“What do you need me to do?” Sarah asks.
“We need to wipe down the windows and get the sidewalk sign set up.”
“That’s a great idea,” Sarah says. “Then people who are just walking by will know what we’re selling.”
I let out a deep breath. “And we’re going to expand some of our menu.”
Sarah’s eyebrows cinch together. “What do you mean?”
“We’ll add in some sandwiches and more pastries. I got some things at the store we can try out some combinations and even pick one or two that people recommend for our menu. If we give people more options—maybe muffins or something else—it will help so it’s not just coffee.”
“Of course. I’m willing to do whatever you need. Just let me know and train me how you want it to be done.”
“I’ll do the sandwiches for now, but the rest will be a slow add-in, because I need to save some money to buy an industrial mixer and a few other things, but I’m going to put it in the plans for future.”
“I’m excited for all of this. I don’t want to say that I was worried, but I was worried.”
We both laugh, and she walks into the back room to get out some more supplies.
The test-run weekend begins tomorrow, and I’m determined to have a bunch of things ready. I’ve already ordered a new menu sign from the printer.
As I glance around the coffee shop, I’m surprised at how different it looks and how much cozier it is. Instead of just being a sanitized white color, it’s got pops of light blues and greens, with a few sunsets in the decor and the pictures, and even I feel more comfortable here.
Why was I so stubborn about it before?
A memory pops up with my ex. I had told him to meet me at a coffee shop while I was studying and researching for a case our firm was working on, and when he came in, he sneered at the idea of even working in there. Our law firm offices had the typical modern furniture with abstract paintings and stuff like that, the opposite of what the coffee shop looked like.
Something hits me in the chest, and I realize that I’m stilltrying to live up to his warped sense of self. Instead of dwelling on it, though, I know that by changing things and making it how I want, it will be better in the long run.
The advantage to this now is that I now feel lighter somehow. Being in here gives me a sense of calm, whereas it was just another sterile building before.
Sarah and I work throughout the day, and it’s a blur as our customer base increases once again. Sure, we still don’t have a ton of people in town, but if we can get people in for their morning cup of coffee or for a sandwich that’s different from the other restaurants in town, it will be a benefit to all of us.
I don’t realize Max has walked in until he’s grinning at me over the cash register. There’s a stranger who walks in, but he takes a seat in one of the booths, staring at his phone.
“Hey,” I say, giving him a bright smile. I love seeing him here.
I don’t know why, but every time I see this man, I notice something different. This time it’s that he’s wearing a pair of shorts and a bright T-shirt, instead of his usual white or light blue button-up shirts. Maybe our town has rubbed off on him.
“Hey,” he says. “I almost didn’t recognize this place today.”
I laugh. “I will take that as a compliment. I hope you know that you spurred it on.”
He chuckles. “Yeah, but I didn’t expect you to rebrand in such a quick time frame. That’s probably why I keep missing you.”
“Well, not all of us are as terrible as Rusty at our jobs. Between driving people to and from the airport and gathering the materials for this, I feel like I’ve only been in the car.”
Max leans in a bit, looking conspiratorial. “Is it bad that I have never met this man, and even I have a joke about him?”
I lean a little closer and only realize how close we are when I can see a few flecks of gold in his eyes. “We’re just commiserating over a rough situation.”
“Well, then, we’re both horrible people,” Max says with a grin.
I lean back a bit, trying to pull myself out of the heady feeling I have while talking to him. “What can I get for you today?”
“Well,” Max says, looking up at the sign behind me, “it looks like you’ve got quite a few new options. Can I try the turkey sandwich?”
“Of course. Do you want that to be grilled or just a regular sandwich?”
