Hazelnut DREAMS

He walked into Gracie's happy place – and melted her heart

- Amy Oliveira

The thing that I remembered about Hazelnut Dreams was the pink vintage shutters and the smell of sugar. It didn't matter where I was, if I closed my eyes, I was transported back in time with a smile on my lips.

Hazelnut Dreams was my grandmother's ice-cream shop in the heart of our small town. Me and my cousins grew up there, a cone in our hands and a giggle through the melting ice cream down our chins.

My grandma Dolores was a proud woman. She never asked for help, so when she called, I knew I had to come running.

‘The others have families. That's why I'm asking you.’

I could have done without the reminder. I would have run to Hazelnut Dreams any time just for an excuse to have a big scoop of Grandma's famous Caramel & Nut. Yet she felt the need to tell me I could afford to leave my life behind because I had never married. I breathed out my sadness after that phone call and packed my bags.

I was returning to my favourite place on Earth.

For the first few weeks, I cleaned, while Grandma loved chatting with the customers. But it soon became clear that she wasn't able to scoop like before. Her arthritis would flare after a couple of hours.