The morning was always Jacob's favorite part of the day, especially the time before the store had opened. But this morning was different - the rain was pouring outside. It was not a great start to the beautiful morning that he was used to. This morning was different. Raining was not unusual in Estellasia, it happened pretty frequently actually, but this morning just seemed sluggish. No one wants to work on a day like this... he thought negatively to himself. Rather than trying to pep himself up and get going, he slowly rolled out of bed and stumbled down the staircase to the cafe store front, still wearing his sleep wear.


Jacob pulled the can of coffee beans from under the counter. He didn't even care what town the beans came from at the moment, the stronger the better. He knew that a lot of business came in on rainy days since so many were trying to escape the dreariness outside with a little bit of sunshine inside so he needed all the caffeine he could get. After a sip, he could feel his troubles being lifted and ready to work. Quickly changing into his work attire, he returned downstairs and began to brew the first coffee of the day. He restocked the bins of candy that lined the walls and got his sister to work on baking the cakes that would later be kept in the ice box until a customer requested a peice.


The bell on the door jingled merrily and Jacob matched it's merriness with a cheerful, "Good morning, welcome to Cafe Estelle!"

Isabella had gotten an early start on her day’s activities. She had already romped through a particularly bunny-laden field and had been able to track down her favorite rabbit of all: one that was distinguished by his white body and black head. She called him Fabien, and often treated him to a carrot from her mother’s garden.

After that, Bella had strolled right into town, and no sooner did she step onto the sidewalk of the main street did the dark clouds roll in and let down a sheet of rain. Bella squealed and threw her hands up over her head as if it would shield her from the pelting wet bullets before darting to the side underneath a storefront awning, carefully hopping over a small mud puddle. It just would not do for her to get mud splashed all over her white stockings. Her mother would be livid, as she already fixed and washed two pair that week.

Shaking her damp curls, Bella looked around at her surroundings. Not very many people were out—they must have been expecting the rain. The seven-year-old peered up at the sky. It seemed it wouldn’t quit for a while. Bella would have to find something to do before going out into the street again. She turned right around and stared into the window of the store which the awning belonged to. Bella watched as a man inside put candy in the candy bins along the wall, and her blue eyes widened. She had eaten all her breakfast—didn’t she deserve a small treat? Especially for keeping her stockings clean?

She believed that she did, and Isabella pushed the door to the Café open. The bell on the door tinkled and the store owner called out merrily. Bella strolled in with a large smile on her face, but then wrinkled her nose at the smell of coffee. Old people drank coffee. She hoped the candy wasn’t coffee-flavored.

“Good morning, sir!” Isabella called back to the store owner in her best grown-up voice. She had a few coins in her pocket, which she pulled out and carried over to the counter. “Do you happen to have something here that isn’t… coffee?”

Jacob turned around and looked at the person standing at his counter. He tried to stifle a giggle as he looked at the little girl who tried to sound much older than she was. She didn't really succeed, but she sounded absolutely adorable. "Hello princess, what can I do for you today?" he asked politely, smiling widely. After hearing her request, he repeated, "No coffee? No problem!" He put down the large sack of candy that he was in the middle of refilling. Walking around his counter, he looked down at her. "Well, we have some fruity candies in every flavor imaginable! There's apple, watermelon, Thimbleberry..." he listed, looking upward, trying to remember every flavor.


After finishing his list, he came back to his senses and began speaking more sense, "But if you don't want to rot those pretty white teeth of yours too quickly, there is always some different types of pastries!" Squatting down so he was around her height, he winked and added, "We don't only serve coffee here - that's much too boring." Jacob looked outside of his window at the dark, rolling clouds and the heavy drops of rain falling down outside. "Just take a seat - I'll see what I can do." With that, he stood back up, and began to look around his counter for something that he could serve up for the small person.

Isabella’s mouth stretched into such a grin when the store owner called her “princess”. She gazed down at her powder blue dress with the flower embroidery. She did look like a princess, didn’t she? Bella held her head a little higher, very pleased with the new title. Her “adult” expression faded into a childish look of pure delight as the man named off the types of candy he had. No coffee flavor was mentioned, and that was perfect! Finally someone who understood a seven-year-old’s needs! Finally someone who knew that only old people drank coffee!

At the mention of rotting teeth, Bella grimaced. Her sisters had warned her about tooth rot. They had told her that little bugs get in your teeth and eat them from the inside out, and then you look like the old hag in the woods with missing teeth or teeth that looked dreadful. Bella had never seen the old hag in the woods, but apparently her sisters had. Bella didn’t want to look like an old hag. She was glad there were some other options rather than those that would put tooth-bugs in her teeth.

“I think I would much rather have something like a pastry… I’m a little old to be eating so much candy, don’t you think? I am seven.” Isabella said as-a-matter-of-factly. “But not so old to be interested in drinking coffee.” She wrinkled her nose, and then as the owner suggested that she took a seat, Bella climbed upon one of the stools at the counter. She loved being up close and personal with people.

As she sat upon the stool, Isabella gazed around the shop. She couldn’t remember ever seeing this shop before in her trips to town. She had been to the bakery before, but not the Café. This owner was a lot more pleasant, at least to Bella, and rather handsome, too. He seemed to be a bit older than any of her sisters, but Bella was sure that some day she would marry someone like this Café owner. Perhaps if he continued to be handsome, and when Bella was a real princess, he would remember her and want to marry her? He was much more sophisticated than any of the village boys that Bella played with.

“My name is Isabella Darcy.” Bella stated, “What’s yours?”

Jacob had always had a special place in his heart for children, always wanting to be a father himself as he got older, and the darling little girl before him was no exception. Watching her eyes glitter with the title of princess, he could imagine all the wonderful things that were running through her mind.


"A pastry?" Jacob repeated, turning back to look at the girl sitting on his stool. "Well, I think that candy is delicious for all ages - but a pastry it is!" He smiled, and grabbed a slice of his premade base cake. "While you are waiting, could I interest you in anything to drink?" Jacob was a master at cake making - if he don't run the cafe, he would definently be working at the bakery. With a swish of the hand and a flourish of the wrist, he had already put on the cream of his cake in a pretty design. When he finished with that, he looked through another drawer and pulled out fresh fruit - always a favorite, and placed a few slices on in a floral arrangement and a few gumdrops at the center. In less than five minutes, Jacob served the cake to her.



Isabella Darcy was her name? he thought as he introduced to herself. He was sure he knew that family from somewhere - she probably had a sister. "Well hello there Isabella! My name is Jacob Ashford, but just call me Jacob." He could feel his heart melting inside him - she was just so precious!

At the offer of a drink, Isabella bit down on her lip. Would she have enough money to pay for all of this? Perhaps she’d have to find Cathleen later to pay the kind man. Yes, that would probably work. She was sure she could get pretty much anything and Cathleen couldn’t argue when she asked for help for the pay. Especially if Cathleen thought Mr. Jacob was as handsome as Bella did. Of course, Cathleen had a few other boys interested in her. But Mr. Jacob was sophisticated, and Bella was sure Cathleen had the same taste in boys as she did.

“Perhaps just milk.” Bella answered after taking a few moments to think. “My sisters told me if I drink a lot of milk, I’d be able to rip a leather strap in half by my teeth!” Her eyes were wide as she looked at Mr. Jacob, trying to relay how big of a deal that would be. Who could rip leather with their teeth!? “Of course, I might not go that far… as I am a young lady and probably shouldn’t be putting leather in my mouth.” Well, perhaps while nobody was looking Bella would test the theory. She didn’t want to be embarrassed.

As the pastry was served to her, Isabella licked her lips. The treat looked absolutely delectable and she couldn’t wait to devour it. Instantly, she pulled the gumdrops out of the middle and popped them in her mouth. Perhaps she wasn’t too old to love candy. After eating the gumdrops, she picked up the pastry and took a big bite. Oh it was heavenly! Isabella looked up at Mr. Jacob grinning. “You can call me Bella. Most people do, unless I’m in a lot of trouble. Then they call me ISABELLA DARCY!” She shouted the last bit to give the best effect to the situation, and then giggled. “I don’t get in trouble a lot, though. Not as much as my sister Starr does!”