Starry Nights

Amelia sat upright in her bed with tired, blurry eyes that darted all around the room. She squinted her eyes and strained her ears; she could’ve sworn that it was a loud crashing sound that had startled her awake. After waiting for a while she slowly stood up and silently crept up to the door. She leaned forward until the side of her face rested against the cold wood.

“Ugh...stupid bowl, spilling all my stupid cereal...” She faintly heard her best friend Scarlet mutter to herself. Amelia sighed and nearly collapsed with relief. Thank You, Lord.

“Are you trying to wake the whole neighborhood, or just me?” Amelia quipped with a smirk as she opened her bedroom door and stepped out. “Because I think you’ve managed to do both.” Scarlet rolled her green eyes and threw her newly dyed hair over her shoulder. She had bought a couple of boxes of dye home the other day and convinced Amelia to do her hair. Two scarlet stained hands later, she had her dream hair.

“Yeah yeah, why don’t you make yourself useful, eh?” She said as she gestured to the freshly brewed coffee and bent to pick up her bowl. Amelia walked over to the basin, grabbed a rag, then handed it to her friend. “Thanks. Besides, I just saved myself some time, now I don’t have to go wake you up anymore.” She said with a smug smile and a one-shouldered shrug.

Amelia only chuckled and shook her head in reply. “So,” She began slowly as she carefully poured poured the coffee into mugs. “Did he call you again last night?”

Scarlet finished cleaning up and sighed heavily. “Yeah, and this time I actually answered.” She wrung the rag over the sink, and started walking to the bathroom while Amelia followed. “He told me that he was sorry, of course. And said that he would ask his mother to be nicer to me. But, I don’t know if I want to be with him anymore Lee.” She threw the rag in the washing machine and turned toward Amelia. “Do you think I overreacted?”

“No.” Amelia stated firmly, “Of course you didn’t. His mother was being rude, and he actually took her side over yours. I think it’s perfectly understandable that you freaked.” She continued as she started walking back to the kitchen.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right...”

After finishing her breakfast and coffee, Amelia went to her room to get ready. She peaked out the window and saw that it was cold outside, since everyone was wearing scarves and coats. Thank You for this beautiful morning, Lord. I ask You to please help Scarlet with her decision regarding Jake. She walked over to her closet and threw open the doors with a sigh.

Three outfits later, she was staring at herself in the mirror. She had chosen her favorite blue jeans with black ankle length boots. Her maroon coat rested over her dark grey T-shirt. She nodded in satisfaction and slowly started brushing her long caramel colored hair, putting on a beanie afterward.

She stood still for a moment and just inspected her reflection. She was very short for a twenty-one year old, and because of that, everyone always told her that she looked so much younger. She had bright green eyes, the same as those of her father, and freckles all over her body, thanks to her mother. Her cheeks always seemed to have a pink tint, which made her look sweet and innocent. I am made in His image.

“Amelia, hurry up, you’re going to be late!” She heard Scarlet call from the living room. She pulled a face at the mirror, grabbed her scarf, and left her room. After rushing around for a while, she finally had everything she needed, she hurriedly pulled her scarf around her neck and grabbed her bag.

She opened the front door and slowly stepped out. The cold air nearly took her breath away. She gasped softly and adjusted the beanie on her head. Her fingers felt frozen as she put on her gloves after locking the front door and throwing the keys into her handbag. As she walked she kept her head down. Trying, unsuccessfully, to keep the cold wind out of her face. When her phone dinged with a message, she quickly fished it out of her pocket and noticed that the text was from her mother.

Morning Lili, I hope you slept well last night. Could you maybe stop by the store before coming to the café today? We desperately need some eggs and milk. Thanks honey, love you bunches! P.S. Say hi to Owen for me. ;)

Chuckling softly, she put her phone away again, their monthly stock had already been delivered, and they didn’t need anything. Her mother had ulterior motives, and she wasn’t being very subtle about it. She had been trying to set Amelia up with Owen, the cashier at the store ever since he moved to Vereilles two years ago, but she just wasn’t interested. Amelia told her mother how she felt every time Owen was mentioned, but her mother merely brushed her comments off, saying that she just needed to spend some time with him.

Amelia sighed and buried her hands deeper into her pockets, she knew her mother meant well, but she sometimes wished that she would just let it go. She didn’t want to start something with Owen if she wasn’t able to reciprocate his feelings, she couldn’t do that to him. He deserved better. She had always been honest with him about the way she felt about their relationship, friendship, and he always seemed very understanding. Although that didn’t stop him from flirting with her whenever he got the chance. It was very flattering, having someone that cared about you in that way, Amelia just didn’t have the heart to keep on saying no to him.

Amelia shook her head to clear her wandering thoughts. She debated whether or not she should just run the rest of the way to the store. In the end she decided against it though, because she remembered the fact that people would stare; and that would most likely cause her untimely death. So to keep herself alive, she opted for speed walking instead. As soon as she was close enough she dashed inside, almost knocking an old lady over in the process. “Oh my goodness, I am so sorry ma’am!” she gushed helping the lady remain stable by putting her hands on her shoulders. “I-I was just...you know...it-it’s cold out there.” She shrugged with a sheepish smile while pointing a thumb over her shoulder.

The lady chuckled heartily and put her hand over Amelia’s which was still resting on her shoulder. “Calm down honey, I’m not as fragile as I look.” Amelia smiled and waved as the lady walked out of the store. Before she could take another step she was engulfed in a hug, she tensed for a moment but relaxed slightly after realizing that it was just Owen. Please help me, Lord.

“Good morning Lee.” Owen beamed as he leaned away from her, “How are you today? You looking for anything in particular? Did your parents send you? Do you need help finding something?”

Smiling slightly, Amelia removed his hands from her back and took a step away from him; a hurt look flashed in his eyes before he quickly recovered. Amelia pretended not to notice the look; he knew how she felt. “Can I start answering now, or do you have more questions?” She asked, throwing him an amused glance. “I’m doing well. I’m just here to get some eggs and milk. Yes my parents sent me. And no thank you, I think I can manage finding the eggs and milk.”

Owen’s cheeks had turned a slight rosy color, he scratched his head and mumbled a ‘sorry’. Amelia chuckled, which only caused his cheeks to redden even more. “Okay. Well I’ll be at the register, holler if you need anything.” She shook her head with a smile as she watched him walk away.

Amelia had just walked into the isle where the eggs were when she felt eyes on her. She frowned and turned her head. She didn’t see anyone on her left, but saw someone disappear behind a shelf on her right she shook her head and got everything that the café so desperately ‘needed’.

Owen smiled when he rang up the chocolate that she had gotten for herself. “If you’d have told me you needed one of these, I would have happily bought one for you.” He winked at her and laughed at the face she pulled.

He gently took her hand before he handed her the bag, all the playfulness in his eyes had vanished. “You change your mind about that date yet?” He whispered it so softly that she had to strain her ears to hear him properly.

Amelia softly shook her head and avoided looking into his eyes; she knew what see would see there. “No, I’m sorry Owen.” She whispered it back just as softly, while she gently pulled her hand away.

She turned around and hurried out of the store. hating the fact that she had to keep hurting him. Lord, I don’t understand why I couldn’t just have fallen for him. My parents certainly approve, and he is such a sweetheart. He would treat me like a princess. She sighed as she prayed this, because she already knew the answer to her question, she just didn’t want to admit it to herself.

Amelia arrived at the café about ten minutes later. Before she went in, she stared at the massive Grey’s sign that hung outside the window; it drew the attention of everyone who found themselves passing by. It shone a bright white color, although the S was starting to fade. She quickly made a mental note to tell her father. She smiled as she stared at the place; it was painted a lovely dove grey color, with some white accents here and there. The windows had papers stuck to them that advertised all the specials they had going on. The area around the store smelled of bacon, coffee, and waffles.

She felt such pride to be working at the café with her mother and father; they had worked so hard to finally be able to afford the place. She could still remember the days when they would sit around their dining room table and talk about their dreams for the café, how it would look, what types of food they were going to sell, where the furniture would go, everything. It all seemed so long ago now, all the prayers, the hard work and the tears; yet they only celebrated the fourth anniversary of Grey’s last month.

A cold gust of wind slammed into Amelia, breaking the nostalgic state she had been in. She gasped loudly and dashed inside. “Honey’s I’m home!” She called out, then snickered loudly to herself. Amelia was busy packing the eggs into the fridge when her mother appeared next to the fridge door. She crossed her arms and smiled mischievously.

“Hello darling, anything...new you want to tell me?” Amelia sighed and shook her head.

She gave her mother a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “No mom, nothing new. And there won’t be anything new soon, you know this. Can you please just let it go now?” Her shoulders sagged as she stared at her mother. “I just want you to understand that I am not interested.” She didn’t know what the Lord had planned for their future, but right now she wasn’t looking for a relationship.

“What are you two ladies talking about?” Her father drawled as he stepped into the kitchen. He draped an arm around Amelia’s shoulder and kissed her head. “Nothing too serious, I hope.” He said with a wink. Amelia kissed him on the cheek and mentally thanked him for stepping in.

Amelia smiled when she saw one of her favorite customers, Mr. Oppenheimer step into the café. She glanced at the clock on the wall and saw that he was exactly on time, once again. When she was younger, she always visited Mr. Oppenheimer and his wife with her childhood friend. So often that they became like family to her.

She took her notepad out of her apron pocket and walked to his table. Mr. and Mrs. Oppenheimer had come to the Grey’s everyday for lunch ever since they opened. Mrs. Oppenheimer died nearly a year ago, causing Mr. Oppenheimer to stay away for a while. Amelia understood, and didn’t think he’d come back. After about a month though, when she went to visit him, he told her that he wanted to carry on their ‘little tradition’. Sometimes, when Amelia walked past his table, she could see him staring out the window with tears in his eyes. “Hi Mr. Oppenheimer, how are you doing today?” She asked with a smile.

He smiled and handed her his menu. “Why, hello Amelia. I’m fine thank you, and how are you?” She took the menu from his hand and answered that it was going well with her. “I’ll just have my usual please sweetie.”

“Sure, let me get that for you sir.” She came back with a coffee and pancakes about ten minutes later. She put them on his table and handed him a magazine that she had brought to the café just for him. “You should look at the article on page 21, it’s about the history of Vereilles. Apparently the author even held an interview with you!” She playfully hit his shoulder and crossed her arms. “You didn’t even tell me, or invite me.” She pouted as she tried not to smile.

He laughed as he opened the magazine. “If you had been a couple decades older, I would’ve invited you to tag along.”

She smiled as she changed the subject, “Will I see you at church on Sunday?”

“Yes, of course, wouldn’t miss it.”

She slowly turned at the sound of the bell above the door. A man with a hood which covered most of his face cautiously entered. He took his time looking around the café. Amelia took a step in his direction, about to lead him to an empty table, but as soon as he saw her he froze. She squinted and tried to see his face as she kept on walking toward the man. His breathing quickened and before she could say anything he rushed out of the café.

She turned to Mr. Oppenheimer and raised an eyebrow. “Must not be that hungry.” He shrugged as he chuckled.

The rest of her shift passed by uneventfully and eventually it was time for her to go home. She stood outside with her parents. “Are you sure we can’t just take you home?” Her mother asked as she shivered.

Amelia chuckled and nodded her head. “I’m sure, thanks mom.” Her mother glanced at her wearily but didn’t say anything else.

She began walking as soon as her parents took off. She always enjoyed walking home, it gave her time to be alone. It also gave her time to pray, and reflect upon her day.

Lord, Thank you for helping Mr. Oppenheimer find his happiness again. And thank you for giving us this beautiful day. Help me appreciate you more and more each day. Amen.

Amelia liked praying about everything. She liked to involve the Lord in all her decisions, big or small.

~~~

Scarlet threw her arms around Amelia as soon as she stepped through the door. “Hi,” Amelia chuckled as she returned her friend’s hug. “Missed me that much?”

“You...” Scarlet began as she pulled back, “You...you don’t know yet, do you?” Amelia tilted her head as she stared at her. What is she going on about? She started walking to her room and signaled Scarlet to follow her.

Amelia took off her jacket and threw it on the back of her desk chair, and took a soft blanket in it’s place. Then, she ripped off her beanie, and stepped out of her shoes while wildly shaking her hair out. When she saw Scarlet plop down on her bed with a pale face, she placed a hand on her arm and stared into her distant eyes. “Scar, are you okay? What’s wrong?” She whispered, “What don’t I know yet?”

Her heart started pounding when Scarlet met her eyes. “Amelia.” She whispered, “He’s back... Mason’s back."