Coming Home (Pierpoint View #1)

Chapter Nineteen - Summer

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Summer

Lennon had been helping me out at the cafe most days, the only times she hasn’t is when I’ve sent her home for being way too hungover to function. It happened more than I would’ve like to admit and the more time I spend with her, the more I really can see why the Taylors and Brooks are having a hard time with her, not only is she unruly, she’s stubborn and will not take any advice from anyone.

I’ve tried and in the 3 weeks she’s been my employee, we’ve grown closer, she’s been telling me a lot about her life now, and before her parent’s left and I’d say we were friends, but as soon as any kind of sensible or responsible word comes out of my mouth, it’s like I’m an annoying gnat that just won’t go away.

But despite it all, she really has been helpful and it’s now the 16th of September, opening day, and I really couldn’t have done it without her. When I start to over think about a decision she’s been there to calm me down, her go to phrase being “What’s the worst that will be happen?” and it really does apply to a lot of situations and I can see how her using that line on herself can get her in to all kinds of problems.

In fact, earlier this week, I got a call from the Taylors asking if she’d stayed with me because she never came home. I’ve never felt worry like it and I can only imagine how worried Brooks was when I sent him a text at 8 in the morning asking if he’d heard from her when no one else in town had.

He ended up calling and I had to talk him out of damn near catching a flight to come find her and it was then that she walked through the front door to the cafe in yesterdays clothes.

I can’t be too annoyed about that though, because if Lennon hadn’t stayed the night at one of her stupid friends house and her phone hadn’t died, I wouldn’t have called Brooks and we wouldn’t have started our nightly phone call conversations.

After having no contact with him for just over 2 weeks, they’ve been what I’ve been looking forward to in the days leading up to opening day and I knew this was trouble, I knew this wasn’t a good idea, and it’s been strictly platonic. If you don’t count the few teasing comments, but I’ve been enjoying it none the less, it’s been taking my mind off how stressed and anxious I’ve been feeling about finally opening the doors to the public.

It was actually Brooks that started it. That night after I text him about Lennon, he messaged me to make sure everything was okay, and whilst typing out my reply, he’d called me and we spoke for a good hour, maybe two, until we both started falling asleep on the phone.

Since then, he’s called me every day checking in on Lennon and we’d then stay on the phone for a while longer, talking about our days. He’s been asking about the cafe and I finally plucked up the courage two nights ago to tell him that I was opening the cafe today and whether he’d be free .

I left it to the last minute in hopes he’d say no, not wanting to complicate whatever this was any more, but tell me why I was disappointed when he told me he just couldn’t make it work with his schedule?

After showering, I get dressed in a short white dress which probably isn’t a good idea considering I’ll be around food and coffees all day, put a bow in my hair, and scrutinize myself in the mirror.

I’ve been through a lot to get here and I’ve grown a lot too. Some days, I don’t even recognize the person in the mirror, I was a different person for the last 3, nearly 4 years, but here I am today, the woman I probably always would’ve been if I hadn’t made one seemingly small decision way back when, it just took me a while to get there.

I can hand on my heart say, that while I still have some things to work on, I wouldn’t be where I am today without this town and its residents; I owe them a lot and I’m happy that my cafe will contribute to the town in some way.

We’re doing a soft launch today, only opening from 9-2 for friends and family, preparing for a full 8-5 day tomorrow, so I head downstairs getting everything turned on and ready.

I head downstairs and get started on today’s bakes and prep and just over an hour later I’ve got everything proofing and labeled and as ready as it can be. I told Lennon to be here at 8 so we can go over some last minute details before opening, we will have to be on our A game today as it’s just the two of us. I’ve been able to hire a pastry chef who’ll be moving in to town in the next couple months but unfortunately for the next while, I’ll be busy cooking and baking every morning.

Just as I’ve pulled the last batch off cookies from the oven, I hear a knock at the cafe door. I’ve decided that I should keep it locked now that we’re actually going to be open for business.

I wipe my hands on my new apron, courtesy of Alex, and flip the lock, opening the door to see Lennon and Fred on the other side. I’ve never seen him look quite so dapper, wearing a brown and white dress shirt which isn’t abnormal but today he’s paired it with a bow tie and dress shoes instead of his usual beat up sneakers.

“Well, don’t you look smart,” I say, opening the door wider for them to come in.

“It’s a big day, kid. Gotta look my best.” He grabs something off the floor I hadn’t seen before, a large bag, bringing it in with him.

“Well, you’re just a little early.”

“He was here even before I was,” Lennon says, side stepping the two of us and heading back into the kitchen, the smell of her signature perfume trailing behind her.

I will forever be grateful for Fred, always being so supportive despite me using the space his wife once used and I don’t know anyone else except my Gran who would be here for me like he is.

“You’re not gonna set me up with a tea, kid? I would’ve thought I could wrangle that out of ya, at least.”

I watch as he places the bag down on the floor and sits at the corner table, the one wedged between the shelves Brooks made that I’ve now filled with old books that the bookstore couldn’t get rid of and the counter. Close enough to be able to chat with me over the counter while I make his tea.

“What’s in the bag?” I ask, placing his tea down in front of him in one of the new mugs. It feels monumental dropping this off to him. He’s technically the first customer and I take a second to soak in that after everything, I’ve made it.

I wait as he messes with the bag by his feet, leaning my hip against the counter.

“You’ve already seen it, but I added a little something,” he says, passing it to me.

I take the gift out the bag and it’s heavy, awkward to hold. I peel the tissue paper off to find the painting Fred’s wife had done, the one I’d promised to hang. The space on the wall is still empty, I was still planning on getting this up I just never had the chance to go and grab it. Although a new frame has been added and it’s an exact match to the shelves beside us.

“Turn it over.” Fred instructs and I do and I see an inscription on the back.

Summer, may your time here be as full of joy as ours was.

It’s in Fred’s chicken scratch and he crossed out the word joyful which was mispelled to write full of joy and I can feel a burning in my eyes.

“Yours to keep, even if you get rid of the place.” He motions to the rest of the room. This isn’t just him giving me a painting to hang in the cafe, it’s him giving me the painting as someone special to him.

“Fred…” I say, tears filling my eyes, my vision going blurry, “thank you so much.”

I place the painting down delicately and lean over to give him a hug, squeezing his neck tight.

“You’re welcome, sweetheart.”

Our moment is interrupted by Lennon walking through the swing doors, “These cookies are bomb, Summer,” she says, voice muffled by the cookie still in her mouth. “What flavor are these?”

“Vanilla butterscotch,” I answer, setting the painting against the wall, planning to hang it later.

Lennon starts making an espresso, now that I’ve trained her to do so which took multiple days and excruciating hours. I’m glad she’s feeling at home here, that’s something I always wanted from my staff if I ever had them, it gives me a warm feeling inside that I can provide that place for her and hopefully any future customers too.

We’re at the end of the day now and it feels like the majority of the town has taken it’s turn walking through here. All but the one man I hoped would come, but I push that thought to the back of my mind.

Many coffees have been drunk and as soon as midday hit, it turned to tea, pictures were taken, laughs were shared and I even had to make an emergency cookie batch, though I’m pretty sure Lennon had been eating most of them.

I clink a glass with the a knife, grabbing the attention of the room. The final hour of our launch I had dedicated to having the people here who helped me get this place up and running so that I could prepare a small speech to thank them all for their help.

“Woo! Speech!” Stevie calls from the table by the window and it brings a smile to my face. It’s felt more like a party today than a fully functioning cafe, the people of the town standing and mingling with each other, coming up to the counter to chat but I wouldn’t have had it any other way and it’s one of the reason why I’m so excited to give them their surprise.

I look at the faces in the crowd, from the Taylors and their daughter, to Alex and Gray, Archer and his friends in the fire department, Fred, all looking at me expectantly.

“I just wanted to say thank you to everyone here, without your guys’ help, not just with the cafe but with my move, I never would’ve been able to do this. Everyone here has played a big role in my life these last couple months and this her,” I say, gesturing to place. “Is all for you.”

I place the glass down, and grab the little discount cards that I’d had made with everyones names on, out of the little pocket in my apron. When Brooks first came to the cafe, he mentioned something about everyone helping me even though no one had a clue who I was, they were angry words, but he was right, and it got me thinking about what I can do to give back to them.

“These cards,” I say, going around the group, handing one to every person here. “Are for you guys to use here as a way of saying thank you. So… thank you!”

Just as I reach the last table, a couple of guys from the fire department sitting in the two upholstered chairs by the door, movement in the doorway catches my eye. I look up to see Brooks, leaning against the door frame, tattooed arms crossed, with the most delicious smile on his face.

I don’t even notice when one of the guys takes the card from my hand.