If We Were Having Coffee

The bell tinkles over the glass door to the coffee house and I rush in from the rain, welcomed by the homely smell of roasted coffee beans and freshly baked confectionaries. I’m here with a mission.

Christmas has been packed up and boxed and that low feeling you get once the festivities are over have hit hard. My mission is to meet up with my old friends and introduce new ones. Ahh, there they are…I wave to Lance and Lucie sitting in the middle of the room. They are busy discussing Writing 101 which started today and I’m excited to find out if they signed up. Just under a year ago, I signed up for Writing 101 and met most of my blogging buddies through the course.

I spot another doctor in the room, apart from Lucie, and wave to Victo Dolore. She is looking for a free table and I call her over to join us. Oh, there is someone I haven’t seen in the coffee house before. It’s Tooty Nolan! He’s gone straight to the counter to order something hot to counteract the awful weather outside and whilst he pays, the bell tinkles again. I turn to see Kate rush in followed by Gene’O and Diana. The coffee house is filling and everyone is smiling, chatting and catching up.

Lance draws my attention back to the table where he mentions how well Eleven Miles is selling. I feel guilty because I’ve been struggling to sit in once place to read his fantastic book. My time has been fragmented throughout the holiday season and I had promised to finish his book and do a review. Hugh has arrived with Colleen and I ask them the best way to review the book as they are part of the LitWorld Interview team and have great experience in this field. I show them a copy of the book and Hugh says he already has it on his list of books to read.

Trent and JMLibby stop by our table to say hi and I introduce everyone. Trent has just returned from Cape Cod and updates us on his plans for his blog this year. Everyone joins in the conversation and I take the opportunity to sneak away to order my hazelnut hot chocolate and when I return to the table, everyone is laughing. Hugh has just told them all about the Grammar Black Market and my train conductor’s onesie! Blushing, I join in the laughter and resist the urge to tell them what time the local will be arriving at Paddington Station!

Another rush of people enter the coffee house and the noise levels rise to the point where we have to speak rather loudly to be heard. I can feel the push of bodies around me and notice new faces. There’s Natasha and Shawn busy discussing new year’s resolutions.

Lucie stands and says she has to go because she has a few appointments. Lance offers to walk her out and I wish them both the best of luck on their blogs. As I sip my hot chocolate, Diane stops by to say hi and tells me about her first day with her son back at school. We were both finding it hard to let go of the holiday season and embrace the new schedule for the year ahead. But as with all good things, we just have to wait for them to fall into place.

Gene’O excitedly fills us in on the progress with his different projects and I’m amazed at the dedication and hard work everyone puts into their blogs, which are fabulous. He tells us what he plans for the year ahead and we all joke about schedules and lack of time before the year has actually begun.

Soon, it’s time for most of us to go. Most of us have projects to start or continue and the energy and buzz in the coffee house is very noticeable. A quick hug and kiss for everyone and we promise to meet up soon again.

The lovely warmth of the coffee house is lost in the wet rain outside and I immediately wish I could run back in and surround myself with the incredible people inside. I decided to push forward and head home. My own projects are waiting and I can’t procrastinate any longer. My book from NaNoWriMo last year called The Iron Pendulum needs a second glance. JMLibby has asked me to guest blog which I’m very excited about. To top it, my other romance thriller, Falling Into You needs completing. With two big books on my plate and children’s books awaiting design and production, I have to get home and start working.

As I splash through the busy streets, my thoughts drift to my friends and their projects. Sending positive thoughts their way, I wish them all good luck for the year ahead.

Join me again for another coffee date…maybe next Monday if you’re free? ☺️