Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 73963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Once inside, I go about my usual routine of flipping on lights and pulling the cash drawer out of the safe and getting it set up. I lay out more coffee pods and make sure the water reservoir is full, then I rearrange a few of the displays to freshen the place up a bit.
Before it’s time to open, I check my email to see if anyone has responded to my ad for part-time help and smile when I see three messages from potential employees.
After calling all three and setting up times for interviews, I flip on the Open sign and get ready for another day in paradise.
***
“But I only wore it three times.” I’m holding a sweater that a customer is trying to return, staring at the burn hole in the hem. “It wasn’t my fault that my boyfriend’s fire sparked and it landed on me.”
But it was my fault?
“Well, I’m glad that you weren’t burned,” I begin, keeping my temper in check. Alex comes running in the front door. He hurries over to me and drops his book bag behind the counter, then leans in and hugs me.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Hi, buddy. Go get your snack and then get started on your homework.”
“Okay. I need help with the math.” He hurries away, and I sigh. Today has been another rough one. I’ve been busy in the shop, which is good, but the customers have been moody and demanding, much like the one standing before me now. And, of course, the garage called to tell me that my car won’t be ready for two weeks.
“What are you going to do about this?” the customer asks impatiently.
“Honestly? I’m not going to do anything about it except say I’m sorry that it happened to you. There’s no defect in the sweater.”
“I only wore it three times, and this sweater was more than a hundred dollars.”
“It sucks,” I agree with a nod.
“I won’t shop here again.” She glares at me, rips the sweater from my hands, and stomps out of my store.
I breathe a sigh of relief.
“I don’t think you’ll miss her,” Cara King says with a kind smile as she sets a pair of jeans on the counter. Cara is married to Josh King, an older cousin of Noah and Gray King.
The King family is big and has deep roots in Cunningham Falls.
Cara is a teacher in town and a kind woman. She’s been a great customer.
“I think you’re right.”
Once I have the jeans folded and in the bag, I add a pretty pink bow and wish Cara a good day.
“Mom, I need help.”
“I know, buddy. Let me just finish with these customers.”
Alex sighs and takes a bite of his apple. He’s always patient about sharing me with the shop. It was an adjustment for both of us.
The bell above the door dings, and I shrug. “I’m sorry, buddy, it’s busy today.”
“Hey, Max,” Alex says with a smile. “Can you help me with my math?”
“Alex,” I admonish and shake my head at Max. “Sorry about that.”
“Does he need help with his math?” Max asks.
“Yes,” Alex says.
“No,” I say at the same time, and Max cocks an eyebrow.
“I do too,” Alex insists. “But Mom’s too busy with customers.”
I shrug a shoulder. “I’ll get to it in just a few. Don’t worry about it.”
“Alex, you go get ready, and I’ll be right there,” Max says without looking away from me.
“Awesome,” Alex says and hurries away to his little desk in my office.
“How are you?” Max asks, watching me closely.
“I’m totally fine,” I lie easily and smile at Maisey Henderson, who just walked in with her sister, Brooke.
Max cocks his head to the side, then walks around to stand next to me.
“What’s going on?” he asks.
“Just working.”
He brushes his knuckles down my cheek, and I swallow hard.
“How has your day been?”
“Great.”
He leans in to whisper in my ear. “I will walk through bullshit with you as long as you don’t bullshit me.”
I sigh. “Been a shit day,” I whisper back. “And, yes, I could use your help with Alex’s homework. It’s math.”
“I can do math in my sleep,” he reminds me, making me grin.
I only passed sophomore trigonometry because of Max.
“I appreciate the help, and I know Alex will get a kick out of it. He likes you.”
He smiles. “I like him, too. Almost as much as I like his mama.”
And with that, he winks and hurries off to find my son.
“Oh, and your car is possessed!” I yell at Max’s back.
He just waves, not looking back at me, and I can’t help but grin.
“Gotta love the Lord for making things like that,” Maisey says with a lazy grin as she joins me at the counter, laying a pair of shoes on the glass.
“I don’t know what you mean,” I reply, doing my best to school my face and ignore the redness in my cheeks.