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Ada hurried along the busy city sidewalk, dodging Saturday shoppers as best she could in an effort to make it to Cordelia’s Bookstore before it was too late. Her favorite author, H.M. Hardbroom, was holding a book signing there until noon in order to promote her latest book, As the Willow Sighs , and if Ada rushed, she might just snag a place at the end of the queue.
Her plan to arrive an hour early, thus securing a decent spot for the opening Q&A, had been nicely derailed when her cat, Pendle, had decided to raid her chocolate stash. Three hours and one large vet bill later, Ada was left with only seven minutes before she missed her chance to meet the reclusive author entirely.
Despite the cool autumn air, Ada was breathless and lightly perspiring by the time she reached the front doors of the shop. Quickly stepping inside, Ada visibly deflated when she saw several employees stacking chairs and arranging everything back to its original state. When asked, a young man informed Ada that Miss Hardbroom had left not more than ten minutes prior. Disappointed didn’t even come close to how Ada felt in that moment. She had waited in a constant state of eager anticipation for this day to arrive since the signing had been announced six months prior and she’d missed it.
While H.M. Hardbroom’s writing was wildly popular, often landing on several bestseller lists worldwide, the woman behind the fame was intensely private. She had no personal social media accounts, she never conducted on camera interviews, absolutely no photos or video recordings were allowed at her signings, of which she only did one per book release, there wasn’t an author’s photo on the back cover of her books, and no one knew her full name. Though she’d been excited to finally put a face to the name, more than anything Ada had wanted to delve, if only for a short while, into the other woman’s mind, to hear directly from the source how such enchanting worlds were created and to see if she was as eloquent in person as she was on paper.
Unwilling to leave empty handed, Ada purchased a copy of the book she’d been so keen about before and made her way to a nearby café. A little something sweet and a nice cup of tea might not be the best consolation, but it usually did the trick when she was feeling down.
The café proved to be rather full when she arrived and Ada hoped a table would be free by the time she received her order. Purchases in hand and with a small sigh at her continued misfortune, Ada scanned the shop for a free chair. Spotting one near the large, front window, she carefully made her way through the crowd and took note of the woman already seated at the table. Clad all in black (dress, boots, painted nails, and long, plaited hair as well) with perfect posture and striking features, Ada hoped the woman wasn’t as severe and unapproachable as she appeared to be.
“Excuse me, do you mind if I sit here? Everything else is taken.”
Clearly startled, a flash of irritation swept across the other woman’s face as she turned from her silent contemplation of the busy world outside. Long, awkward moments stretched past while the woman considered her with a dark, wary gaze. Ada was ready to apologize and try her luck elsewhere when the woman gave a slight nod and returned to her previous endeavor.
Ada thanked the stranger graciously, certain the other woman hadn’t even registered the words, and set her tea and lemon tart on the empty table and took her seat. Pulling out her newly acquired book, Ada settled in and began to read. Despite her lingering disappointment, a small spark of excitement ignited the moment she cracked open the book, easily slipping from the world around her into the one contained within its pages.
Halfway through the second chapter, Ada began to notice small movements from the corner of her eye, but every time she looked up, the woman across from her was in the exact same position as before. Certain she wasn’t imagining things, Ada feigned complete absorption in her book while discreetly watching over its edge.
A few minutes later, the woman turned once more, just a subtle shift of her head, catching Ada’s waiting gaze. A blush spread up the woman’s neck, dusting a rosy glow across high cheekbones and Ada’s heart gave a muted thump as this small show of vulnerability seemed to shift the woman’s entire demeanor.
Gone was the overly rigid stranger and in her place sat a slightly awkward woman who clearly wanted to ask Ada something, but obviously didn’t know where to start. Ada waited patiently with an open, friendly smile in an effort to reassure the woman sitting across from her to take her time.
“A-are you a fan?” the woman stuttered out several moments later, pointing to the book still clutched in Ada’s hands for clarification
“Very much so! Though I unfortunately missed the book signing this morning,” Ada replied before launching into a rundown of her chaotic morning. As she spoke, Ada noticed that the other woman’s rigid posture began to gradually relax and that she no longer looked ready to bolt from the table.
“Maybe someday your luck will change and you’ll have a chance to meet her,” the woman encouraged kindly when Ada was finished.
“Maybe,” Ada replied wistfully. “Have you read her books?”
“I have,” came the simple reply.
“Wonderful,” Ada exclaimed happily. “Which has been your favorite thus far?”
The woman considered her question for a long moment, “I’m not certain I could choose, honestly. Which is yours?”
Ada didn’t even hesitate before answering, “Her second novel, The Turning Tide . Hands down my absolute favorite.”
“Why?” She asked with genuine interest.
“All of her other books have been amazing, no doubt, but The Turning Tide was almost a spiritual experience for me. It was as if I’d connected to this other soul out there, one that I’d never met, but instantly recognized.”
The other woman’s eyes widened slightly at her answer and Ada felt a flush of her own burning her cheeks for having revealed so much to a perfect stranger.
“You must think me silly, Miss...,” Ada’s embarrassment grew further with the realization that she’d been carrying on this whole time and had yet to properly introduce herself to the woman. “I’m sorry, I seem to have forgotten my manners today. I’m Ada.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Ada. I’m Hecate.”
“What a lovely name,” Ada commented, drawing a delightfully shy smile from her new acquaintance.
Ada barely registered the world passing around them as she and Hecate delved deeper into their conversation. Once Ada was able to break past Hecate’s initial aloofness, she found a rather engaging and intelligent conversationalist. Hecate’s sharp wit and dry tone often had Ada in fits of laughter as they easily bounced from topic to topic. More often than not, they found their thoughts and opinions to be in agreement, but when they differed, Hecate had a plethora of knowledge she used to defend her side. Ada was undeniably fascinated.
Hours later, a small chime sounded from Hecate’s side of the table and Ada was charmed when Hecate pulled an old-fashioned pocket watch from the folds of her dress.
“My apologies, Ada, for the hasty exit, but I’ll be late for a meeting if I don’t leave now.”
“No need, Hecate. I understand completely. It was lovely getting to know you and I hope to see you around soon.”
With a small smile and a quick nod, Hecate made her way out of the café and Ada resisted the urge to thump her head on the table for not asking for Hecate’s contact information when she had the chance. As Ada began gathering her things to leave, she noticed a piece of paper sticking out from under the front cover of her book. Realizing Hecate must have slipped it in when she’d gone to the restroom earlier, Ada quickly opened the book and snatched up the paper containing Hecate’s phone number and email address.
Underneath the note, on a previously blank page of her novel, sat a message written in the same neat script:
Ada,
May you find the courage to seek the soul that calls to yours.
All my best,
Hecate Morgana Hardbroom