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“Excuse me, Zoe,” said Janet, her camera hanging around her neck. “Mind if I snap a few photos for the Pebble Point Gazette?”
“Of course not, Janet!” I agreed, striking a playful pose with one of the mugs. “Capture the magic!”
“Work it, Zoe!” she laughed, snapping away. “You’re a natural!”
“Thanks, but don’t forget Caleb,” I teased, nodding towards him behind the espresso machine. “He’s the other half of this dynamic duo.”
“Ah, yes, Mr. Masters,” Janet grinned, pivoting her camera towards him. “From boardroom to barista—quite the transformation.”
Caleb rolled his eyes playfully before flashing a charming smile at the camera. I felt a surge of affection for the man who had become my partner in business and life.
“Alright, you two, keep working,” Janet instructed, snapping candid shots as Caleb and I continued serving customers. “I want to capture your synergy.”
“Synergy, huh?” I laughed, exchanging a glance with Caleb. “I think we can manage that.”
We moved seamlessly together, our laughter and camaraderie infectious. The café hummed with the energy of a well-oiled machine, powered by love and determination.
“Zoe, could you hand me that mug?” Caleb asked, his voice tinged with amusement.
“Sure,” I replied, reaching for it while suppressing a smirk. Our fingers brushed, sending a familiar thrill through me. “You know, we should take some of these home. A little souvenir of our journey.”
“Agreed,” he said, his gaze holding mine. “A reminder of how far we’ve come...and all that’s yet to come.”
“Exactly,” I whispered, my heart swelling with gratitude.
“Zoe!” Linda’s voice rang out from the doorway, drawing my attention. She stepped inside, beaming as she revealed her latest creation. This hand-painted sign read “Happy Anniversary Pebble’s Brew” in vibrant colors.
“Wow, Linda, that’s beautiful!” I exclaimed, genuinely touched by her thoughtfulness. “You didn’t have to do this.”
“Of course I did,” she insisted, her fiery amber eyes sparkling. “This place means so much to all of us, especially to you. It deserves to be celebrated.”
“Here, let me help you hang it up,” Caleb offered, stepping forward, his hands outstretched.
“Thank you, dear,” Linda said, passing him the sign. As he carefully positioned it above the counter, she turned to me. “You know, it feels like we were rallying together just yesterday to save those Coastal Blue-Tip birds.”
“Time flies when you’re caffeinating the masses,” I quipped, earning a chuckle from Linda.
“Indeed,” she agreed, her gaze sweeping over the bustling café. “I’m so proud of you, Zoe. Your parents would be too.”
Her heartfelt words brought a lump to my throat. “Thank you, Linda. That means more than you know.”
“Hey,” Caleb interjected, joining us once again. “We couldn’t have done any of this without the support of people like you. This community is amazing.”
“Absolutely,” Linda nodded. “And don’t forget, you two make a fantastic team. Like peanut butter and jelly!”
“Or coffee and cream,” I added, grinning.
“Exactly!” Linda laughed. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to sample this new ‘Anniversary Blend’ I’ve heard so much about.”
“Coming right up,” Caleb said, winking at me before turning to prepare her drink.
I leaned against the counter, watching our customers chatted animatedly, their laughter mingling with the sweet scent of coffee and baked goods filling the air. And I couldn’t have been prouder.
Amidst the chatter and laughter, the door swung open, and my twin brother, Jamie, strolled in with a broad grin on his face.
“Look who finally decided to show up!” I teased, giving him a playful punch on the arm as he approached the counter.
“Hey, I think I’m allowed to sleep late after another sell out gig at my venue,” Jamie defended, flipping his hair for dramatic effect. “A guy’s got to make an entrance!”
