cardinalstella

[cardinalstella]

After nearly 7 months in Cardinal Hill, Stella was still finding new things to enjoy. Despite the fact that the town couldn't have been more different than the Manhattan she grew up in, her love for Cardinal Hill had only grown, and she could feel herself beginning to make it her true home.

Things at the Inn had been going well- better than well, truth be told, and she'd found herself with a free night and absolutely nothing to fill it. After inquisitive conversations with a couple of members of staff, she'd learned of the drive-in theater located not too far from the Maplewood. Giddy with excitement, Stella called the theater to confirm showtimes, then began packing a few items to bring along. She'd dreamed of going to a drive-in since she was a child, after seeing a movie in which the characters hung out at one, and had been sorely disappointed to realize theaters like that were simply unheard of in the city.

Wanting to arrive early, Stella found herself one of the first in the lot, and quickly pulled into the first spot she saw, not really caring whether it was considered prime real estate- ultimately, she was simply happy to be there. Once settled, she headed into the theater to purchase her snacks for the evening, her anxiety forbidding her from bringing her own. As she returned, though, she realized that someone had parked so close to her front bumper it would be near-impossible to squeeze between the two vehicles. And, it appeared the individual was lighting a fire!

Hurrying forward while balancing her popcorn and drink, Stella called out, "excuse me! I'm sorry to bother you, but it looks like you're parked a little close there! I've never been here before- I thought I was in a spot, but if not I can back up or move."

LOCATION: The Moonlit Drive-In Open starter @cardinalstart

A shitty truck with rusting green paint swerved into the dirt lot early enough that most folks hadn't even arrived yet, so theoretically had its pick of any decent spot. But what Jesse wanted was the decent spot, the one that was smack dab in the middle aisle with a straight-on view of the screen and one of the better speaker poles left. However, this coveted spot was currently in use. If they had been in the vehicle, Jesse would have pulled up and demanded they beat it, he wasn't above causing a ruckus.

Fine, whatever. Doing the next best thing, he whipped into the spot directly in front of them, driving forward with the bed of his truck facing the screen. He pulled up obnoxiously close to their front bumper, almost certainly blocking their view as he angled the vehicle just-so on the slight hump to give himself the greatest view. There was a certain smug tilt to the corner of his lips as he cut the engine and lights, and hopped out with zero care that he'd be ruining another guest's experience. They should have known better than hogging up the prime spot.

Jesse rounded to the back of his truck and smacked down the tailgate, so he could start getting prepared to enjoy the next four-ish hours of tonight's double feature. He jumped up, going for the 55-gallon drum that did an ear-splitting grate across the metal as he dragged it along. Yep, he planned to light his own trash fire and roast some wieners over it, too. Think he was paying those expensive popcorn and nacho prices at the concessions stand? Hell no. Some franks and a six-pack did just fine.

The drum hit dirt just as he thought he heard approaching steps. "Yeah, what?" He looked that direction, almost itching for a problem. Jesse was keyed up tonight, for no good reason. Well, there were reasons, but nothing anybody else deserved to catch strays for.

[cardinalstella]

Pausing, Stella studied her newfound companion as he spoke, her smile remaining as genuine as ever. "Kai. Kai Wells." She repeated, half to herself and half to him, as she willed herself to commit both his name and face to memory. "Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Kai Wells." Laughing, Stella shifted the two books she was holding in her arms, glancing down again at the one he'd suggested.

At his description of the Inn she laughed again, this time more of a chuckle, before uttering, "Impressive. You're exactly right!" Learning that Kai was also a recent transplant to Cardinal Hill made Stella feel that much more comfortable, and she began to relax even more realizing that this could very well be another great opportunity to make another new friend. "Oh, July!" She replied. "Just a month or so before me, not too long! Where did you move from?" She asked, hoping she wasn't coming across as overbearing or too forward.

The lightening that illuminated the shop took Stella a bit off-guard and she couldn't stop herself from jumping slightly as thunder continued to roll and clap overhead. Before she could say more, the shopkeeper's announcement came, sending Stella into a small fit of action. "Company? Of course, I never turn down company! Let me just get these paid for, quickly..." Nodding to the books in her hand, Stella slowly reached for the Hardy Boys novel Kai was holding. "That one, too. Whether I end up with it, or you do, either way it'll be a great purchase!" She added, brightening her smile. "Meet me in the corner?"

Kai's gaze settled on the woman as she emerged from her reverie, feeling a flicker of relief that she didn't seem put off by his abrupt introduction. Her warm smile eased the tension in his shoulders, making him glad he'd taken the risk of speaking up.

"Kai Wells," he replied, voice low but steady as he shifted the book in his hands. "Work at Hill Hardware." Thunder rumbled outside, closer this time, rattling the old windows of the bookstore. His eyes darted briefly to the darkening glass before returning to Stella.

"Maplewood Inn," he repeated with a small nod of recognition. "The Victorian B&B near the park." He'd passed by it dozens of times during his morning runs, admiring the careful restoration work on its wraparound porch. "Moved here in July myself. Still getting to know places." His fingers absently traced the edge of the Hardy Boys book, the familiar cover art bringing back memories of late nights reading under blankets with a flashlight.

A flash of lightning illuminated the shop, followed almost immediately by a deafening crack of thunder. The lights flickered ominously, and the elderly shopkeeper called out from the front, "Folks, I'm closing up. Storm's getting worse—you're welcome to wait it out here if you need."

Kai glanced at the rain now coming down in sheets, then back to Stella. "Been meaning to revisit these," he said, raising the book slightly. "Good night for mystery novels." He hesitated for a moment before adding, "There's a reading nook by the window. If you wanted company while waiting out the storm."

[cardinalstella]

For a moment Stella studied the other, taking in her thoughts as she continued to mull over the lamp. Finally she nodded, dropping her hand with a shrug of her shoulders. "I suppose you're right. It actually would've been for a guest room, but what you said is correct. The art deco vibes just...Aren't something I'm willing to commit to for an entire room." Laughing softly, she glanced at the remaining lamps before giving a sigh. "I'm just not sure, I guess I should probably have had a better plan before coming in here, but...It was kind of a spur the moment thing."

Turning, Stella took a few steps forward to close the gap between herself and her newfound companion. "Thanks for giving your thoughts! You've probably just saved me quite a bit of heartache, and money." Extending her hand, she added, "I'm Stella O'Malley, I own the Inn in town. What's your name? Have you been in town long?"

Second-hand was all Sunny really know. Back home, in the commune... most everything was shared. Anything new came from a personal hand with care, and often was a gift. Passed down through generations, until everything has a story. This place reminded Sunny of home, too, in that way. Just without the knowledge of where something came, whose home it had collected dust in prior to catching fingerprints of thrifters now. Something tickled the back of Sunny's throat as she picked up a teacup, finger finding a crack along it's side. The witch wanted it suddenly - the whole set, the full collection. Just for the imperfections. Maybe she could perform a memory spell, see why it had cracked.

" My thoughts? " Sunny asked, blinking in surprise, but turning to look at the lamp as requested. Following suit, the witch tilted her own head, lips pursing sideways. " Well, it's very... art deco. Like it jumped from the pages of F. Scott Fitzgerald. Definitely good for a party or speakeasy theme party. A living room, though? " Eyes found the other strangers and Sunny shrugged. " Probably wouldn't be my personal choice... but the colors are totally groovy. "

[cardinalstella]

Returning Felix's nod Stella smiled gratefully in agreement. "Absolutely, I'm so glad you get it!" Generally speaking Stella was amazing with both faces and names, but since beginning her new life there seemed to be so much else on her mind, she was beginning to worry she was running out of space. Faces and names had become semi-arbitrary in the midst of attempting to learn the best way to run her business.

"I'm so glad to hear that! It's always a toss up, especially when it comes to a structure or location people consider to be historical. Or, a staple. Which the Inn...Seems to be both." Shrugging, she continued. "Oh, no worries, it's no big secret or anything. I mean, I guess I'm not really publicizing either..." Shaking her head, she chuckled. "I'm doing further updates to the interior decor, especially in some of the second-floor rooms. I have a new design plan in mind for the garden space. And, parts of the kitchen need renovating." Ticking the last item off her list, Stella gave a nod. Taking in a breath, she continued. "I think that's it...For now. What about you, Felix? What is it you do?"

As Felix began his line of questioning Stella did her best to keep up, mulling over what he'd asked, considering Penelope's personality, and how things had been at their home in New York. "She's....Fickle." Stella began, choosing her words carefully. "Spoiled is probably more like it. She's sweet, but only to those she trusts. Otherwise, it's a bit hit-or-miss. Back home, I didn't have nearly the space I have now. She just had a large cat tree, and a few little bell toys she liked to chase around. Here though...The possibilities are endless." With a start, Stella added, "Have you heard about catios?"

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎He smiled as he took her hand, nodding along with her. “You don’t have to worry - I imagine it’s pretty difficult to put a name to the face when you see as many people as you do, I’m sure.” Felix never worried about remembering his client’s names. Half of the folks who came into the shop were looking for a predesigned flash tattoo, or something small that he could work up within the hour, and most likely wouldn’t return. For those who did, though, Felix took the time to get to know them. He was definitely a people-person despite how his attitude over the last few months may have made him appear to the residents of Cardinal Hill. 

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎“I’ve enjoyed most of the changes, definitely.” At the mention of new projects, Felix’s eyebrows rose, and he asked, “Oh? What kind of projects? Or are those trade secrets, locked away until they’re ready to come to life?” Briefly, he thought about some of the new acquaintances he’d met over the last few months. Specifically Copper, and how he and the barista had shared their own journeys about their jobs. It made Felix want to talk about his profession more.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎“Oh, no, not at all!” Hands waved as he responded - Felix was definitely the person to ask about making a space into a home, especially for animals. "I suppose it depends on what Penelope is like? Is she playful? Does she like to lounge? Is she mischievous? What were things like in your old home?" His mind was racing as he waited for a response, considering the different options.

[cardinalstella]

location: maplewood inn for: closed for ingrid ( @innocentcurse )

Of all the mornings she'd had thus far at the Maplewood Inn, Stella could say with confidence that this particular morning had been the weirdest of them all. First, she'd been awakened at approximately 3:30 AM by a guest complaining of a beeping smoke detector with a bad battery. By the time Stella had dressed and located a spare battery, it seemed the warning had completely stopped. Unable to go back to sleep, she'd trekked downstairs to begin the day's breakfast preparations, only to find that someone had apparently left the previous night without re-stocking the kitchen pantry for the morning crew. No sooner had she dealt with the issue when another guest tracked her down in the kitchens, a frightened look in her eyes as she reported strange, 'evil sounding' noises and bustling occurring just outside her window.

After heading to the back gardens to investigate, Stella was immediately rewarded with a distinctive bleating before Kitten, one of her standing guest's pet goat, made her way over to begin chewing happily at the hem of Stella's shirt. Once she'd managed to re-secure Kitten to the post they'd erected for her, Stella made her way inside in search of Ingrid. Locating her almost immediately, she gave a chuckle followed by a sigh. "Well, I feel like I've done a year's worth of work already!. Speaking of, someone complained about Kitten. Apparently she sounds evil. Then again, I likely do too at 7:00 AM. Tell me your day is going better than mine."

[cardinalstella]

location: finders keepers for: closed for sunny ( @shadcwbooks )

Raising a hand, Stella allowed her fingertips to graze over a gorgeous mosaic-patterned lamp. Her eyes scanned the other contents of the shelf, all tucked comfortably away with seemingly very little thought given to an organizational flow. While this bothered Stella, she did her best to push her perfectionistic tendencies from her mind and focus on the task at hand. Sighing, she ran her free hand through her hair, turning to glance briefly at the figure standing a few feet away, towards the end of the aisle.

"So many choices, so little time." Stella commented aloud, turning fully to face the other. "I hope I'm not interrupting, but I wondered...What are your thoughts on this lamp?" Gesturing to the lamp she'd been touching moments ago, Stella cocked her head to the side and offered a sweet half-smile. "I'm torn. I love it, but I'm not sure it's really what I'm looking for...What statement does it make, do you think?"

[cardinalstella]

As her newfound companion spoke, Stella nodded along, eyes falling briefly to the cat she now knew was named 'Oscar' as the smile on her face continued to grow. She found herself amused with the cat's nonchalant attitude, similar to the attitude she'd seen from virtually every other cat she'd come across. In some strange way, it was something she admired. Often, Stella had found herself wondering how she might feel, and what life might be like, if she could simply stop her constant need for control.

Turning her attention back to the conversation at hand Sella smiled and nodded enthusiastically, returning her wallet to her purse before extending her own hand for Felix to shake. "Felix! Felix, Felix, Felix." She repeated, eyes locking onto Felix's face as she repeated the name. "It's a pleasure to meet you!" She added finally with a small chuckle. "Oh, you must think I'm insane, but don't mind that- it's just a technique I use to remember peoples' names and faces. I've got a terrible memory otherwise." The apples of her cheeks took on a red hue as she explained, teeth toying momentarily with her bottom lip as she did her best not to look as embarrassed as she felt in the moment. Reaching out, she gave Oscar yet another pat. "It's nice to formally meet you as well, Oscar!" Giving another nod, she brightened. "Oh yes, you could definitely say I'm an enthusiast. When I was researching what sort of cat to get, I came across all kinds. I always thought myself to be more of a dog person but, well...Here we are!"

At the mention of her familiarity Stella felt her heart skip a beat as her breath caught in her throat. For a brief moment her mind jumped from one thought to the next, chest filling with anxiety at the thought of where Felix might have recognized her from. Her anxieties, however, were soon quelled as her newfound companion placed her face as the new owner of the Inn. "Yes!" Stella exclaimed, "Yes, you're exactly right! I bought it about 6 months ago! I'm so glad to hear your parents think highly of it still. Between you and I, I was a little concerned the town might not take to some of the changes I've made, no matter how small they've been." Giving a shrug, she added. "Of course, there are a few more projects I've got in mind, but I figure it's best to roll these things out slowly. Don't want to give anyone a shock!"

At Felix's question Stella nodded, eyes shifting back towards the wall of toys and doo-dads displayed before them. "I did, I did." She confirmed, glancing back towards Felix. "I thought this would be a rather quick trip but....Now that I'm here, I'm not so sure. I've done a great job of getting myself set up in our new home, now I'm looking for some items that will give the same feeling for Penelope. I want her to feel comfortable too, you know." Laughing, she shook her head briefly at herself. "That may sound silly, though given your Oscar I'm hoping you'll understand. Speaking of....Would you mind if I asked, what are some of his favorite playthings?"

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎Perfect! He thought, silently thanking whatever guiding force there may be, that the person Oscar ran over to happened to love cats. He shook his head at his cat, who offered a small meow in return, before licking his paws, seemingly unbothered by the commotion. Felix blinked, mildly taken aback by the energy his new companion was giving; it wasn’t a bad thing, it was interesting to Felix to be on the receiving end of the energy given, rather than being the one to give the energy. It was nice, he decided.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎“Oh, well, hello to little Penelope! She looks like quite the cute cat.” Smiling, he held his hand out to her before continuing, “And hello to Stella, not Penelope. I’m Felix, and this rambunctious little guy over here,” he gestured to the cat, who had bundled itself into the blanket, watching the two of them from inside, “Is Oscar. I love meeting a fellow cat enthusiast - well, I suppose you don’t have to be a cat enthusiast to have a cat, but I know I am, so I’m just gonna assume you are too.” As he looked at Stella, a memory surfaced.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎His brows furrowed as he pointed at her, hand upturned. “Wait, you look rather familiar.” He placed his hands on his hip and looked down, trying to pinpoint the name or location of the memory. “Ah!” He snapped, looking back up, “You’re the new owner of the Maplewood Inn, right? My parents love that bed and breakfast, and they seem to really appreciate the new ownership, good on you for bringing some of that magic back.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎"Now, I have to ask. Did you stop in today to look for something for little Penelope?"

[cardinalstella]

Since childhood Stella had loved animals. Well, most animals. Growing up, her parents had been rather strict about animals inside the home, and no matter how much she'd begged and pleaded for a puppy or kitten, the furthest Stella ever got was the fish tank bubbling in the farthest corner of her room. Adulthood brought with it many changes, one of which being the purchase of her first cat.

Stella had searched long and hard, doing as much research as she could on various breeds, health requirements, nutrition requirements, and everything in-between. After what felt like months of studying and searching, she'd finally come across what she felt was the perfect kitten for her. And, the moment hadn't come a second too soon, considering all she'd been through and was facing at the time.

The move to Cardinal Hill had been challenging, but the challenge had been lessened by the presence of her gorgeous Ragdoll companion, Penelope. Now, after 6 months in Cardinal Hill, Stella had realized Penelope was in desperate need of her own set up, something to make her new home and, by proxy, the Inn, hers. So after ensuring all was well with the front desk and operations at the Inn, Stella made her way into town and headed straight for the local pet shop.

Perusing the aisles she felt nearly lost in all the options, despite her meticulous research there was just so much to see, so many cute options, and far more to consider than Stella had imagined. As such, she found herself nearly frozen in the middle of an aisle, debating the merits of various feathered, fuzzed, and stringed cat toys. A sudden pressure against her legs broke her from her trance, and the blonde looked down with a start realizing that a cat seemed to have made its way into her vicinity, followed closely by what she assumed was its owner.

Before the other could scoop the cat from his place on the ground Stella bent, rubbing her fingers across the cat's head with a smile. "Well hello there, sweetheart." She greeted, eyes following as its owner encouraged the cat to settle. "And hello to you, too!" She added with a chuckle. With a wave of her hand, she dismissed the incident. "Oh please, no apology necessary. He's a sweetie! Just like my girl, Penelope!" She added, pulling her wallet from her purse to show a picture- a close-up of Penelope's furry and perfectly groomed face. "Penelope!" She added, smile brightening! "The cat, that is! Not me. I'm Stella!" With a shake of her head, she added, "What are your names?"

Open starter for @cardinalstart

Location: Family Paws

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎As Felix walked through the doorframe of Family Paws, Oscar immediately started meowing, eagerly trying to jump out of his owner's arms.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ "Hey, hey, hey, not yet. What you're doing right now is very impolite. You need to wait for me to get a cart, at least. Something for you to sit in." The cat had been restless the entire bike ride over, refusing to settle into his basket. Felix hadn't been surprised - ever since that night, Oscar and Simon had been acting strange. He wasn't sure if cats also felt superstitious, or could sense that things in Cardinal Hill had been odd lately, but the vet said that they were both doing just fine.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎To rectify some of that energy, Felix had been bringing the cats out more with him. Simon had already decided his favorite window at the tattoo parlor, but Oscar was harder to please - so Felix decided to bring him everywhere (except where not allowed, of course. Felix wanted people to like his cat, not be annoyed at him).

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎Felix put Oscar into the small cart with his blanket and took him up and down the aisles, smiling at his cat's curiosity. It wasn't long before absolute chaos (slight exaggeration) ensued and Oscar jumped out of the cart, running over to the figure and rubbing against their legs, purring. Felix rushed after him, reaching down and scooping him into his arms before putting him back in the cart.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎Face reddened, he said, "And that's exactly the kind of behavior I was talking about," he chastised as Oscar stared up at him, oblivious to social norms. Turning to the other person, he said, "I'm sorry about that. Hopefully you like cats. He's just a gentle giant, really, and maybe a little too friendly."

[cardinalstella]

While the past 6 months living in Cardinal Hill, WA had been some of the most challenging and confusing of her life, Stella couldn't deny that there hadn't been a single moment in which she regretted having made the move. While the quiet, laid-back lifestyle found most often in Cardinal Hill was certainly a far cry from the hustle and bustle she'd grown up with in Manhattan, the change of pace had been more than refreshing, and precisely what she'd needed. In fact, Stella found herself settling quite comfortably into her new life, and new role as the owner of the Maplewood Inn.

While the first several months of her new life had been spent coordinating, updating, adjusting, and settling, the past few had proven themselves to be for exploration and acclimation, and had been used for Stella to truly begin to find her footing within the community. More and more she'd found herself venturing out into town, exploring and locating which places might become her favorite in-town haunts. As a lifelong and avid reader, it came as no surprise that the local bookshop- Riverside Books- had quickly emerged at the top of the list. Since childhood books had felt more like friends to Stella than many real people had, and it was that feeling which drew her out to Riverside that evening, despite the impending storm.

Slowly making her way through the rows, she breathed in the familiar smell of new mixed with old books, jumping a bit at the first sound of thunder rumbling through the sky outside. Damn, she thought to herself, having foolishly hoped she might be able to speed up her expedition and miss the storm. Then again, when it came to choosing a book (or two...or three...) speed hadn't ever been a priority. Lost in her own world, Stella continued to browse until the soft spoken words of another pulled her from her trance. "I....I'm sorry?" She asked, shaking her head as she glanced down at the book being offered.

Blinking, Stella gave a shake of her head before allowing a smile to illuminate her face. "Gosh I'm so sorry! I was just lost in my own world, and here you are trying to be friendly and generous." Taking the book from the others' hands, she glanced at the title before giving a light chuckle. "Oh hell, the Hardy Boys! I loved these when I was younger, but I haven't read one in years...." Allowing her voice to trail off, Stella bit her lip lightly before glancing up at the other patron. "Ugh, you must think I'm terrible, just rambling on this way without even introducing myself. I'm Stella, Stella O'Malley. I own the Maplewood Inn. And, you are...?"

Reader's Delight

[ Riverside Books at Evening, @cardinalstart ] [ Kai x Anyone ]

The musty scent of aged paper filled Kai's lungs as he traced his fingers along the spines of mystery novels. The hardware store had closed early due to an approaching storm, leaving him with an unexpected free evening. He'd ducked into Riverside Books just as the first droplets began to fall, drawn to the warm glow of its windows like a moth to flame.

A weathered copy of the latest Hardy Boys case file caught his eye. As he reached for it, movement from the other end of the aisle made him pause. Someone else had apparently had the same idea about seeking refuge from the storm. Their shadow stretched long across the wooden floorboards, distorted by the antique floor lamp that buzzed softly in the corner.

Kai glanced at his watch, then at the darkening windows where rain was beginning to fall harder. The weather report had warned about this storm, but seeing it in person made his stomach twist with unease. He couldn't shake the feeling that tonight wasn't a night to be alone in Cardinal Hill. Without thinking, he grabbed a second copy of the book. Better to have someone to wait out the storm with, even if that someone was a stranger. He held out the spare copy, his voice quiet but steady in the hushed atmosphere of the bookstore.

"Being last customer's always better with company," he said, then added with a hint of urgency, "Especially on a night like this."

[cardinalstella]

Stella O’Malley Intro

Full Name: stella grace o’mally Age: 33 Birthdate: october 30, 1958 Occupation: owner @ maplewood inn Sexual Orientation: pansexual Romantic Orientation: panromantic Hometown: manhattan, ny Time in Cardinal Hill: 6 months Religion: agnostic Zodiac Sign: scorpio  Relationship Status: single, never married Hobbies: reading, cleaning, organizing her planner, gardening Positive Traits (+): organized, determined, motivated, friendly Negative Traits (-): perfectionistic, moody, materialistic, isolationist  Witch/Human: human

Stella Bio

stella grace o’malley was born at 2:15 pm on october 30, 1992 in manhattan, ny. stella’s parents, catherine and mathias o’malley welcomed her into their family with open arms. the couple had been married for 10 years at the time of stella’s birth, and had longed for a child for 8 of those 10 years, though fate hadn’t seemed to be in their favor. catherine, the founder and ceo of a multimillion dollar cosmetics company, and mathias, an internationally renowned plastic surgeon, lived lavish lifestyles from the start, and stella’s entrance into the family certainly did nothing to alter or change that. in fact, the o’malley’s pledged to themselves upon stella’s birth that she would never want or hurt for anything, and that they would provide the best of everything their daughter needed and wanted. 

despite growing up in such a manner, stella’s parents did their absolute best to ensure their daughter was in no way entitled. while giving her the best life had to offer, they instilled values in stella- the same values they’d had instilled in themselves before making their way into wealth. these were values such as working hard, motivation, determination, appreciation, gratefulness, and the importance of charity, connection, and community. under these teachings stella absolutely thrived, enjoying the luxury her parents’ wealth afforded her and their family, but never flaunting their status or using it for purposes of manipulation or grandeur. 

throughout her life academics came quite easily to stella. from preschool on she attended only private schools, and her parents employed the best tutors money could buy to ensure her continued dedication and academic success. since childhood reading and learning have been great passions of stella’s; even in adulthood, it is rare to catch her without a book in her hand or somewhere nearby. her passion and zeal for academics have served her well throughout her life, and has given her a keen interest in and sense for business- precisely part of what lead to the purchase of the maplewood inn. 

despite her success in friendship circles and academics, stella has always been rather unlucky in love. while friendships have always come easily (given her friendly demeanor and bubbly personality), romance is altogether another arena. throughout school stella was flirted with and asked out by many a boy, though none she found truly interesting. while she herself is a hopeless romantic, her mothers’ teachings have instilled within her a set of standards which she has vehemently upheld for the entirety of her life. money, status, and lavishness have always failed to impress stella, as she holds dear that she can provide these things for herself. truly, she has always sought true and real companionship- a relationship that explores and nurtures who she is, not what she has or what she could be given. stella has always yearned to be more than a pretty face and a prize housewife, a concept those within her social circle seemed to have always had issues understanding. 

historically, there has only ever been one individual who captured stella’s heart- unfortunately, the match turned out to be a terrible mistake. what was truly a chance meeting at a local coffee shop turned into a whirlwind romance- the kind stella had always read and dreamed about, but one that left her feeling broken and far from herself. after spending 2 years of her life with her ex, including a proposal and plans to marry, it came to light (two months before the wedding) that stella’s fiance was not at all who he claimed to be. the truth was, he and his friends had chosen stella to be bamboozled- had researched her, her family, her habits, and everything in-between. the ‘chance meeting’ between the two had been engineered and fabricated, with an end-goal of taking a large chunk of stella’s trust money and disappearing into a life of luxury. 

Upon discovering the scheme stella was shattered and heartbroken, unsure of where to turn and left fearful of any future connections or relationships. after spending a year caring for herself and doing her best to pick up the pieces of her broken heart, stella decided that the best and only thing to do was to leave manhattan, and the only life she’d ever known, to start fresh. after many elongated and emotional discussion with her family and friends, stella found the city of cardinal hill. it seemed fate had aligned things once more when the town’s charming inn came up for sale. without a second thought stella’s father purchased the property for her, having jumped on board with the thought that what stella needed was her own life and venture, away from the place that had brought such misfortune. 

wanting to avoid any further heartbreak, stella moved to cardinal hill, ensuring in her own way that no one in her new town and new life would do what her ex had done- use her for her money, or status. it has been 6 months since stella moved to cardinal hill and took over the maplewood inn, and she has been making improvements and keeping to herself since. while she knows the town at this point, and is incredibly friendly with many of its inhabitants, she hasn’t allowed anyone to cross the interpersonal line up to this point…no matter how desperately she wishes to. 

Family Info

Father: mathias anderson o’malley Mother: catherine renee (stewart) o’malley Grandmother (Paternal): lucy jean (tomson) o’malley Grandfather (Paternal): anderson michael o’malley Grandmother (Maternal): mary grace (wilde) stewart Grandfather (Maternal): james matthew stewart Siblings: none Aunts (Paternal): sarah jean (o’malley) waite Uncles (Paternal): matthew phillip waite Cousins (Paternal): jessica waite, thomas waite, james waite Aunts (Maternal): lucy ella (stewart) james, marilyn louise (stewart) rowe Uncles (Maternal): jackson james stewart, brock thomas james, andrew carmichael rowe Cousins (Maternal): bella james, brady james, alana rowe, ariel rowe, cameron rowe, patrick rowe Pets (current): penelope (ragdoll cat- 2 years)