AllFreeNovel
Share Us
* * *
After the service, I’m driving back through the downtown area on the way to my parents’ house when a neon sign lit up on Main Street catches my eye. Without giving it a second thought, I pull into a parking spot and make a beeline for Drip, Fawn Creek’s quaint little coffee shop. The bell jingles happily as I pull the heavy glass door open and slip inside, following the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods.
From what I understand, this shop was recently purchased by new owners and completely renovated. This shop was once an outdated cafe, with brown wood paneling on the walls and yellowed ceiling tiles. The new owner transformed the storefront into a warm and welcoming space. It seems like every detail was intentionally chosen and meticulously organized. Everything is perfect, from the dark hardwood floors to the exposed brick walls and barn wood looking coffee bar. As soon as I step through the door, I feel like this is a place I could spend hours on end, working and visiting with other customers. I love the familiarity that comes with it.
“Tyler Burris, is that you?” I hear a vaguely familiar voice yell out from somewhere I can’t quite pinpoint.
“That’s me!” I respond, walking towards the counter, trying to find the source of the voice.
Finally, a petite body peeks out around the doorframe from the office on the other side of the room. Cassidy Martin, my childhood neighbor, comes barreling out of the doorway and across the hardwood floor towards me. I brace myself as she wraps me in a hug, lifting my feet off the ground as though I’m still six years old.
“I thought that was you on the security camera. How are you?” She asks, cupping my face and checking me over lovingly.
“I’m doing okay.” I say with a small smile. “The best I can under these circumstances, anyway.” I add with a shrug.
“I’m so sorry to hear about your Grandma Hazel. Today was her service, wasn’t it?”
I nod. “Yes, I just left there, actually. I thought I’d better stop in for some caffeine before heading to Mom and Dad’s.”
She smiles softly. “I’m so glad you did. I haven’t seen you in forever, but I think about you all the time. Are you still living in Oklahoma City?”
“Yep, still in OKC. Living the dream.” I say with a smile, stepping out of the way as a mom enters the store with a little boy in tow. “How are you? How’s Sierra?” I ask Cassidy.
“We are great! We just bought this place a few months ago, and I’m just trying to put some finishing touches on it.” She gazes around the space proudly. “Sierra’s getting married this summer! Can you believe that?”
That news stuns me for a second, but before I can answer, I feel a tug on my dress. Surprised, I look down to see a grinning toddler holding up a ball towards me. “Ball?” He asks. I glance towards his mom, who is ordering her coffee while balancing her phone on one shoulder. I take the ball and begin a game of catch while continuing my conversation with Cassidy. “Little Sierra? She’s not old enough to get married. Is she even out of high school yet?”
I used to babysit Sierra when I was a teenager. Her parents hired me to watch her one summer while school was out because they couldn’t find a reliable sitter. The two of us instantly clicked, and it turned into a year round Nanny job. They lived in the house between Avery and mine, so it was convenient for everyone. Sierra would just walk over to my house every morning and I would drop her off at school. After school, I’d pick her up and take her home, watching her until her parents got back. Everyone we didn’t know just assumed that she was my little sister, because of all the time we spent together. While we aren’t blood related, I’ve always loved her like she was the sister I never had. Taking care of her was my only job when I was a teenager and still one of the best jobs I’ve ever had.
“Jacob! Please leave the nice lady alone.” The disheveled mom calls out as she rushes towards us. “I am so sorry.” She says to me. “He was rolling the ball back and forth on the coffee bar and then my phone rang…” She trails off.
I shake my head. “It’s okay! He wasn’t bothering me at all. I enjoyed playing catch with him.” I add with a smile. The young mom thanks me and apologizes again before scooping up her toddler and fleeing from the store.
“What about you? Are you married? Any kids yet?” Cassidy gently pries. “You always have been so amazing with children.” She adds, as she watches the mother and son duo that just left as they travel down the sidewalk.
Just as I’m about to respond, her office phone rings, saving me from acknowledging the stagnant state of my life.
“Shoot, girl, I have to go. You take care, okay?” She says, while she hurries back to her office to answer the phone, not waiting for my response.
Saved by the bell.
I step up to the counter and I am greeted by a man, probably around the age of nineteen, wearing a name tag that says Devin. After a quick glance at the menu, I order a large iced vanilla latte and swipe my card just as Cassidy emerges from her office once again.
“Hey, Tyler. Are you going to come home for Mayfest?” She asks.
Mayfest is an annual festival in Fawn Creek held every Memorial Day weekend. Friday night kicks everything off with a concert featuring a semi-famous band, with the opening act as a local musician. Depending on who the headliner is, the show usually draws in quite a crowd from the neighboring communities. The sales from the beer garden alone are a huge moneymaker for the festival.
“Eh, probably not.” I shrug. “That’s too many people in one place for me.”
“Seriously?” she scoffs, placing her hands on her hips. “You mean to tell me, the girl who left here and moved to a city of 600,000 people won’t come to our festival because of the number of attendees? You know that makes no sense at all, right?”
“Valid point.” I shrug, taking my drink from Devin, and take a long sip. “But all those people aren’t crammed into the middle of the street eating turkey legs at the same time either. They have a little more room to spread out in the city.”
Cassidy just laughs and rolls her eyes. “Well, I’m just saying Jordan Johnson is our headliner. This will probably be our biggest show ever.” She says with a prideful look on her face.
That news causes me to pause and reconsider for a moment. “Ugh, I love Jordan Johnson.” I say, biting my lip. Jordan is a red dirt country singer that I have followed since the beginning of his career. It’s no secret to those who know me that I’m a big fan. I have seen him perform half a dozen times at least, and he always puts on an incredible show. Unfortunately, in the city I don’t have any friends that like Red Dirt Music, so I haven’t seen him in years. Honestly, I don’t have any friends at all in the city, and Elliott despises country music completely.
“That’s a tempting offer. I might have to consider coming back for that.” I glance down at my watch. “Okay, I really better get going. My parents are expecting me.” I say, backing away from her to politely end our conversation. Cassidy’s ability to chat your ear off sure hasn’t changed since I left here ten years ago. Luckily, her office phone rings again, just in time for me to slip away.
