The Heart's Quite Beginning

Chapter 14: The Chaos Before the Festival

The cafe had never seen such a mess. By mid-morning, it was less of a peaceful haven for book and coffee lovers and more of a chaotic hub, overrun by villagers buzzing with last-minute preparations for the Harvest Festival. It was a beautiful kind of chaos though—the kind that had energy bouncing off the walls, wrapping everyone up in its warmth. I wove through the crowd, balancing a tray of freshly brewed coffee, carefully sidestepping a pile of hay bales someone had dragged in and a basket of pumpkins left way too close to the counter.

"Careful!" Mrs. Fletcher's sharp voice cut through the noise, her arms full of ribbons in every shade imaginable. For a second, I thought she might just start color-coding them on the spot.

I couldn't help but laugh under my breath, shaking my head. It was all so chaotic, but it was our chaos—the kind that made you feel alive, like you were part of something bigger than yourself. Sure, there were pumpkins threatening to trip you at every turn, and somehow, hay was everywhere, but it was village chaos. And for some strange reason, that made it feel more like home.

I was handing off a cup of coffee to Mr. Baker—who was somehow managing to balance two boxes of tablecloths in one arm while juggling a clipboard—when I heard my name from outside.

"Lia!" I turned just in time to see Ethan strolling toward me, his smile easy and familiar, the kind that felt like a breath of fresh air. His hands were shoved deep into his pockets, as if he had all the time in the world, completely unbothered by the chaos inside.

"Need some help?" he asked, stopping just short of the door, his eyes crinkling at the corners like he already knew my answer.

I raised an eyebrow, pretending to size him up. "Thank God you're here," I said, letting out a dramatic sigh.

Ethan smirked, leaning in slightly. "Oh, you definitely should be," he teased, his voice soft but playful.

I rolled my eyes, but the truth was, seeing him here—calm and steady amid the whirlwind—made me feel more grounded. It was like no matter how chaotic things got, he had a way of making it all seem manageable. Maybe it was that steady confidence or the way he never seemed to take things too seriously. Either way, I wasn't going to complain.

Before I could respond, Iris and Nova appeared behind him, both carrying bags overflowing with festival supplies and looking far too pleased with themselves.

"Looks like the whole gang's here," I said, smiling as they dropped their bags on the counter with a loud thud.

"Where else would we be?" Iris grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Besides, it's not like we'd leave you to drown in this chaos by yourself."

Nova nodded enthusiastically, throwing her arms wide. "Exactly! And by help, we obviously mean we're here for moral support and snacks. Lots of snacks."

I chuckled "Is Ryan coming?" I asked, almost absentmindedly, scanning the crowd. I wasn't sure why I even asked, but there it was, out in the open.

Ethan cleared his throat, suddenly avoiding my gaze. He scratched the back of his neck, that telltale sign he wasn't being totally honest. "Uh, he's... busy," he said, his voice just a little too casual.

Iris raised an eyebrow, barely hiding her amusement. "Busy?" she echoed, shooting Nova a look.

Nova caught on immediately, her eyes lighting up with curiosity. "Busy doing what, exactly?" she asked, not even attempting to hide the teasing tone in her voice.

Ethan shifted slightly, still trying to play it cool. "Oh, you know... Ryan things. Important Ryan things."

"Uh-huh," Nova said, giving him an exaggerated look of disbelief as she nudged Iris with her elbow. "Sure, Ethan. Totally believable."