Hazelnuts

Whenever I came into a new town for whatever reason, the first place I visited was the local café. Sometimes, I wouldn’t even order anything. I’d just sit there and soak everything in. It was just part of the job. I was an investigator for hire, similar to the great detective himself. Anyone who needed my help, provided that the case was interesting, got it. The local café was the best place to observe everyone, since they were always themselves in the café. It was like a second home. 

The town of Millie Point was a sweet little town, but someone had reported a few robberies in the next town over. That town, however, didn’t have any open room, so I decided to lodge in Millie Point. I did that anyway, since I didn’t like staying in the town I was working in. As usual, I walked into the local café. Almost immediately, the scent of hazelnuts, caramel, and vanilla hit me, and I had to stumble to the nearest empty seat. No matter where I went, I had no smelled that combination for a long time. 

It had been years now, since I had smelled that. Almost 7 years, but I knew those scents in an instant. As I sat at the table trying to collect myself, I couldn’t help but remember the first time that smell and greeted me. I had been only nine at the time. Still, the memory was perfectly clear. I’d always had a good memory, but that day was one that stood out amongst all the rest. 

The first day of a new school. Like most of the kids, I didn’t want to go, but one girl changed all that. I walked into that bright room with tears in my eyes when this girl who smelled of hazelnut walked up to me. I always loved the smell of hazelnut, and on closer inspection, the girl also smelled faintly of vanilla and caramel. A unique combination for sure, but it was lovely, nevertheless. How she managed that smell or how I had identified those scents, but that’s what happened. I was a relatively bright kid, anyway, and my mom always had those scented candles. 

“I’m Hazel,” she greeted, sticking her hand out. The scent that went with her name. I always thought it was so fitting. I wondered whether she had done it on purpose. Perhaps her mother did it. 

“Iris,” I replied, though my voice was still choked from crying. This was my first time in a new school. For nine years, I had lived in a different state, a different town. Now, I was thrust here, and I had hated it. 

“Don’t worry, Iris. This place isn’t that bad,” Hazel comforted. “You seem like a nice person.” 

“You seem nice too,” I replied and shook her hand. That’s when I noticed the birthmark on her wrist. It was nothing more than a little dot. Funny, how a friendship starts with such simple words. 

From that day forward, Hazel became my best friend. I mean, it took a bit of time. Our friendship slowly solidified until we were practically sisters. I stayed at her house as often as mine and vice versa. I knew her parents like I knew my own. Her older sister became mine. 

Then, when I was 15, my family went to visit our relatives in California. For a month, I wrote letters to Hazel since cellphones were cumbersome, and I wasn’t allowed to use them. My cousins wouldn’t let me use the computer, so that was out of the question too. For a month, I wished that I was back home with my best friend instead of my older cousins who didn’t care about me. For a month, I put on the act that was expected at family gatherings. Finally, we drove home, but nothing was the same. Hazel had moved away. 

I never found out why. There wasn’t anything in the papers to suggest something had happened to them. Everything was just wiped clean. No one knew why they had gone. If they did, no one ever said anything to me. Even as I sat in that café, I didn’t know. I had some suspicions, though. Hazel had an older sister who was about twenty at the time they moved. Skye wasn’t necessarily a good person. Sometimes, I saw whisps of smoke coming from her room, and there was often white powder on her clothes. As the years went by, I learned what those things were. I suspected that those things were the reason Hazel’s family moved. Something had happened to Skye, that I had always been sure of. What it was, I didn’t know. 

“Can I get you anything,” someone asked, and it took me a moment to remember where I was. 

“Coffee, please. Black, two sugars,” I replied. The women nodded walked away. The hazelnut smell still lingered in the air. Sure, that smell lingered in many cafés, but when it was mixed with the other scents, it stood out even more. As the waitress walked toward the counter, I tried to remember the last time I had saw my friend, the last time her scent lingered. Through the years, she never lost that sort of fall scent. It was the day my family left for our trip. Hazel had come to see us off. 

“I really wish my parents would just let me stay with you for the month,” I groaned. Hazel smirked. 

“You’d probably get tired of me.”

“It’s been six years. If I’m not tired of you now, I don’t think I ever will be.”

“You’d be surprised.” I just grinned. 

“We’ll watch that movie when I get back, okay? Don’t watch it without me,” I warned. 

“Of course, I wouldn’t. We’ve been looking forward to that movies for ages. I wouldn’t watch it without you,” she replied. 

“I’ll see you in a month, tree hugger.”

“And, I’ll be seeing you, flower girl.” With that, my parents called me into the car. I gave my friend a hug, not expecting that it was the last I would ever see of her. I planned to bring her souvenirs and everything from the trip. I didn’t know I would never get to give them to her. If only I had known, I would have stayed in town for sure. 

“Can I get you anything else,” the lady asked when she came back with my cup. I shook my head. I was too lost in my thoughts to realize that she had taken the other seat. It took me even longer to realize the source of the lingering scent. 

“Can I help you,” I asked without looking up. If there was one thing I hated, it was making eye contact. Especially if I was making eye contact with a stranger. 

“I was just wondering what brings a woman like you to this dead-end town?”

“I’m an investigator. I’ve been sent to investigate.”

“That’s a very sarcastic answer.”

“Yeah, my friend taught me how to be snarky. My best friend, actually. She had sass to spare.” The woman laughed, and I couldn’t help but smile. It had been a while since I had said anything about Hazel. Out loud, at least. And that laugh sounded so familiar. 

“Sounds like your friend was pretty cool,” the woman said. 

“She was, but I haven’t seen her in a long time.” 

“Well, I guess this is your chance. I said I’d be seeing you, flower girl.” I swore that my heart stopped. Was that possible? 

“Tree hugger,” I muttered. She smirked. 

“Yeah, it’s me.” Before either of us could speak, I hurried to her side of the table and wrapped her in a hug, never wanting to let her go. After all this time, she was here. How could I not have seen her when I walked in? How did I not know?

“Is there where you’ve been,” I demanded as soon as I pulled away. “I’ve been looking for you.”

“I’ve been around, but this is the first time I’ve actually heard of you, investigator.”

“Same, barista. Didn’t think you’d be hiding out in a café.” She chuckled. 

“Well, flower girl, you found me. Now what?”

“Now,” I started, “you pay for my coffee and get to explaining.” 

“That’s fair,” she admitted and went up to the counter. While she was away, I could hardly believe my luck. After all this time, I actually found her. My best friend. 

“So, Ms. Investigator, want to hear the real kicker,” she asked when she returned, completely off the clock. 

“Tell me, Hazel. What is it,” I replied, taking a sip of my coffee. 

“You may be a detective of some sorts, but I’ve got myself a law degree.” I nearly spit out me coffee. 

“A law degree? Then why on earth are you working here?”

“Technically, I’m on vacation, but I thought I’d pick up a few hours at the café. I’m pretty good at making drinks, you know.” Well, she wasn’t wrong.

“Remember when we were kids, and you mixed those Kool-Aid packets? Man, your mom was so pissed, but it tasted so good.” She laughed. Oh, how I missed the sound? Was it possible to miss a sound that much? 

“Yeah, I remember. It was so good, wasn’t it?”

“Gosh, you don’t know how much I’ve missed you,” I sighed. 

“You too, Iris. You too,” she replied. 

After that, the two of us became the ultimate duo. The investigator and the lawyer. We had our own little office in Millie Point, but we were called all around the U.S. It was one thing to have my best friend back, but it was quite another to have her as my business partner. The office never ceased to smell of hazelnuts.