ATPnovel Episode Two Hundred and Four: Chain Reactions
Episode Two Hundred and Four: Chain Reactions
Episode Two Hundred and Four: Chain Reactions
“Her hair is like my scales,” chirped Indigo with a giant yawn. “So amazing and strong. Plus her voice. She should do audiobooks.”
We’d watched the movie at least twice. The second time, we streamed it in a sing-along mode that Indigo loved. Somehow, she still had enough energy to bounce around like she was a pop star.
My stomach grumbled for some real food, something other than popcorn. I’d finished my bowl, which was probably a mistake, and now I was definitely hungry.
The Cat still slept on my chest, and I carefully set him down on the couch.
Take out was the best bet, and it wouldn’t require me to leave the room for too long. It felt like the Cat didn’t want us all to be far from him, though I doubted he’d admit it.
“Can I ask her to do audiobooks?” asked Indigo when I didn’t respond.
“So, audiobooks are usually done by a narrator. It’s someone's entire job to read books.” I didn’t know much about how that actually worked, but I knew someone had to be doing it. “I bet we could learn more about how that works if you want.”
Indigo stopped her soaring around the room and dove to the couch near the Cat, yet she was careful to not wake him up.
“After food,” I added. I needed to order take out sooner rather than later. Plus, I needed to keep in mind the Cat had changed our order, so I needed to fix the extra spiciness of at least some of the things.
Indigo nodded and curled up next to the Cat.
I quietly headed out to the landing, but instead found myself next to the register.
“Thanks, Betty. I think he needs us today,” I whispered to the shop.
It took only seconds to place the order with corrections, and the food wouldn’t take long. Especially since Betty was paying attention.
Moments later, a figure knocked on the door, and I hurried over. It was our usual delivery guy, and I took the bags from him with a smile. He hurried off. The dark sky hung overhead, and it was much later wherever this was then it should be, given the day we’d had.
I closed the door with a shrug and headed to the opening for the living room.
Everything I needed to serve the food sat on the coffee table.
Both Indigo and the Cat slept on the couch.
I sat down carefully and pulled a throw blanket on top of me before serving myself some food. Then I turned on a short miniseries about how to cook. It was based on a book, and I hoped to pick up some ideas about cooking. I needed to order the book, but even without it, the show should be fun.
After the first episode, Indigo woke up, and I poured her soup into a bowl so she could eat. The bowl wasn’t big enough for her to swim around in. I’d need to get her a bigger bowl soon.
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Still, she ate her dumplings and noodles like a champ, being as quiet as she could.
“Better show,” she asked after finishing her food. “Something with music?”
I put the movie back on, now for the third time.
Indigo perked right up.
#
The next morning, the Cat still slept. I’d set him next to my pillow on my bed and he remained there, even after I woke up and showered.
Today was supposed to be a work day, but the Cat slept.
And he kept sleeping, even through a breakfast of frozen waffles, chosen since I wanted to have more of the good maple syrup.
Finally, I set him down in the Cat bed behind the counter where Indigo usually hid.
I made my second latte for the day, and stared at the door.
“Alright Betty, let’s do this. Hopefully...” My voice trailed off as the shop shifted. It became what I called the coffee shop layout. Yet, this time was different. More bookshelves lined the back than normal, like an additional room had been added with a bunch of shelves.
I itched to go exploring, but I had a book which practically contained a library that I still needed to explore. My to-be-read pile was large enough, though could I honestly ever say that? Could someone’s to-be-read list actually be too large?
Never.
The bell rang as the first person entered the shop, just as Indigo landed on the counter.
“Welcome to the shop,” I said automatically as I glanced up.
I recognized the Elven woman who walked in, Allisa. Her eyes lit up as she caught sight of me.
“Oh, it’s so nice to be back here,” she said as she approached. “I can’t believe I beat everyone else here, though there is so much snow out there.”
Indigo chirped at her and approached the edge of the counter to sniff at her.
Allisa held out her hand, and practically beamed in delight.
“Oh, do you have a study group coming in today?” I asked, with a smile.
“Something like that. Just a group of friends and some good news.” She nodded twice, petting Indigo carefully. “Can I get a vanilla latte and... Oh, no cookies today?”
There weren’t any cookies next to the register.
“Still in the oven, but they’ll be out soon,” I added, trying to figure out why they weren’t here. I started on her latte, grinding the beans. “How was break?”
“Amazing! I got some fantastic news, and things are looking up.” Her eyes practically sparkled as she waited for me to make her drink. “You are such a cutie. Do you want to join us? It might bore you, though.”
That was directed at Indigo, whose eyes went big, then she leaped into the air flying in large circles.
It didn’t take long before Allisa tapped her card and headed to the long table in front of the windows. Indio followed her and landed on the table.
I then hurried to the kitchen. Two steps inside, and I smelled the cookies. Peanut butter, and some chocolate chip as well.
Somehow the timer went off and the platters for them were already on the island. In the time it took to take the few steps, the cookies had already moved to the plates, after cooling enough.
“Betty, you are so freaking amazing,” I said. “Let’s do this.”
More pans appeared in the oven with different cookies on them.
I came out to a line. A patent line, but still, two trolls waited for me.
“Oh, fresh cookies!” commented Samantha. “We have perfect timing.”
Her arm was wrapped around Fred’s arm, and she pulled it tight making him blush.
I set the cookies down and headed to the espresso machine. They looked good together, and maybe it would work out for the long-term for them.
“An Americano and a vanilla latte?” I asked, hoping I remembered their orders.
“Sounds perfect to me,” she said, looking at him with a soft glance.
He nodded. “Plus a plate of at least six cookies.”
“I have more coming. It will be a few if you want other types,” I added, thinking about what else was in the freezer. I knew I had at least a full bin of frozen peanut butter cookie dough.
“Then just three of these, and three of whatever comes out next,” said Fred.
Thankfully, no one else came in during that time and I got them taken care of before heading back into the kitchen.
More cookies waited for me, along with a cake stand full of fresh-baked cinnamon rolls. I didn’t care where they came from, and just brought them out to the front.
I wanted one so bad, and found one on a plate waiting for me in the kitchen on my second pass to grab the rest of the cookies.
“Oh, Betty...” It even had a fork next to it.
I brought it to the front and sat on my stool. The Cat still slept in the Cat bed behind the counter, while Indigo sat on the large table with the two trolls and Alissa.
Time to figure out why we were here, though, before I brought over more cookies.
I pushed a wave of golden light out of my bracelet to flow across the room, wondering what I would see.