Intermission - Checking in on some guests.

Diana and Grace walked into Maria’s coffee shop that Monday afternoon. There were six customers inside, all already drinking or eating something. The smell of coffee was refreshing to Diana after getting used to the bar, but it was a smell she knew she would get tired of soon if she had to live with it. Maria had to REALLY love coffee.

Speaking of, the owner and one of her employees were talking behind the counter, taking full advantage of the lull in customers to just rest for a bit. Maria and Fernanda looked their way, and while the younger girl seemed surprised, Maria frowned at them.

“Hey, you two. Good thing you’re here. Where’s your boyfriend? I need to have words with him.”

“What? What did he do?” Grace asked as she and Diana went to sit at the counter, across from the two other women.

“He’s getting weird ideas inside my man’s head,” Maria said.

“Whatever Oliver said to Thomas,” Diana began, “I bet Thomas asked for it.”

“Oh, I don’t doubt that. I just want to know what exactly he told him.” Maria sighed, shaking her head. “He came up to me one day asking if he could work here with me.”

“Oh, that’s sweet,” Grace said. “What did you tell him?”

“I told him no, obviously,” Maria said, unhesitantly, leaving both Grace and Fernanda very confused.

“Yeah, I figured…” Diana said.

“But why?” Fernanda asked. “Thomas seems like a guy who’d be a good fit here.”

“How do I put it?” Maria crossed her arms and gave it some thought. “It was like he didn’t ask because he wanted a job. He asked because he wanted to help me, or be here with me. And yeah, it’s sweet, but I don’t need that and neither does he. He’s also going to start university soon and I have no doubt he’ll be in the basketball team. He should use his time there, to study and practice. I’ve been worried Oliver told him to do it because it’s working out for you two,” she told Diana.

“I doubt that’s what he said,” Grace said. “If anything, these two were super nervous about working together.”

“Well, whatever, I’ll catch him one of these days. But now that he’s a big shot working at some fancy hotel he’s forgotten about us.” Maria crossed her arms and pouted.

Fernanda chuckled. “She’s mad he hasn’t come to visit.”

“There’s a non-zero chance he’d walk into the kitchen and start washing dishes if he did,” Diana said.

“True,” Maria admitted. “Well, anyway. What are you two doing here? Have something to discuss? Want to use the table behind the screen?”

“We do have something to discuss, but it’s with you two,” Diana said.

“We want to formally invite you to Oliver’s birthday party. Don’t tell him, though,” Grace said.

Fernanda’s eyes went wide. “Me? R-Really?”

“You don’t have to go if you don’t want to, but yeah, we’d love to have you there,” Diana told her, smiling.

“So it’s a surprise?” Maria asked.

“Yep. We’re making reservations at a nice restaurant and inviting all his friends,” Grace said.

Maria nodded. “You told Thomas already, didn’t you?”

“Yes. He agrees that having dinner is better than throwing a normal party,” Grace answered.

“Alright, I’ll chip in. Tell me how much it is.”

Diana sighed. “I wish we could tell you not to, but… It’ll be a lot of people.”

“Wait…” Fernanda interrupted, brow furrowed in thought. “Oliver’s birthday… is also Isabelle’s birthday, isn’t it?”

“Oh, you’ve met her?” Grace asked. “I thought you two had different shifts.”

“We work together on Saturdays,” Fernanda clarified. “So… How’s that gonna work?”

“Part of the reason we want to throw him a big party with all his friends is that Isabelle told us Oliver isn’t used to celebrating his birthday beyond having his mom cook him something special,” Grace said.

“Really? But… If they’re twins…”

“There was a period of time when those two had a… strained relationship,” Maria said. “Let me guess. Isabelle started celebrating on her own while Oliver stayed in his room?”

“Pretty much,” Diana said. “Really, we don’t know if he’ll be a big fan of us inviting all his friends, but… We want to do it at least this year.”

“Mila, Sarah, Alice, Noelle, Diana and I make six,” Grace said. “Thomas, Kevin, Ben and Mark make ten. We’re inviting Lena and Amanda, too, so that’s twelve. Ms. Brooks and Isabelle make it fourteen. And we don’t know if we should invite Mr. Allen.”

Fernanda tilted her head in confusion. “Mr. Allen?”

“Our boss,” Diana said. “He’s become fond of Oliver, so we want to invite him, but… He’s undeniably the odd one out in this whole group.”

“That IS a lot of people…” Maria said.

“Actually… Oliver is friends with your dad, isn’t he, Fernanda?” Grace asked the girl. “Do you think we should invite him?”

Fernanda smiled. “I… don’t know? I can ask him, but I think he would rather not intrude.”

“The invitation is there. Ask him, but we’ll understand if it’s weird.”

“But seriously, that is A LOT of people…” Maria said. “Are you sure it’s okay?”

“It’s kind of the point,” Grace said. “Last year, Oliver had distanced himself from his sister and could only call Thomas an acquaintance. Now all these people are willing to attend his birthday party. We want to show him that.”

“I’m sure he’s very aware of how much his life has changed, but… Even so, we want to do this,” Diana said. “Will you go, Fernanda?”

“Yes, I’d love to. Thank you for inviting me.”

“I’ll text you the details soon,” Grace told her.

Diana and Grace had a cup of coffee before leaving. Then, as they walked out the door, Fernanda came running after them. “H-Hey…!”

“Hm? Did we forget something?” Grace asked her.

“No… It’s just… I wanted to ask you a favor,” Fernanda said. “Well, your opinion AND a favor.”

Diana and Grace listened to a very nervous Fernanda… and very much liked what they heard.

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