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Caleb’s eyes softened. “I’ll make us some legacy coffee. “
Emotions churning as he busied himself behind the counter, I sank into my favorite overstuffed chair. The rich aroma of our signature blend soon filled the air.
Caleb handed me a steaming mug. “To new beginnings,” he said, touching his to mine.
I savored the taste, at once bold and smooth. “It’s perfect.”
We drank in comfortable silence. When we finished, Caleb took both mugs to the sink.
“You know,” he said over his shoulder, “we never decided when to dig this up again.”
I pondered for a moment. “How about the café’s 75th anniversary?”
Caleb turned, eyebrows raised. “You’ve got big plans, I see.”
“Maybe.” I smiled. “But I know together we’ll make them happen.”
Caleb took my hands, hope shining in his eyes. “Here’s to the next 75 years.”
My heart swelled. The future felt limitless as long as we faced it side by side.
Chapter 25
Calebwasoutoftown on business today. Without his presence, my mind drifted back to thoughts of the legal battle, the weight pressing down on me like an overfilled espresso machine.
I’d received a letter from Mr. Harper with an estimate of legal costs to fight Caleb’s company’s plans to redevelop our building.
“How am I going to afford this, Jamie?” I sighed, my voice wavering.
Jamie leaned against the wall, his arms crossed thoughtfully. “Zoe, you know what they say about desperate times, right? We’re in one, and it’s time for some desperate measures.”
“Spit it out, brother dearest. What’s your big idea?”
“Alright, so hear me out. We host a fundraiser concert tomorrow night right here in Pebble’s Brew! The café‘s ambiance is perfect, and the community loves a good cause.”
“Wait, you mean like… right here? In the café?”
“Exactly,” he replied, grinning. “I could play the piano, maybe get a few others to join in, and we could raise money for the legal fees.”
My heart swelled with gratitude as I looked at Jamie, his easygoing smile contagious. “You’d really do that for me?”
“Of course,” he said, ruffling my hair. “What are siblings for?”
“Okay, let’s do it!” I exclaimed, suddenly energized by the idea. I grabbed a notepad and pen from underneath the counter. “So, we’ll need to make space for the piano and seating. We can move these tables over there, and the piano can go…” I trailed off, scanning the room for the perfect spot.
“Right in the center, where everyone can see and hear,” Jamie suggested, following my gaze. “It’ll be the star of the show!”
“Perfect. And we should keep the lights dim and cozy, make it feel intimate.” I scribbled down our ideas, my hand barely keeping up with my racing thoughts. “Oh, and candles on the tables! People love candles.”
“Absolutely, sis. This is going to be great,” Jamie said, his voice filled with excitement. “This is what Pebble’s Brew is all about.”
“Thank you, Jamie,” I murmured, my eyes brimming with gratitude and determination. “Together, we’re going to save this café.”
“Damn right, we are,” he replied, pulling me into a tight hug.
***
“Social media is our best bet for spreading the word quickly,” Jamie declared, already tapping away at his phone. “I’ll post on all the usual platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram…heck, I’ll even Snapchat it.”
