I hoped I was not about to blindside Jason, by Jess not giving him the heads up as to what we would be discussing. I regretted not mentioning it to her, but I did not want him to feel attacked. Since I usually had a case of bluntness and lacked social skills, it rarely worked out well when trying to get information out of someone. Come to think of it. Aubrey should have been here having the conversation. I shook my head as I sat at the table.
"Hey guys," I said.
Kendrick brought over an espresso and placed it in front of me. Talk about the perfect employee. I put it up to my nose, to breathe in the aroma before taking a sip. Heavenly.
"Hey," Jason said.
"I hope Jess filled you in, we've been looking into the tagging around town," I said.
"I wish I could help," Jason said. "I really don't know who could be doing it. I swear it's not me though!"
He held up his hands in surrender. I wondered if others had already tried to accuse him of it.
"Oh no," Jess said. "Neither one of us thinks it's you."
"Okay, good," he said. "Because while I do spray paint, I would never use it for evil."
We laughed, and the tension that had been there a moment earlier disappeared.
"Can you think of anyone who would be doing it?" Jess asked.
"No," he said. "Trust me, I've been thinking about it all week. There's no one that makes sense."
"What about Bianca," I asked, trying to not sound too eager for an answer.
"No way," he said. "I couldn't imagine her spray painting, have you been in that place? It's hoity toity, and all refined and stuff. Landscape and acrylic paintings only."
"True," I said, pondering if one could be talented in multiple forms of painting.
"I've been telling him for months," Jess said. "That he should take in his artwork."
"Why don't you?" I asked. "Jess told me it's fantastic."
Jason blushed and said, "It's not the kind of art that the town is interested in. I don't think it's the kind the tourists go to the gallery for either."
"What kind is it then?" I asked.
"Umm. . ." Jason stumbled, looking more uncomfortable than I had ever seen him.
"It's self portraits, isn't it?" I asked, giggling at his blush deepening.
"Oh whatever," Jess said, waving my jokes away. "It's beautiful spray paint murals of outer space."
"It's kind of like galaxy landscapes," Jason said. "I enjoy doing it, but they're not that good—"
"They're excellent," Jess cut him off. "The town needs to see what you can do. Add some color to their lives. Art isn't just stuffy landscapes. It can include your pieces."
"I don't think they'll sell," he said.
"You'll never know until you try," I said in a way of encouragement.
"I mean," he said. "I post them on Instagram, and they get tons of likes, but that's not the same as an art gallery at all."
"They might be willing to buy them, if you posted them with a price tag," I said.
"Yeah," Jess said. "Don't you want to go to art school?"
"Yes," he said, taking a large drink from his coffee. "But it's way too expensive."
"It can't be that hard to set up an online store. I bet if you added a note that you were using the profits for college it would be even more desirable," Jess said.
"Tell you what," I said. "Make one with a cup of coffee on it, and I'll be your first customer."
"Really?" he asked.
"Of course," I said. "It's about time the cafe had some new artwork. I'll even post a sign for customers to get into contact with you, if they want to buy one for themselves."
"Awesome!" he said, and his face turned beet red.
"It's so easy to doubt yourself, but take it from someone that's done the college thing. Find what you're passionate about, and it will never feel like work."
"That is so true," Jess chimed in. "Plus, the worst anyone can say is no."
We carried on with small talk while Jason drank his coffee, and by the time he left, our first customers began to roll in.
"Will you get out of here now?" Jess teased. "Aubrey will be waiting on you. And besides, you need to learn how to take a break. You run this cafe like it's a tech startup."
I laughed at the idea that I could be the next Steve Jobs of coffee. But with better fashion sense.
"All right, all right," I threw up my hands in surrender. "You win. But if you need me—"
"Go," Jess said. "Enjoy your day off. You need it."
"Bye, boss lady," Kendrick said. "We got your back."
"Thank you guys," I said, and truly meant it.
I waved to them before closing the storeroom door and heading upstairs to finish getting ready.
She was right. A break from the cafe was exactly what I needed. Aconite would always be my darling, but sometimes she could be a real pain in the bean. All the constant minor tasks that never ended, and now with someone in the town being angry enough to tag my wall. It was enough to drive anyone nuts. A nice day at the Bluebonnet Jamboree was exactly what the doctor ordered!
CHAPTER EIGHT
Sunday, April 12th
The sun was high in the clear blue sky, and the air smelled of fresh wildflowers. One of my favorite aspects of living in the hill country was the plethora of zero cloud days. How could the sky be that blue and go on for miles? It was a sight everyone needed to witness at least once in their lives. Pure tranquil bliss.
There could not have been a better day for the Bluebonnet Jamboree. I truly had the best friends in the world. With Jess capable of managing the cafe so I could get out and have a social life, and Aubrey forcing me to attend an actual community event.
While I fought against it, in the back of my mind, I knew full well that I needed this. There was no reason to stay cooped up in the cafe 24/7. If I did not force myself to get out into the world and enjoy life, I would end up cut off from the spice it had to offer.
Not five minutes after leaving the cafe, I was on the open highway, with the windows down and the stereo up on my way to Burnet. The warmth of the sun melted away all the stress from the past week. Aunt Tona had left me her pearl purple, 1970 Volkswagen Square Back, in near perfect condition. The sun had baked the leather seats, so they radiated warmth throughout my muscles and deep into my bones.
One of my top five favorite places in the world had to be a car, hot from being in the sun all day. The entire drive to Burnet I kept the AC off and bathed in the car's warmth.
Parking was a nightmare, because downtown Burnet was a single square block that had not changed since the building of the county courthouse in 1937. A two-story massive stone building that took up the center of the square block with trees wrapping around the building.
It was nearly half-a-mile walk from the neighborhood where I had to park, to the square where the jamboree was hosted.
"Aubrey?" I said into my cell phone, barely able to hear her as the music in the square was loud for both of us.
"Where are you?"
"I'm coming up to the square," I said. "I'm heading north on Main Street."
Well, I was trying to anyway. Apparently the entire county thought it was a good day to come as well. I had already waved to at least 10 people that recognized me. Not that I could name them. But in a small town, you waved anyway.
"Oh, we're over on Pierce Street."
"Do you want me to come to you?" I asked.
"If you don't mind," she said. "Madison and Sawyer are looking at hand carved toys."
"No worries," I said. "I'll be there as soon as I figure out how to part the seas."
We both laughed, as she knew exactly how cringe worthy large crowds were for me.
I hung up the phone and made my way diagonally across the street, headed for the opposite side of the square. They set vendor stalls up on both sides of the street, wrapping around to create two squares facing each other. The city had blocked off the roads, so no cars would drive in.
Everything from local artwor
k to fair food was for sale. And of course, all things bluebonnet. The one time of the year you were guaranteed to be able to redecorate your entire life in the theme of the state flower.
From the accents of those around me, I could tell there were plenty of out of towners, and even some from out of state. One woman sounded like she was from far north. I wondered if she was from Canada. It gave me goosebumps to think someone would travel all the way from Canada to our small county, just to see the flowers. Everyone needed a slice of Texas to take home with them.
"There you are," Aubrey called out, seeing me before I saw her.
As she waved the kids caught sight of me as well and dashed towards me. It tickled me to see the excitement that lit their faces just to see me.
Once Sawyer reached me he practically shouted, "Aunt Hailey, did you see the wooden dragons?"
"Not yet," I said, knowing one dragon who would be tickled pink to know that there were wooden versions of himself being sold.
"They're so cool, come see," Madison chimed in.
They bounced up and down, grabbing my hands to pull me towards the wooden figures.
"Come on guys," Aubrey said. "Aunt Hailey just arrived. Let her rest a minute, the booths aren't going anywhere."
"Okay," Sawyer said as he looked at his feet.
"No William?" I asked.
"Work," she said.
"Any news on the tagger?"
"Yes, but it's not good," Aubrey said, gesturing to a park bench.
I nodded in agreement, and we made our way over.
"You two don't go further than this booth," Aubrey told her children.
"Yes, mam," They said in unison as they continued to take in the wooden wares.
"What's the news?" I asked before we sat down.
"William said there's nothing they can do about the tagger," she said, taking a seat on the wooden bench. "Turns out, the department doesn't handle graffiti unless someone presses charges. He said that business owners would have to file a claim with their insurance, and that he and his men wouldn't be doing anything about it."
"That's horrible."
"Town politics, I guess," she said, crossing her arms. "I just don't understand why they're going to stand by while the town is tormented by a hooligan."
"Speaking of hooligan," I said, nodding my head in the direction of Barry Bear. "Is he on a date?"
"Maybe," Aubrey said. "I don't recognize her though. She looks stuck up," she quickly added for my benefit.
"He can date all he wants, but I'm still going to flirt," I said. "Only wish he would show better taste."
We laughed together.
Barry was out of uniform and looking sun-kissed in his tight black t-shirt and cargo shorts. He had his wavy locks pulled back into a bun and had not been missing any days at the gym.
The girl on his arm looked a tad out of place, in clothes one would wear to a fine dining restaurant in the city, not to a country jamboree. Her face screamed miserable, as her thick makeup was worse for wear, and I imagined, at some point earlier in the day, her clearly dyed blonde hair was perfectly curled into a fancier style than it currently toted.
"Some people don't know what's good for them," Aubrey said.
"I've got to say hi," I said, bouncing up to walk over to the stall Barry and his date were looking in.
At that moment, I was thankful that I chose a floral sundress, instead of my typical t-shirt and jeans look. I still rocked my Converse, and had my dark brown hair up in a messy bun, but I was at least presentable. Not wearing makeup always had its perks when faced with the Texas sun.
"Hi Barry Bear," I said, before I could stop myself from using his nickname.
Not that it mattered, as I was sure she would not have a care for my approach no matter what I said.
His date gave me an ugly glance, looking down her nose at me.
"Hailey," Barry said. "This is Cindy. Cindy, this is Hailey. She runs Aconite Cafe in Marble Falls."
"Nice to meet you," Cindy said, holding out her hand. Though, her tone and body language said she felt the opposite.
I took her hand and said, "Likewise. How do you two know each other? I haven't seen you around before."
"We met through a mutual friend, I live in Austin," Cindy said.
She made it clear she was not happy about me interrupting their private moment. I also got the feeling that she felt very much above everyone for living in the city. But I could have been reading her facial expressions wrong. Who knows.
"We're just here looking at what the Jamboree has to offer before we head to dinner and a movie," Barry said, trying to ease tensions. "Are you here with anyone?"
I gestured over my shoulder to where Aubrey sat and said, "Aubrey and the kids."
"Oh, yeah," he said, and waved at her. "William will be busy for the next few days."
"I just heard y'all aren't going to do anything about the person tagging the businesses around town? That's a fun development."
"Hailey," Barry said in his most formal tone possible. "That's police business, and you should stay out of it."
"If it was police business, you'd be investigating no?" I said, putting my hands on my hips. "Since they targeted my cafe, I think I'll get involved if I want."
I winked and gave him a smirk, so he would know full well that I planned to do my own investigation. Over riding his police authority was turning into a twisted pastime of mine.
"I only—"
"I know full well what you meant, Mr. Bear," I said. "I'll leave you guys to it then, see you next time you're at the cafe. Cindy, it was an absolute pleasure meeting you."
Before he could say another word, I gave him a final wink and dipped my shoulder back just a bit as I turned to rejoin Aubrey.
"You are an extra level of cruel to that man," she said, giggling. "Not that Mr. Serious doesn't deserve it."
I laughed with her, rolled my eyes, and said, "He had the audacity to tell me to stay out of the investigation, like there even is one!"
"He has to know he's preaching on deaf ears."
"One would think, but it probably makes him feel like a big strong deputy, laying down the law to me."
She rolled her eyes, but laughed.
I glanced back and Barry and caught him looking my way. When we made eye contact, I blew him a kiss. He blushed and quickly turned back to the booth Cindy was shopping at.
Aubrey and I fell into a new fit of laughter over it. He was just too much.
"Come on kids, let's go get in line for some rides!"
A pair of ear piercing cheers came running towards us.
* * *
"Did you see anything?" I asked Azure as he climbed in through the open window in the kitchen. It was well past my bedtime, but I had forced myself into waiting up for him.
"Nothing," Azure transmitted, as he walked to his bowl. "Maybe they are done? It's been two nights."
"Maybe," I said.
I had two cans of Salmon ready for him, knowing he would be starving after a night of patrolling the town. I had bought fresh salmon too, but I was not sure how to prepare it.
"You cook it, I thought that would be obvious," he transmitted.
Tea, my tired mind dropped the blocks on my thoughts without me realizing it. I needed to get better at blocking while my mind was preoccupied.
"Why can't you just eat it raw?"
"Why don't you eat it raw?"
I rolled my eyes. Fish might be his favorite food, but it was my least favorite to cook and smell. They were cute when they stayed in the lake.
"You're a dragon, you should be able to cook it yourself, no?"
"No, unfortunately my ability to cook my own food won't mature for many more years. So I am left to rely on lesser species to cook it for me."
"At least lesser species can cook their own food, you little tea-tart," I transmitted as I stuck my tongue out at him.
"What about the rodents? You eat those uncooked?"
"And you eat raw sushi. At
least they're still warm, since I eat them while they're alive. It's a delicacy."
At this rate, I would vomit. So I tried to come up with another question.
"What about roasting the beans, isn't that using dragon fire?"
"A dragon's fire and their magic are two different things. They mature at different points in our lives."
"Explain?"
"Not tonight, I'm exhausted. Remind me another day."
Well tea, I really needed to start that notepad of questions. I pulled out my phone and made a new task list with that as the first question.
He finished eating and then came over to sit with me on the couch. I rubbed his belly as I let my thoughts drift back to the tagging.
The truth was that the weekends were busy around town. The person could just be smart enough to avoid the tourist who sometimes walked around the town at night. Whereas, during the week, all of us locals were in the house by 10:00 PM.
"What are you thinking?" Azure transmitted.
That was a promising sign.
"Nothing," I said. "Just working through the week and planning out tomorrow. I just remembered I still need to fill in the Poison of the week. I'll be back."
I rushed downstairs and left Azure alone to digest his smelly fish.
After a month of planning I would finally reveal my nod to the Color the Town event. A Rainbow Hemlock Mocha—a vanilla espresso, poured into a mug drizzled with chocolate syrup. Topped with rainbow steamed milk, whipped cream, a dash of sprinkles, and another drizzle of chocolate.
CHAPTER NINE
Monday, April 13th
Before I joined Aubrey in the cafe, there was one thing I needed to do. Pay Bianca a visit.
I could not recall the last time I was outside during the morning, on a workday. It was something I needed to do more often. The morning sun felt glorious on my skin.
"You are getting rather pale," Azure transmitted.
"Not nice," I transmitted back.
"You're the one broadcasting for the world to hear, no one cares that you're sunbathing on a Monday morning."
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