When she got home, she called her landlord. “Since I’m on a month-to-month lease, I’m letting you know I’m moving out.”
“How long? Next month?” her landlord asked.
“Nope. Right now. Today.” Her mind was made up. Once her shitty boring job had been yanked out from under her, the fresh start she had been dreaming of became all too clear.
It was easy, actually. The next step was renting a one-way moving trailer and loading it up. She took a deep breath. Why hadn’t she done this earlier? Why did it take so long to realize there was nothing anchoring her to her miserable job, her horrible commute, her non-existent love life, and her crummy, lonely apartment?
And there was zero doubt as to where she was headed … Misfit Bay, Louisiana. After all, the dreams were premonitions; she was convinced of it. And the sudden loss of her job pushed her along. It was all part of some magical plan. She believed it. What else could it be?
Excitement bubbled up inside of her when she thought about new people, new friends, a new home … and who knows … maybe even a new shot at romance. A whole new life awaited her.
ChapterThree
“This is it, right here!” she said, pulling over to the curb of the familiar main street. She had literally dreamed of that very moment … to walk down that street. Everything was just as she had envisioned. She waved to the elderly couples across the street. She even greeted the friendly golden retriever.
It was the sight of the little café that gave her reason to pause. Even with witnessing everything else in her dreamscape coming to life, the café and the waitresses would be a magical moment if true. She knew it.
Approaching the café, she noticed a handwritten sign for help wanted in the front window. As soon as she stepped inside, she picked up the sign and approached the counter. Once again, her hands trembled as she saw the woman behind the counter turn around.
“What can I get you, hon?”
Gina placed the sign on the counter and smiled. “I’m Gina, and I’m here about the job. You’re Annie.”
Annie was physically taken aback that Gina knew her. “Nice to meet you. But I never told you my name. Do we know each other from somewhere?”
“Sort of … but I doubt you’d believe me if I told you.”
Quickly untying her apron, Annie tossed it aside. “Try me. Let me get you a coffee, and we’ll talk.”
Gina joined her at a table, feeling suddenly at ease. “Um, where to start? This is going to sound super weird. Admitting it to myself is weird enough. Anyway, for the last few weeks, I’ve been having the exact same dream. I mean, every single night. It always starts with me walking down the main street of this town. I see the same people, even the same golden retriever.”
“That must be Jake. He stops by for a biscuit every morning.”
“The dream changed a little, though. More recently, the Wicked Brew Café had appeared for the last few nights. Anyway, that’s where I met you … in my dream. You ask me if I’m ready to work, and I wake up. I swear, I’ve never been here, and until I looked it up on the internet, I had never even heard of Misfit Bay. Then I lost my job. It was like fate was pushing me to come here and follow my premonition. So, it goes without saying, I just had to come here. I mean, it’s almost like some sort of weird magic that’s happening to me. So how nuts do you think I am?” Gina asked.
Annie set her coffee down and smiled. “Welcome to Misfit Bay. You’re hired.”
“Really? You don’t think I’m crazy?”
“Listen, I guarantee that if you stick around here long enough, you’ll look back at that statement and laugh about it. When can you start?”
“Right now, I suppose. But I just got into town, so I need to find a place to live.”
“Do I have a deal for you! Maggie! Clara!” Annie shouted over her shoulder.
Maggie and Clara entered the café, both noticing the sign had been removed. “Do we have a winner?” Maggie asked.
“We certainly do. Meet Gina. She just told me the most wonderful and magical story.”
“Magical?” Clara asked, pulling up a chair along with Maggie.
“Yep. Seems as though she’s already met us in her dreams. Now, here she is. She wants to work with us, and she needs a place to stay,” Annie explained.
“Perfect.” Maggie’s excitement bubbled over.
Annie noticed how Gina seemed to scoot back away from the table. “Maybe you think we’re the crazy ones. You see, we moved down here a lot like you did. We were following the plan laid out by the fates. And we bought a house to share. Only, it seems like I found someone special, and I’ve all but moved in with him.”
Clara waved her hand. “Me too. Not with Annie, of course. I mean that I also found someone and have moved in with him.”