Chapter 10 - Happily Ever After
The rain returned to Seattle by late autumn, drumming a soft, soothing lullaby against the oversized glass windows of Eloisa’s.
Inside, the café was a sanctuary of warmth, laughter, and the rich, comforting scent of freshly baked cinnamon brioche and dark roast coffee. The morning rush had settled into a comfortable midday hum, with students studying at oak tables, remote workers tapping away on laptops, and neighbors chatting softly over ceramic mugs.
Eloisa stood behind the central espresso bar, her movements smooth, practiced, and entirely at peace.
Her phone buzzed gently on the stainless steel counter beside the cash register. A notification popped up on the screen—a memory prompt from social media: “3 Months Ago Today.”
Eloisa tapped the notification, bringing up a short, ten-second video clip that had been reposted by a viral history account: the infamous livestream from the grand opening night. There was Trevor, frozen in panic. There was Juniper, sprinting out the back door into the rain. And there was Eloisa herself—calm, unyielding, and fierce—delivering the line that changed her entire life:
“You wanted publicity.”
Eloisa stared at the screen for a moment, a quiet, amused smile playing across her lips. Then, with a casual flick of her thumb, she swiped the notification away forever, locking the phone screen and sliding it into her apron pocket.
The past didn't haunt her anymore; it was merely a stepping stone that had led her to where she truly belonged.
The front door chimed cheerfully as a fresh wave of customers stepped in out of the drizzle, shaking the raindrops from their umbrellas and greeting her by name.
Eloisa looked up, her face lighting up with a bright, welcoming smile that reached all the way to her eyes.
May you like
"Welcome to Eloisa’s," she called out, her voice strong, clear, and resonant across the room. "What can I get started for you today?"
With her empire secure, her heart light, and her future wide open, Eloisa turned back to the gleaming espresso machine, ready to craft a brand-new day from scratch.
