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“The Coffee Loft. The guy there is trying out new flavours of beans and offered me a bag to sample. It’s good. Something about it just brings back a memory.”
That’s why it was familiar. This was the stuff Carter was passing around his place the day I went crazy and tried to plan out a marketing campaign for him. I was such an idiot. As familiar as the flavour was, it was now going to be one I associated with my ridiculous overstepping.
“You know how to make coffee, right?”
I stared at the machine behind him. It couldn’t be that hard. Add grounds to a basket with a filter, add water, and start. “I’m used to the single-serve variety, but this can be my first test. If I make a good cup, can I have a gold star?”
The old man cracked a weak smile. “I think I’m going to like working with you, Miss Cara.”
Finally, something was going right for me.
“Okay, for tonight.” Stanley went into detail about the supplies each table needed as he had a full workshop of twenty-one guests, and to make sure everything was there. He handed me an itemized list.
“If you have any questions, just ask. All the supplies are in the back room. And make sure to keep your cup filled.” A weird request, but one I was all too happy to get behind.
First order of business was to look for the back room and familiarize myself with everything on the list. At a quick scan, I was going to need 22 of everything (since the head table needed stuff as well), and the list was long.
After a quick nod, I walked to the front of the store and looked for a shopping basket or something.
“There's a bin in the back you can use to haul supplies. But use the truck for the trees and make sure those are at each table before six.”
“Before six. Sure thing.”
I gave myself an introductory tour, although none of the items needed were in the display part of the store which was filled with plastic containers of fresh-cut flowers either out in the open or in the cooler. The only shelves with fresh greenery were of potted plants – perennials, or annuals or succulents (I hadn't the first clue) – but I was going to have to learn in a hurry if I was going to last for any length of time here.
The back room, which was larger than the store area, contained a giant walk-in cooler and a long table with shelves chock full of vases and flat cardboard pieces. It was here, I found most of the needed supplies tucked into a weathered box on the bottom of the table labeled in black markermaterials. Interestingly enough, on the side was a shipping label, that when I scanned the return label, was from Daddy’s shop. My heart squeezed at the connection.
Steeling myself and tucking away the memory of helping Dad in his store, I counted each identical item. I had most and scratched down how many of the others I needed on the back of my hand, but at least it was a start. I filled a bin with the smaller items and hauled it over, repeating the trip with the green foam forms, the containers, and five huge boxes of ornaments.
With an empty coffee cup in hand, I went to refill it behind the counter.
“So, I’m still missing a few things.” I tipped the back of my hand to read the notes better.
“Like what?” Stanley hadn’t removed his focus from the bundle of flowers he was currently wrapping a ribbon around.
“More wire cutters. There were only sixteen.”
“Dang. Well, there’s a storage closet beside the office. If there’s none in there, people will have to share so space out the cutters. I’ll make sure to grab a few from the hardware store next time I’m in the big city.”
“There’s no hardware store here?”
“Nope. Went out of business years back. Jillian’s would likely sell something similar, but if Randall had two of them, I’d be surprised.”
“Jillian’s? That’s the mish-mash store of all things, isn’t it?”
“Clearly, you’ve been there.” He chuckled and nodded. “Put your finger here.”
I stuck my finger on the knot of red satin ribbon.
“Yeah, he sells a bit of everything but nothing I could really use, unfortunately. We need a hardware store here, but it’ll never happen.” With minimal effort, Stanley tied a postcard-worthy bow and snipped the ends to perfection. “Leave me a list of any other supplies we’re missing, and I can grab those as well.”
“And if I may, can I suggest the Preston-Wellex brand? They’re comparable to the big brand names but about half the cost, and they’d be perfect for the gauge of wire you’re using in the workshop. They’re not as well-known mind you, but they’re Canadian and they stand behind their products.” It slipped out before I had control of my mouth.
“Know a little bit about tools, do ya?”
In a flash, heat seared my cheeks. “My dad used to own a hardware store back in Red Deer and I spent my evenings and weekends working there.”
“And you went into marketing?” He lifted his hand into a stop position and studied me for a half-second. “No explanation. Not my place.” Giving his attention back to the arrangement, he said, “Check the product closet. Key’s on the hook in the office.”
