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“Hey, no crying,” Junior said, standing next to me in an apron because, well, I was going to need extra hands. Barry was shuffling around, making sure everything was stocked as well.
If this day wasn’t a fluke, and business really was going to be much better, I was definitely going to need to hire a staff.
I would want to eventually anyway.
Because as much as I loved Deja Brew, had put my heart and soul into it, had almost lost my life for it, the end goal was always to be able to step back a bit and enjoy my own life.
That was an even more important goal now that I had someone to spend that life with.
“I know. I’m just a little overwhelmed,” I admitted.
Outside on that line, I saw familiar faces.
Junior’s mom and dad, his uncles and aunts, even his cousin Jackson and his sister Willa. Who was a complete workaholic, so it was a big deal that she was taking time out of her schedule to support me.
On top of them, Junior’s Uncle Johnnie’s daughters, Alexis and Bri, were queued up, along with what seemed like a dozen of their closest friends. Andtheirmothers and fathers.
The bikers were there, too.
And, standing there with no fewer than four pitties with them, were Andrés Alcazar and Hope.
“You ready?” Barry asked as he moved to the door, ready to unlock it and open us for business again.
I glanced at Junior, giving him a giant smile.
“Yes.”
The door opened, and people started to mill inside.
Some of them grabbed one of the many menus Jackson had designed and had printed, checking out our selections of drinks and treats as they waited to move their way up in line.
I expected it to be someone in our extended circle to be up first.
I’d been wrong, though.
My first two customers were completely unexpected.
One slight, tall redhead and one silver-and-black-haired plus-sized woman. Both of whom, even without speaking, had a larger than life vibe to them.
This was Gala and Jazzy.
The owners of She’s Bean Around.
“We figured we had to be your first customers,” Gala declared, beaming at me. “I mean, not technically, but we didn’t know you were here before,” she said.
“We love seeing other girlies succeed,” Jazzy said, smiling at me. “Now, I want a large Choco-latte,” she said. “Gala is going for a large drip with two shots because she wants to smell sounds and hear colors. Love this,” she said as she dropped a hundred in theJust the Tipjar.
Just like that, I had my first customers.
And about a thousand after that.
“I think you need to update that import order,” Junior said when we closed the door and all but collapsed onto the couches.
“Yeah,” I agreed.
And thanks to him, for once, I wouldn’t have to have a knot in my stomach as I went to pick it up.
“There they are,” Barry said, coming in from the back with Lucy on a leash. “Try not to be too mad at Mommy. She’s a working woman.”
