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“Yes, yes.Old. I know.”
“Such impertinence.” She shook her head.
Rose stared at me like she thought I was at dire risk of an imminent, severe case of halitosis.
I gave her a reassuring smile. I wasn’t afraid of Estrelle.
Much.
The old woman chuckled.
I rolled my eyes and made her drink. I was just sliding the cup across the counter to her when Javier and Redmond came inside the shop. When Redmond saw Estrelle at the counter, he tried to walk back out again, but Javier snagged his arm.
“Good morning,” Rose and I said in unison.
Titus let out an impatient sigh and moved over to the recipe board as if completely captivated by the ingredients in Boomy Eldridge’s cream cups.
Estrelle also murmured a good morning and was just about to tap her credit card on the reader when Javier held his hand out to stop her.
“That’s on us,” he said. “As a thank-you. It turns out that flexibility works wonders for fixing broken hearts.”
With his face shining with good health, Javier was dressed in nice pressed slacks and a dress shirt and tie, and Redmond was in his new-and-improved upscale athletic wear. They stood close, side by side.
It appeared that the reconciliation everyone had been hoping for had taken place.
“How thoughtful of you,” Estrelle said. “Ava, I’d also like a raspberry Danish, if you will.”
Redmond’s jaw dropped.
Javier only laughed as I pulled a Danish from the bakery case and put it on a plate.
Estrelle’s eyes had softened behind her veil, and I thought Icaught a hint of a tear as she picked up her drink and the raspberry Danish and carried them to her usual table.
I glanced at Titus, but he still had his back to us, so I smiled at Javier and Redmond. “What can I get for you two?”
Javier said, “An iced mocha with almond milk and a cinnamon… muffin.”
Redmond said, “I’ll try an iced caramel latte today. To go, please.”
I was going to have to remember the flexibility advice for the future. It sure seemed to have worked wonders for these two. Both had bent just enough not to break.
Rose and I had their order together in no time flat. As soon as they headed for the door, Titus hotfooted it to the counter before someone else came inside.
I sidestepped once, twice, and grabbed a rag. I hurried around the counter to wipe a table that was already spotlessly clean.
“Good morning, Titus,” Rose said, her chin lifted.
“Hello, Rose. Did you have a good trip?”
“It was fruitful despite its unexpected turns. I’m glad to be back. What would you like today?”
Titus scratched his chin. He hemmed, he hawed. Finally, he said, “Today I’ll have a black coffee, please.”
I’d been absently running a rag across a tabletop and my hand stilled. A black coffee? I threw a look at Estrelle. She had both eyebrows lifted and a smile on her lips.
Rose was moving about behind the counter, working on a drink that was very muchnota black coffee.
“We’re out of drip coffee today,” she said, clearly lying, as both machines were nearly full. “Might I offer another recommendation?”
