My Siobhan

Chapter 7

The sun had barely broken across the horizon when Shivey woke. It was time to get moving. She quickly showered and finalised her packing before heading downstairs to checkout. It was too early for breakfast, she'd get something along the road. She looked toward the restaurant and thought of coffee. Trying not to groan, she'd just have to wait.

Shivey paid her bill, thanked the person behind the counter and turned to leave. Out of the corner of her eye she saw one of the waiter from the restaurant headed her way. He was carrying a take away coffee and a paper bag. He also had a huge grin on his face.

"Good morning," he said. "I heard you'd be leaving early this morning, figured you wouldn't have time for breakfast. I spoke with the chef and since you have enjoy his food so much during your stay he wanted to show his appreciation." He grinned again. "Breakfast to go!"

"Seriously." Shivey was so surprised that the chef would do this for her. "Please tell him I said thank you and I'll most definitely be staying here again when I'm in town."

"How about you carry the food and I'll get your luggage?" said the waiter.

Grateful for his help, that's exactly what she did. Once in the car she bid him goodbye and headed out, driving a short distance before stopping so she could eat and drink her coffee. Once done she headed for the garden supply store.

It took almost an hour to finalise payment and load the truck so that there would be as little damage as possible to the plants on the journey home. She thanked the staff for their help and once more got behind the wheel.

Okay, now for home. Shivey couldn't help the smile on her face. She missed her house, her land and plants, her greenhouse and she missed Coral.

As Coral had told Taren, Shivey took her time on the way home. As much as she wanted to get home, she also wanted this trip to last. Who knew when or even if she'd be able to afford something like this again? It was an extravagance she needed just this once, but she was a practical woman and a trip like this was not practical at all. Not if she wanted to build her business.

Shivey made sure to stop and rest several times, to stretch her legs, have a coffee and an extended lunch taking in the scenery. It was around two thirty or there about when she finally pulled into her driveway. Coral came running out to meet her, Katnip following, both excited to see her.

"Welcome home!" cried Coral. Katnip meowed and pounced, jumping into her waiting arms.

Shivey laughed. This was home! "What a welcome! It's good to be home." They left the care for the moment wanting to catch up.

Shivey could smell coffee as soon as she walked in the front door. She turned to Coral who rolled her eyes, "I could hear you coming a mile away. Now come and tell me all about your trip. I'll get to coffee you settle on the couch. Then I'll help you unpack."

"Don't you think we should unpack first?"

Coral just looked at her as if to say, 'do you really think I can wait that long?' she shook her head and got comfortable on the couch with Katnip. It seemed Coral had been baking that morning too, because she brought the coffees over on a tray with a plate of mini-muffins.

"Okay, now tell me all about it."

Shivey couldn't help but laugh. She told Coral all about her trip, everything except her appointment with Dr Sinclair and her sketching Taren. Coral seemed impressed that she'd started sketching people and wanted her to have go at sketching her. Shivey promised she would.