Page 63 of A Serving of Hope

“Ah,” said Koishi, beaming at her. “Good to see you.”

“Thanks for coming back,” Nagare said, removing his cap as he emerged from the kitchen.

“Sorry it’s taken me this long. I had shifts every day last week.”

Nagare smiled in response. “Not at all—we’re here whenever you need us. And it’s not like this place ever gets busy.”

“Don’t worry,” Koishi whispered in her ear. “Dad found him.” Yuiko’s eyes widened.

“It’ll take a moment to prepare, so please bear with me,” said Nagare, before making for the kitchen. Yuiko removed and folded her coat, then set it down on a chair.

“Sorry we don’t have a rack,” said Koishi.

“Oh, don’t worry. That coat’s seen better days.”

“Will you be drinking? I can bring you some wine if you like.”

“Not today, thanks. I want to focus on the flavor of the dish.”

“Some tea, then?” Koishi gave her a meaningful look. “Perhaps something herbal?”

“Yes, that sounds good.”

Koishi looked visibly relieved as she brought over a selection of tea bags. “We have chamomile, rose hip, or lemon balm.”

“Lemon balm, please.”

“And would you like it now, or with the meal?”

“Now, please.”

As Koishi disappeared back into the kitchen, Yuiko glanced around the restaurant. It was only her second visit, and yet again she felt that peculiar nostalgia. This time, it wasn’t just the fact that it reminded her of the shokudo eateries she’d been to as a child. It was because she was thinking of Masaya, of how she longed to share this meal with him. She began to feel as though she might turn around to find him standing there, a cheerful grin on his face.

From the kitchen came the aroma of the lemon balm tea. Before she’d even realized what was happening, the refreshing and strangely familiar fragrance had brought a smile to her face.

“I’ll leave the pot here,” said Koishi. “Just help yourself.” She set down a glass teapot, together with a Minton teacup.

Yuiko squinted with pleasure. “It smells wonderful. I haven’t had herbal tea in a very long time.”

“You didn’t order it at Tapestry, then?” asked Koishi, as if confirming something.

“I don’t even remember if it was on the menu,” replied Yuiko with a puzzled tilt of her head. “I only had eyes for the gratin. I think I just ordered an iced coffee.”

“Dad says it’ll be a little longer. Please just relax and enjoy your tea in the meantime.”

When Koishi had retreated, Yuiko brought the teacup to her lips.

Had there been herbal tea on the menu at Tapestry? She tried her best to remember, but came up with nothing. Still, Koishi seemed to have been trying to tell her something. Did it have something to do with the gratin? As she inhaled the fragrance of the tea, Yuiko let her mind return to that day at Tapestry.

Now that she thought about it, she did recall a row of teacups, similar to the one she was holding, arranged behind the counter. Yuiko turned the cup in her hand, examining it closely.

She had just drained it and was helping herself to a refill when Nagare appeared and set a red tartan-check place mat in front of her.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. Gratin tastes better when it’s baked to order. It’ll just be a few more minutes.”

As Yuiko watched him hurry back into the kitchen, the image blurred into the scene at Tapestry.

It needs a while in the oven, so please bear with me.