A meeting in the teahouse

[Pennyfield]

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Jill felt a warmth spread through her chest as Isabella greeted her with both a bow and a hug. The Kusarian gesture of respect combined with the familiar embrace of friendship was something she deeply appreciated. Despite the stress of the day, being here, in this calm space, with a dear friend, was already lifting some of the weight off her shoulders.

She gave Isa a soft smile, chuckling at the compliment. "Oh, Isa, you always know how to make someone feel special. And thank you, I’d love some of the green tea." She glanced at the cheesecake and added, "You know, I think I will take your advice on that as well."

As she settled into her seat, Niki’s sudden leap onto the table made her pause. The small feline padded over to her, rubbing her head against Jill’s arm with a gentle purr. A quiet chuckle escaped Jill as she reached out to stroke the cat’s soft fur. "You always know when someone needs a bit of comfort, don’t you, Niki?" she murmured, appreciating the small yet soothing presence of the therapy cat.

Jill turned her attention back to Isabella, listening intently as she spoke about the wedding. The nervousness in her voice didn’t go unnoticed, and Jill felt a surge of affection for her friend. She reached out and placed a reassuring hand over Isa’s. "Isa, I’m truly honored that you and John thought of me for this. It means a lot. And as for Anya, I have no doubt she would love to be involved. She adores John, and I know she sees him as part of her family too. We’ll just have to see how she takes to the idea with a little practice."

She glanced down as Isa fidgeted with her engagement ring, the way the light caught the stone making it shimmer beautifully. Jill smiled, knowing how much love was behind that simple yet profound symbol. "It’s a gorgeous ring," she said softly. "And you’re going to make a beautiful bride. John is a lucky man."

As the waitress approached, Jill placed her order before turning back to Isa, a gentle warmth in her expression. "Now, tell me, have you two thought about venues yet? Or is that still part of the brainstorming phase?"

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