Purrfect Roast: A Dragon Cozy Mystery by Verena DeLuca (the giving tree read aloud TXT) 📗

"I had planned to visit some of the thrift shops near downtown to find a few decorations for the cafe," I said. "But now it looks like there won't be time."

"So proud of you for tackling that space," Aubrey said. "I know it's rough, but I do think Tona would want you to make it your own."

"Thanks." I blushed at the compliment. Healing from a parental loss was a messy business. "I'm not trying to paint over her memory or anything—"

"Of course not!" Aubrey said.

"It's just that I want the place to feel like home," I said. "I'm going to be running it for hopefully another fifty years. That's a long time to feel like I'm running her cafe, and not my own. Aunt Tona always had excellent taste, though. Everything I learned, I learned from her."

"I love what you've done to the place," Skylar said. "It's totally cool, without being hipster."

"Thank you." I beamed and took another drink from my cup to hide my huge smile. Whether from pride or the warmth of the cup of coffee was anyone's guess. I had been second-guessing every change since moving into the apartment above the cafe.

I refilled the empty disposable cup, before proceeding to the vendor's room. I doubted Azure or Shadow could have waited another second. They both rubbed between our feet, letting us know their patience was running out.

"Okay, okay," I said. "We only took a quick stop to fuel up. Let's go get you some salmon before you have a heart attack on me."

Azure meowed, and Shadow joined in.

Great. Maybe teaming up with Skylar would not be all I had hoped if it meant two whiny dragons.

"I have never heard Azure be this vocal in all the years I've known him," Aubrey said.

"Guess you've never had the pleasure of coming between him and his food before," I said.

"Making a note to never do it again, that's for sure. Where is your purse food? You're a cat mom now, you should have snacks."

"Purse snacks?" Azure transmitted.

"Hey, you shh," I said to Aubrey. "You're going to give him bad ideas."

"Oh my gosh," Aubrey said. "That would be hilarious. Too bad he's a cat. No worries of understanding my words."

Skylar and I laughed hard enough for Aubrey to give us a strange look, and I quickly cleared my throat glancing at Skylar. We needed a topic change quick.

"I meant to tell you sooner," Skylar said. "I finished a metal sculpture for your wall. It's got the Aconite Cafe logo worked into it, and everything."

"Aww," I said. "That's so sweet of you. You didn't have to do that."

"No, but I wanted to," Skylar said. "You've been so great to me, it's like we're family."

I stopped and gave her a quick hug. Normally I would not want to be all touchy feely. Maybe it was the lack of sleep from the weekend?

"Ever since I found out that Jason made space-scapes, I decided I want to turn the walls into a makeshift gallery," I explained. "If I can help the local artists sell more artwork to the tourists that come flocking into town, then I would feel accomplished. I don't know why Aunt Tona never did it. She loved the local artists."

"Artists are drama," Aubrey pointed out.

I thought back to Ben. She was right, but it was still worth it. Just look at Jason wanting to go to art school, and not being able to afford it. If I could help one person a year go to school, it was worth dealing with the drama from the likes of Ben.

"I think it's worth it," I said.

"Totally. It's a great way to help the community."

"It will add a touch of spice to the walls," Aubrey said. "Seeing the art change out over the months would be awesome."

"Great," I said. "It's settled then."

As we turned the corner, Aubrey groaned.

The cat food vendor's room was at the end of a hall with three doors on the right wall, and one door in the middle of the left wall. I assumed the door on the left went into the room behind the stage. There were so many people with cats that the line to get samples was backed up out the door and looping toward us on the left wall. When we joined the line, we leaned against the door to the ballroom.

"Your salmon better be worth the wait," I transmitted to Azure.

"If you hadn't taken so much time at the coffee bar, we wouldn't be waiting so long."

"Or the line would have been even longer."

We each transmitted our laughter to the other. Neither of us were known for patience, and lines were the worst kind of wait!

CHAPTER SIX

Sunday, May 17th, 11:00 AM

After waiting ten minutes we were inside the room and only a few spots away from free samples. The efficiency of the sales team was impressive. They knew full well the line was only interested in treats and set the room up to flow accordingly. People came in the door of the square room and hugged the left wall until it reached a table that spanned the back of the room.

Once there, they had a ramp set up for the cats to access a carpeted platform across the front of the table. Each cat could get hand-fed and be a part of the conversation with the salespeople.

After receiving goodies, owners could travel down the table to talk to salespeople about purchases or turn and leave with ease. On the right side of the room, they had a wall display set up with the various flavors and styles of food available. Along with a feeding guide to keeping any fluff ball fed, healthy, and happy.

On our first day at the show, Skylar and I giggled at the stats we calculated from the charts. Our cats topped the charts on calories eaten per day, but sat