A Fresh Brew by Verena DeLuca

Author:Verena DeLuca [DeLuca, Verena]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aconite Cafe
Published: 2020-05-30T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

Thursday, February 20th

Do you want me to help open?" Aubrey asked as I opened the front door for her to come in.

"That would be great," I said leading her back to the counter, "but you didn't have to come in early."

"Nonsense. I enjoy working here. It's been fun."

"Fun? Good to see I've lulled you into a comfortable lie." I gave her a light smile as I went to grab the last batch of pastries out of the oven—cinnamon rolls.

"Well, that's terrifying. Thirty something years of friendship, and I'm still not always sure when you're being serious."

"Probably for the best."

"You think you're such a comedian."

"Funniest person you know."

"Okay, probably true."

Working with her would be perfection. We had less than ten minutes before the first regulars would start to show up.

"If you want, start with a French press," I said as I finished the presentation of pastries. "Jeremiah only drinks black coffee. Aunt Tona spent years convincing him to switch from drip. I haven't had the patience to try pushing an espresso on him."

Aubrey chortled as she scooped the fresh beans into the grinder. "Looks like we're getting low."

"Yeah, I'll have to roast a fresh batch soon."

"You mean I'll have to roast a fresh batch," Azure transmitted.

"You nervous about it?" Aubrey asked.

"Nah, Tona was an excellent teacher." I said as Azure transmitted full belly laughter. My mental image of him going a morning without a pastry shut him up.

Sure enough, at eight o'clock sharp, Jeremiah opened the front door. I left the door unlocked when Aubrey came in knowing that in all the years Jeremiah had been coming, not once had he opened the door before the designated time.

He owned the Sunrise Market—the only grocery store in town—and understood the finer details of customer hours. The market opened at 7:00 AM, but his son and a few other employees handled the customers. I could not remember the last morning he had missed here at the cafe.

I was around the counter bringing him a fresh cup, before he got comfortable at his usual table.

"Good morning," I said as I placed the saucer and cup in front of him. We only served French press in sixteen-ounce wide brim cups, smaller cups were only worth tea.

"Morning, Hailey. How's the new trainee working out?"

"Oh, Aubrey?" I looked back to where she was buffing clean fresh mugs. "She's amazing. You know we've been best friends since kindergarten. Don't play."

"Well. . ." he dragged out the word, "you know what they say about mixing business and friendship." He took a sip of coffee and sighed with enjoyment.

"It makes for the best work environment imaginable?"

Jeremiah laughed so hard his coffee trembled in his hand. I pulled out the rag I kept tucked in my back pocket and cleaned his table before offering it for his own use. He turned it down and laughed again at himself.

"Looks like I'm not fully awake."

"Mumm is the word."

I left him to drink his coffee in peace. Behind the counter, I dropped the used rag into the designated bucket and tucked in a clean one.

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