It was raining when Elisabeth’s cab pulled up in front of the small coffee and bookshop on the west end of downtown. It was one of those out of the way places she had discovered in college and continued to visit regularly when she wanted some peace and quiet. She paid her fare and dashed inside as the car pulled away. The autumn rain was cold, but inside of the shop was cozy, warm, and filled with the smell of hot drinks and old books. 

A shiver ran down Elisabeth’s spine as she ordered her earl gray and turned to survey the room for an empty table. There were only half a dozen small tables to choose from, but most of them were free. Elisabeth sat down at one in a nook between a set of bookshelves filled with a collection of 80’s sci-fi, an odd scattering of leatherbound classics, and a few encyclopedic tomes. She gazed at the titles of the books while she waited. 

A gray haired lady from behind the counter brought a tray with a teapot, two cups, and small containers of cream and sugar. Elisabeth smiled and thanked her as she set the tray down in front of her. Steam seeped from the spout of the tea pot. The whole tray was an eclectic collection of antique pieces and cheap thrifted dishware. 

“I remember having spoons like these at my grandma’s house,” a voice said next to Elisabeth. 

“Glad you could make it Beatrix,” Elisabeth said as she turned to look at her friend’s ashen cheeks and pale-lipped smile. “You look good.” 

“Same as I always look,” Beatrix laughed. “You, on the other hand, look tired. Have you been working overtime?” 

“A little,” she nodded as she poured tea into the two cups. “Fourth quarter is always extra busy. Cream or sugar?”

Beatrix waved a hand, “Nah, I’m just glad for the warmth.” 

Elisabeth added cream to her own cup and took a sip. The tea warmed her to her bones. She held the cup under her nose and let the steam caress her nose and cheeks. Beatrix sat with her hands around either side of her cup. Elisabeth felt a pang of sadness as she looked at her friend, the same t-shirt she had been wearing for the last three years and her hair in a comfortable messy bun as she always wore it. 

Beatrix looked up at Elisabeth and saw the sadness in her best friend’s eyes. She reached over and laid a hand on her shoulder. “I’m glad you came to see me today. It’s been lonely with the weather turning cold. Not as many people come to the shop right now. They did get some new books in this week so I haven’t been bored.”

Elisabeth smiled a sad smile and set her cup down on the table. “I suppose I should come and visit more often. At least you chose to haunt a place that makes a good cup of tea.”