I drag my gaze from my customers back to our newest barista, Tilly, right as she shoves the wand into the milk just a little too deep.“Remember, you’re trying to foam the top, not boil it from the bottom,” I remind her for what feels like the hundredth time.
She’ll get it eventually.
Grimacing, she lowers the milk a little at a time, until she hits that perfect note.
“Right there,” I say, chuckling as she freezes.“Do you hear the difference?”
All I get is a nod.I tried her with customers yesterday, but she’s so quiet, she can barely be heard over the ding of the register.Hence, her “promotion” to coffee extraordinaire.
“You’re doing so great,” I tell her.Sometimes all it takes is one person to boost you up and make their perception of you a reality in your own mind.I want to be that person for these kids.Heck, for everyone.The world beats you down enough.Folks don’t need that nonsense over their morning coffee.
Tilly mutters a quiet, “Thanks,” her grimace slowly melting into a smile.
The door chimes, and I leave Tilly to her milk, keeping an ear out to make sure she doesn’t boil the crap out of it.Lily Jane steps through the entrance, the fringes on her jacket swishing as she makes her way through the tables.
“Good morning, Chloe,” she says with a smile.Her fringes whack the edge of the counter as she pops the lids off of not one, but two travel mugs.
“Morning.Here for the usual?”It’s her lucky day—there’s a fresh batch of blueberry scones just out of the oven.
“Yes, please.And if I could also have a black coffee in this one, and a Reuben to go, that would be great.”
Hmm.She came in for the same thing yesterday as well.
Interesting.
“That’s no problem,” I reply.“Is Peter in town?”Lily Jane’s son lives just outside of Nashville now, but he comes back from time to time.
Her smile widens.“Nope.”
Veryinteresting.
“You don’t usually get coffee.”And not once in all my years of owning Mugs have I heard of her ordering a Reuben.Her wife is vegan and doesn’t drink caffeine, so this must be for someone else.
Come to think of it, there’s been a streak of Reubens ordered nice and early.Almost suspiciously so.I’d dare to say there’s been one for every day since Mr.Punctuality arrived.
“Oh, it’s not for me.”She beams as she tosses a twenty onto the counter, offering nothing more.
It’d be super weird if I were to keep asking, but I’m dying to know how in the world my neighbor convinced her to be his coffee mule.
She tells me to keep the change, then sits down beside Old Tom to enjoy her scone and wait for the sandwich.I have half a mind to push the subject, but then Mrs.Paulson comes in with her friend Winnie, ordering green tea and blueberry muffins.
Willow disappears into the back, returning with Lily Jane’s Reuben.Discretely, I slip out from behind the counter, leaving enough distance that she doesn’t even realize I’m following her.Through the window, I watch as she brings the brown paper sack and extra travel mug over to a certain truck with Pennsylvania plates.
Looks like the instant coffee and Lucky Charms weren’t enough for my dear neighbor.
The thought of him going through all this trouble to eat my food and drink my coffee leaves me grinning.
It feels good to win.
I cannot wait for the opportunity to rub this into his grumpy face.
Between training Tillyand helping customers, the morning flies by.Unlike the other day, this time I’m prepared when a text buzzes through from Rick at around one.
Rick
Can’t wait to see u 2nite!Wanna grab dinner at the Sand Dollar?
Not really.But I haven’t seen Rick since last Christmas, so I do the right thing and text back, letting him know I’ll be ready by four-thirty.
