Just Like Home | Charlie Weasley

Chapter 3

Eleanor awoke at her usual time of around 6.15am, noting that the weather seemed to be more pleasant than yesterday in the low light of the morning. She showered and got herself dressed into a comfortable outfit of baggy tan corduroy trousers and a black turtle neck jumper. She left her brunette hair in its natural curly style, pulling half of it up into a small bun and sticking her wand through it as she usually did.

She decided on making some special Autumn pastries and drinks today, starting off with spiced pumpkin pastries and ginger hot chocolates. Eleanor loved everything about Autumn, from the vibrant hues of the trees to the cosy weather and fully indulged in the chance to bring some creativity and festivity to the season in her own way. Again, she lost herself in her work and only regained a sense of reality when Darcie arrived at her usual time of 8.45 to help Eleanor with opening up.

"It smells like an Autumn scented candle in here!" Darcie quipped as soon as she set foot in the door, her golden blonde hair swept by the wind. "What have you been working on, crazy pastry lady?".

Eleanor rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "Well... We've got spiced pumpkin pastries—,".

"How are those different from the regular pumpkin pastries?" Darcie interjected.

"They're infused with cinnamon and stewed apples too!".

"Right. Sorry, go on...".

"Toffee Apple croissants, vanilla cinnamon crowns and ginger hot chocolates!" Eleanor announced proudly.

Darcie gasped, dramatically but genuinely, and bounded over to gaze at the new creations. "They sound incredible! I can't wait to try one,".

"I'll box you up one of each to take home, don't worry," Eleanor winked as she took the tray and slid it into the display cabinet.

"And that, Eleanor Birch, is why I love you and will work for you for the rest of my life," Darcie sighed.

"With me," she stressed. "You work with me, not for me. Don't make me sound old," Eleanor groaned. Darcie's heart warmed. Eleanor Birch would never know how truly precious she was.

The shop was much busier today considering not many people ventured out in the rain yesterday, so both Eleanor and Darcie didn't get much of a break until there was a lull around 1pm. Eleanor began to worry when she hadn't seen George again, but her worries soon disappeared when she spotted him ducking in through the door in his telltale, garish work suit.

"George! It's great to see you," Eleanor beamed, bouncing back towards the counter as George approached with a small smile on his face. "How are you?".

George's entire demeanour told Eleanor all she needed to know; he was struggling. Eleanor cocked her head towards the only table that sat in front of the window of the shop, silently telling George to sit down whilst she sorted something for him. She informed Darcie that she would be taking a short break and to shout if she needed anything. Eleanor grabbed George's coffee, a ginger hot chocolate for herself and two of the toffee apple croissants and sat down opposite George who was currently fiddling with his fingers.

"So, how are you George?".

George let out a deep sigh and chewed on the inside of his cheek. "Not so good, to be honest," he said quietly, his dark brown eyes glistening.

Eleanor silently reached across the table and took his hand in hers. "You don't have to be okay all the time, George. Nobody expects you to be,".

"No... I suppose not,".

"Can I ask what you were up to yesterday?".

"I um... Sometimes when it gets a bit too much, I tend to close off. I struggle to deal with people when I'm having a bad day and... I kind of... Shut off to the world so I don't upset anybody,". Eleanor's heart was breaking for the poor man. She knew all too well what dealing with grief was like; coming in ebbs and flows, occasionally crashing over you like a huge, unsuspecting wave and making you act out in ways you never imagined.