This is my ONC 2026 entry for Wattpad.

The prompts which inspired this story are:

Primary Prompt:

19: When you accidentally spill coffee on someone, the moment that should have ruined your day becomes the beginning of a surprising and life-changing friendship.

Secondary Themes

28: Self-love often starts small, like planting a single seed. With time, patience, and a bit of light, it will blossom.

29: You will meet many people in your life. Many will come and go, but some will leave footprints on your heart.

This is Melinda's story. Her journey through healing to find love in many unexpected forms. It begins when another disaster threatens her new position of manager and a barista in a trendy new bookstore combined with a bakery and coffeeshop.

Coffee spills into the lap of the most prominent food writer in the small town, and she makes an unexpected connection. Will she be able to trust herself to explore a new friendship? More importantly, will she learn to accept herself as worthy of love as she unravels the mystery which haunts her life?

The second point of view which will arise on occasion, is Gregory Ste. Claire's. An established food critic, he is at the end of his career in the hospitality industry. His marriage is solid, and he delights in his grandchildren. When he encounters Melinda through an unfortunate accident, something about her tugs at his heart. His surprising earlier hobbies and jobs along with his service to his country, bring a myriad of knowledge and interesting skills. Does he have the correct ones to break one last story, and solve the mystery Melinda Durant lays on his table? And can he teach her to trust her instincts and her heart?

Copyright ©February 1st, 2026 by Karin Venables

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by any electronic or mechanical means, including but not limited to photocopying, recording or information storage and retrieval, without written permission from the author.

All locations are used in a fictional manner. Any resemblance of characters to people past or present is purely coincidental.