Chapter 6

She walked through the outskirts of the town to what had to be the downtown area. It was ten at night, so all the little stores were shut and dark except for one, which seemed to be a coffee shop or something just based on the window. Either way it was the only thing open and maybe she could get some help with her car or at least get pointed to a place where she could spend the night.

Siana crossed the square and pushed open the door to the little store. The smells of coffee and tea and hot sugar hit her nose hard enough to make her sneeze. She was dripping wet and stood on the mat in the entryway, wishing she'd had the forethought to grab her suitcase out of her car. But it would have leaked probably and then all of her things would be wet instead of just her and this one outfit.

From the belly of the store, a squat, round woman came bustling up and smiled at Siana. The smile was slightly surprised, but Siana wasn't certain why. "Hello dear, did you come in through the storm? You look a bit like a drowned rat."

"I suppose I do." Siana looked down at herself, her clothes were plastered to her skin and her hair was flat to her head. "I'm sorry to bust in, you're probably about to close. My car got hit by lightning on the way in and I'm a little stranded until I can get it looked at. Is there a hotel in town I can stay in for the night?"

"We're open late, deary." The woman bustled over behind the counter and picked up the telephone. "Let me call the inn and see if they have space before you go walking over there in the rain."

"Thank you." Siana was starting to shiver a little in the cool air of the store. "That's very kind."

The woman waved a kindly dismissive hand in her direction. "Hello darling, the storm blew us a little bird, do you have space for her so she can get dry and some sleep?" There was a pause in the conversation. "Alright, thank you, I'll send her over as soon as I get her warmed up a little bit." The woman hung up the phone and looked over at Siana. "I'm Gladys, dear. I'm the town grandma. Have a seat and I'll get you a mug of tea and a towel.

Before Siana could answer, Gladys bustled back into the guts of the store and vanished. She came back a minute later with a thick, fluffy towel and draped it around Siana's shoulders before bustling back behind the counter and putting a very old kettle on an equally ancient hot plate. "Thank you," Siana said again, pulling the towel close around her shoulders as she started to shiver.

"Of course, dear." The kettle started to whistle, and Gladys poured the water into two huge mugs and brought them over to the table, plonking one in front of Siana who immediately wrapped her hands around the hot porcelain. "So, what brings you to Winter Haven?"

"A detour and a lightning strike." Siana told Gladys all about what had led her off the coast highway and into this town. "I'm moving up the coast somewhere, so I've been poking into all the little towns trying to find a bakery that's hiring so I can finally settle somewhere."

"Where are you coming from?" Gladys sipped at her tea and winced when the too hot liquid splashed across her tongue. "You don't seem to know where you're going."

"I'm up from Lymburn, and I really don't know where I'm going." She chanced a sip of tea and hummed appreciatively when the soft floral flavor burst across her tongue. "I'm looking for work as a baker's assistant and I'd like to stay on the coast."

"Do you have any experience?" Gladys asked, leaning forward. "I'm tired of bringing in pastries from out of town. I've been on the lookout for a baker, but we get so few visitors to Winter Haven."