Tom ran a hand down his face once more and grunted. “I'll make that trade. Thanks.”
Marie nodded as she began to make the sandwich. “No problem.” She answered.
As he walked further down the counter to pay, Sabrina began to smell the booze rolling off Tom in waves. She wordlessly filled up a cup of water and handed it to him before pouring his coffee.
Tom chugged the water in seconds, returning the empty cup when Sabrina gave him the coffee.
“Would you like another water, Tom?” Sabrina asked.
Tom Crawford shook his head. “I'm all set. Appreciate it.”
He walked out the door a minute later, wolfing down the bagel, a hot coffee in hand.
“Did the card go through this time?” Sabrina asked as she watched the man walk away.
“No. He used a Market Basket gift card in the card reader.”
Sabrina sighed, looking back at Tom’s retreating figure. “He wasn't always like this.”
Marie shook her head, looking deep in thought and somewhere else. “Life rarely goes the way we plan, does it?” She murmured. Marie reached up to touch her necklace, toying the small golden pendant between her fingers absentmindedly.
She let out a quiet sigh and cleared her expression, looking back at Sabrina. “You covered him last time. I’ve got this one.”
Sabrina frowned, but nodded in agreement.
“You know, if he’d just take care of himself he wouldn't be half bad to look at.” Marie grinned.
“Absolutely not.” Sabrina muttered. “No!”
“What?” Marie asked, eyes twinkling mischievously.
“It'sTommy.” Sabrina shook her head.
“I didn’t say I would.” Marie sniffed, a grin still tugging at her lips. “You have to be careful what you say after all, you never know what’s listening.” She waggled her brows in Sabrina's direction.
Sabrina hummed. “That sounds ominous.”
Marie smiled, as she pulled cash from her wallet. “We’ll take care of Tom, and trust the universe will take care of us. Good vibes all around.”
Marie rang up Tom’s breakfast order, then placed his receipt under the tip jar. She winked at Sabrina. “Just you wait and see, chickadee. This tip jar is going to overflow today.”
Twenty minutes later, a tour bus pulled up unannounced in the parking lot across the street, and over fifty cameraclad hungry tourists filtered through Society’s doors to use the facilities and try their locally famous cinnamon rolls.
By the tenth customer, the tip jar was overflowing.
Sabrina and Marie worked quickly and methodically to make the group’s orders as fast as they could. Sabrina was buried in a sea of cold foam cups when she heard her name being called.
“Sabrina.” Marie urged from the front.
“I’m almost caught up, I swear we had like five double-blended with foamed milk in a row.” She muttered back.
“He’s here.” Marie whispered. “Do you want to switch spots?”
Sabrina cast a glance at the doors, and sure enough, GQ was standing towards the front of the line, his gaze fixed directly on her. She gave him a faint smile and turned to Marie. “No.”
“You can talk to him more if you’re up front.” Marie prompted with a wry grin.
Sabrina nodded. “Which is exactly why I’m standing here.” She pointedly ignored the man.
