steel can hardly drive me around for something like that."

"Even if he would definitely do it," said Hannah with a laugh, "Would you like some more? Otherwise I'll wrap the rest for you and get us another dessert."

"Don't you have to work?"

Hannah looked around, then shrugged. Except for the two of them, nobody was sitting in the dining room anymore.

"If someone comes, I can take care of it. Don't worry."

She took the plates back with her and came back shortly after with a tiramisu. As she served something for them, Grace looked around. Out of the corner of her eye she could see a figure at the entrance, but it drew back quickly when her gaze went there. It could only have been Sinjen of its size.

"Your daughter...."

"...is  very impertinent? Yes, you can't say it  more nice I guess."

"I didn't mean to say that at all."

But it seems to be true.

"Don't worry, I know that she can be a little difficult at times. She's too smart and too grown up for her age. Sometimes she has difficulties with her surroundings."

"May I ask when you adopted her?"

"About three years ago. I know it doesn't seem like that, but she and Celina actually have a very good relationship. And I think too she's a little tense, because of Evellyn's death. She liked the bookstore. She was there for hours, read and probably annoyed Kyle. "

Grace had to grin. The description very well reflected how she felt about the child.

"If she wants, she can come to the bookstore. At least as long as I'm here, we're always open in the afternoons."

"She'll be happy about that. I'll tell her."

Almost half a bowl of tiramisu later, Grace felt very comfortable and also a little relieved. Talking to Hannah had calmed her tense nerves, she had over the past few days. Even if she liked Mr. Steel, she hadn't felt comfortable talking to him so openly. But maybe it was about time. If she was going to sell everything, she would need his help, and then it was better to clear the table early. In protest, Hannah packed the rest of the tiramisu for her before taking Grace to the door. Celina was at the reception and said goodbye with a nod as she was absorbed in a phone call. Although the way back was short, it felt like an eternity with a full stomach. When she got back she would need a short break before she could throw herself back into the hustle and bustle of the store.