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“Jamie, my boy!” Sam greeted him warmly, his eyes sparkling with genuine affection. “How’s life on the high seas?”
“Ah, you know how it is—playing piano on a cruise ship has its ups and downs.” Jamie struck a dramatic pose, a playful glint in his eyes. “But nothing beats coming home to Pebble Point.”
“Speaking of which,” he continued, looping an arm around my shoulders, a fond smile on his face, “remember that time Mr. Samuels made us read ‘Pride and Prejudice’ in high school?”
“Ugh, don’t remind me,” I groaned, recalling our English class and the endless essays we’d written. An exasperated expression crossed my face.
“Hey, now! That book is a classic,” Sam defended with a chuckle, his voice laced with amusement. “Besides, I seem to recall both of you enjoying the banter between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy.”
“Only because it reminded us of our own sibling squabbles,” I admitted, nudging Jamie playfully. A nostalgic smile played on my lips.
“True,” he laughed, a genuine warmth in his voice. “It was like Austen had a hidden camera in our house.”
“Ah, those were the days,” Sam said, his eyes twinkling with nostalgia. “You two always kept me on my toes.”
“Of course,” I smirked, a mischievous glint in my eye. “We couldn’t let you get too comfortable, could we?”
“Never a dull moment with the Daniels twins,” Jamie agreed, beaming at Sam and me. His laughter echoed through the cozy café.
Our laughter filled the cozy café as we reminisced about our high school days and the memories we shared with Sam. Surrounded by the warmth of family and friendship, I was grateful for my life here in Pebble Point.
“Speaking of rivals,” Jamie said, his eyes glinting mischievously, “Remember my high school buddy Caleb Masters? According to his Instagram, he’s back in California again. You two used to butt heads all the time.”
The mention of Caleb’s name caused me to pause mid-pour. My grip on the coffee pot tightened, but I quickly recovered with a practiced smile. It had been years since I’d thought about Caleb—my ambitious and competitive high school nemesis.
“Last I heard, he was off making millions in New York,” I replied, trying to sound nonchalant as I finished pouring Sam’s coffee. “We haven’t exactly kept in touch.”
“Ah, that’s right. The Golden Boy of Pebble Point,” Sam mused. “He always did have an air of superiority about him.”
“Tell me about it,” I muttered under my breath, my mind unwillingly drifting back to the countless debates and disagreements we’d had in high school. We were like oil and water, never quite able to see eye-to-eye on anything.
“Who knows, maybe he’ll return someday to challenge you in the coffee business,” Jamie teased, dodging my playful swat.
“Over my dead body,” I retorted, smiling despite myself. The idea of facing off against Caleb again was absurd, yet strangely exhilarating.
Our quiet morning moment was interrupted as Cynthia Moore, a local council member, strode into the café, her presence commanding the room. Her fiery red hair stood out like a beacon and was known for her equally vibrant personality.
“Morning, Zoe!” she boomed, marching up to the counter. “I’ll have a large latte, please. And make it extra foamy, dear.”
“Of course, Mrs. Moore,” I replied, getting to work on her order. “How are things at the town council?”
“Busy as ever,” she sighed, adjusting her glasses. “There’s been talk of a new development project on the outskirts of town. A luxury complex, I believe.”
I felt my pulse quicken at her words. A new development could bring in more tourists and potential customers. Still, it could also threaten the small-town charm that made Pebble Point so unique.
“Interesting,” I said carefully, my brow furrowing slightly as I handed her the steaming latte adorned with a foam heart. “I’ll have to keep an eye on that.”
“Indeed you should,” Cynthia agreed, sipping her drink with satisfaction, a contemplative look in her eyes. “Well, I must be off. Thank you for the latte, dear.”
“Anytime,” I replied, watching her exit. The low murmur of concern about the development from the other patrons had already begun to spread.
“Hey, don’t worry about it,” Jamie reassured me, squeezing my shoulder with a reassuring smile. “We’ve weathered storms before, right? We can handle whatever comes our way.”
“Yeah,” I agreed, my resolve strengthening. Pebble’s Brew was more than just a café; it was a haven for our community, where people could come together and find solace in life’s simple pleasures. And I’d be damned if I let anyone threaten that.
“Can you believe it?” Mrs. Jacobs whispered to her friend, her voice barely audible over the sound of the grinding coffee machine. “A luxury complex, right here in Pebble Point.”
“Times are changing, I suppose,” her friend replied, shaking her head, a hint of sadness in her eyes. “But at what cost?”
