I'dmade up my mind. The whole damn thing was going in the trash. The diner hadreal coffee. I lifted my head to shoot Candace a fake grateful smile, but shewas leaning over the counter, watching me expectantly, shifting her gazebetween the cup in my hand and my face as she waited for me to take thatever-important first sip. It was the doe eyes that did me in. She could havehanded me a cup of molten lead and I probably would have drank it if she lookedat me like that. It was impossible to say no. Josie was in trouble for the restof her life.
Handquivering, I brought the cup to my lip and parted the sea of foam with the tipof my tongue, hoping to actually get some coffee in the first sip. If it stilltasted good, maybe I could flick the shit off the top and still salvage my drink.
Neverjudge a book, or a coffee, by its cover. As soon as my tongue tasted thefloating confection, I was hooked. The shaker must have had crack init. Candace smelled like sunshine; the fucking coffee in my hand tasted like sunshine. I could feel itswarmth on my tongue as sweetness shined down from the heavens on the earthierflavors beneath.
Forthe first time in my life, I licked my coffee like a goddess damned ice creamcone. Candace giggled at my indiscretion. I was an addict and I probably lookedstrung out as caramel dangled from my lip down my chin.
"Holyshit."
"Good?"
Imoaned in response and tried to guzzle the overly hot beverage, burning my lip,tongue, and throat, but not caring in the slightest.
"I'dlike to change my order," said the woman beside us. "I want one ofthose!"
Jasonnudged me to get going with his hip. "Come on. There's something I want toshow you."
"What?'
"Thatwould be telling you. I want to show you."
"Okay,Mr. Surprises." I huffed and let him lead the way back to the store andinto the office. He took a sip of his coffee and set it down on the edge of thedesk. "Holy shit."
"Iknow right?" I almost set mine down, too, but that would have made it hardto keep drinking.
"That'sreally good," he said and pulled a printed sheet of paper off a stack ofothers. "This is what I wanted to show you."
"Whatis it?" I took it with my free hand and looked at the extraordinarilylarge numbers.
"Profitand loss. The first column is how much in sales we've brought in. The second iswhat we spent, not counting the initial investment and stocking costs. Thethird column… That is your profit."
Myeyes widened and I whistled in surprise. It was almost ridiculous. I'd almostmade enough in the first few weeks to pay off the renovations to the building. Ina month or two, the initial stock would be paid for. His calculations includedrent and all the other operating expenses. By the end of spring, we mightactually be pulling a profit. It was astounding and…unnatural. The store wasalways busy, but just looking at the numbers almost each and every person thatcame into the store walked out with a hefty purchase. "Woah."
"Exactly.The place is doing amazing."
Notwanting to jinx it, I smiled and stroked the wall, whispering, "Thank you,"to the building around us. Something akin to pride and love flowed into myoutstretched fingers.
ThenI did the same to Jason's chest. "Thank you, too. This place wouldn't bean eighth of what it is without you. You areamazing, you are perfect, and I'm keeping you forever."
Heblushed furiously and suddenly became very interested in the froth on his cupof coffee, unable to meet my eyes.
"Allright, I'm outta here." Grabbing my coffee, I planted a quick kiss on thestill smiling Jason's lips and headed for the door.
"Havefun."
"Idoubt it," I answered with a chuckle.
Chapter 13
"I do not see why you insist onmeeting in this less than sanitary establishment when we both have perfectlygood, clean, houses. We could have even met atyour office inside that biblio-nightmare across the street." Mother lookedaround the diner disgustedly and waved her hand in the direction of thebookstore.
"Youdon't like the bookstore, Mother?'
"Yourmother doesn't like anything, Child. What did you want todiscuss?" Nana slid into the booth and smiled at me across the table.
"Thatis untrue, Mothersaurus. I do love a nice hard–"
"Blockof cheese," I finished for her and shot her a dirty look as Marge ambledup behind her. "Sit, Mother."
Shehumphed and did as I asked, sitting nextto Nana.
"Mornin',Ladies. Tea, Cathleen?"
"Please,Margaret."
"Coffee,Dot?"
"Coke,actually. I had a coffee at the store." I instantly regretted my words.Marge shot me a look like I'd slept with Herb. The utter look of betrayal wasmore of a guilt trip than I ever got from my own mother. "Onsecond thought, give me a coffee. I had one of those floofy things they try topass off as real coffee. I still need a jolt."
Shebeamed. "Never understood people's fascination for overpriced coffeeflavored cocoa drinks. Silly, if you ask me."
Ihad never understood it, either. Until I tried the Unicorn Jizz. Witch's Tit.Whatever. It was sparkly and nummy, and I would definitely order again. "Youand me both." I agreed to make peace.
"Andfor you, Your Highness?" She shot my mother an evil glare.
"Whateverweeds you plucked from the parking lot and try to pass off as tea, Dear."
"Mypleasure," Marge answered, sneered, and headed for the kitchen.
"Whatthe fuck happened between you two?" I blinked in disbelief. They'd neverbeen chummy, but that was a far cry from open hostility.
"Imay have mentioned that someone forgot to remove the saddle before grinding thepoor animal into Salisbury steak."
"Youwhat?"
Nanastarted chuckling.
Motherlooked at me like I was an idiot. I mean, that's how she usually looked at me,but even more so than usual. "I told her that the Salisbury steak tastedlike horse."
"That'snot all," Nana said with a bray of laughter.
Iput my face in my hand and rubbed my eyebrows vigorously. "What did you do,Mother?"
Shesighed. "I may have mentioned that it was a coincidence that her husbandwas a coroner…and that's where he and Midge met…"
"What?"
Nanawas crying and waving her hand in front of her face.
"Youknow. The morgue, Daughter?" Mother picked upa menu and started perusing the specials.
"Atable for
