Hearing the sound from the back of the store, Beauty looked up from the new arrivals and smiled. The coffee had just finished its brew cycle up at the front counter, and she had just finished setting out the sliced kiwi and strawberries. She had her suspicions that kiwi was a lunchtime fruit, but it was just too good in combination with strawberries to pass up. From her research on her new tablet, she'd learned all about kiwi. Apparently, it was a autumn fruit, which actually didn't mean a thing here. The thought only made her more grateful for the City.
How strange, she thought. When she'd first arrived, she hated this place. She even disliked Errol a little bit for his apparent fondness for their home. It was different now, different ever since she met Thomas and befriended the City. Now, it was a perfectly magical place.
Detaching herself from the boxes, she quickly smoothed out her dress, her hair. She'd do, she thought, before heading to the front of the store. Her smile turned radiant.
"Good morning," she said warmly. "Oh, what's this?" And she was off again, unpacking the pastries and setting them on plates, pouring coffee... "Thank you," she said over her shoulder. "This is perfect."
Today, she told herself, as she walked his coffee to him and set it in his hands. You'll ask him today.