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At breakfast the next morning, Zoe whipped up a poster on the laptop.
“It looks pretty good.” Zoe pressed Print. The whir of the printer started.
Annie stared in fascination at the paper coming out of the device.
“Brrt?” She jumped up on the kitchen table and pawed the white piece of paper.
“We’re offering half price coffees on Tuesday,” Lauren told Annie as she chewed on her granola.
“Maybe we’ll get some new customers.” Zoe showed Lauren and Annie the notice.
Half Price Tuesday!
Half price coffee, tea, and hot chocolate between ten and eleven Tuesday morning.
Tell your friends!
“We should see if we can post one at the senior center,” Lauren suggested.
“That is genius,” Zoe replied. “I know we told them about it at the meeting, but maybe there are members who weren’t able to attend. Now they’ll find out they can get a discounted latte!”
“Let’s go after we close today,” Lauren said.
“Good idea. And then I’m going to research bead jewelry online.”
“And I’m going to read my book.” Before she got ready for her date with Mitch.
Soon after, they opened the café. Zoe stuck one of the posters in the window. “This is sure to bring us some customers on Tuesday.”
Lauren hoped they would be extra busy that day, but also hoped her feet wouldn’t be as worn out as the day they’d run the half price protestor special.
The morning passed by in a blur. When she wasn’t serving customers, Lauren thought about her upcoming date with Mitch.
“I’m pooped!” Zoe flopped on the stool behind the counter. The last customer had left and they’d made quick work of cleaning up.
“So am I,” Lauren admitted as she locked the door. She was also starving.
“I can’t believe so many of our customers asked about the new Tuesday specials.” Zoe beamed. “I bet it’s going to be huge!”
“Good thing we’ve got plenty of coffee beans, then.”
“I’d love a mocha right now, but I can’t be bothered to make one,” Zoe confessed.
“I know the feeling.”
“Brrt?” Annie padded to the door leading to the cottage.
“We have to go to the senior center to put up a poster,” Lauren told her as she unlocked the door. “But when Zoe and I get back, we can relax all afternoon.”
“Brrt!” Good.
Annie trotted down the private hallway and pushed her way through the cat flap.
“Let’s get going.” Zoe heaved herself to her feet and grabbed a brown paper bag from behind the counter. “I saved us two paninis for lunch.”
“Awesome.” Lauren smiled. Now she and Zoe didn’t have to prepare anything for lunch.
They jumped into Lauren’s car and drove to the senior center.
“We’ll just ask Barry – or whoever’s on duty – for permission to put up the poster, and then we can go home,” Zoe said as Lauren parked in the lot.
Only a few cars were there, including the minivan.
“Maybe they don’t have any scheduled activities right now,” Zoe mused as they entered the building.
“Hello, Lauren, and Zoe.” Barry suddenly appeared in front of them, wearing a button-down gray shirt and brown trousers. “What can I do for you?”
“We’d love it if we could put this sign up about our Tuesday specials.” Zoe thrust the flyer at him.
“Of course.” Barry scanned the notice. “Sounds like a good deal for our members. We can pin it up on the board.”
They followed him down the hall until they came to a large corkboard covered with posters for upcoming events.
He tsked as he took down three flyers. “Out of date. I don’t know what Denise does when she’s on duty. It’s her job to keep this board current.”
“Oh,” Lauren murmured.
“Maybe she’s been busy looking into crowdfunding,” Zoe suggested.
“Maybe.” He sounded doubtful. “It was a good idea of yours, Zoe, but I just don’t know how feasible it would be. We would need a block of land close by so all of our members can still attend. I can pick up folks, but if the new center is too far out, it’s going to cost more in gas. But let’s see what happens.”
He pinned their notice to the board. “There. I’ll make sure our members see your offer.”
“Thank you,” Lauren said.
“So what are you two up to for the rest of the day?” he asked. “You didn’t bring Annie with you?”
“No, she’s having a break right now,” Lauren replied.
He chuckled. “I will be too, in a couple of hours. In fact, I’m going to get my vegetable patch ready to plant some spinach and Swiss chard.”
“Really?” Zoe looked surprised.
“I love gardening when I have time for it. And if I have any surplus veggies, I bring them in and share them with our members.”
“That’s very kind of you,” Lauren said.
“What else am I going to do with them?” He shrugged. “A lot of people my age grew up on home grown fruit and vegetables, but now it’s not so easy for them to grow their own food. At least this way they’re still getting vitamins and minerals from fresh veggies.”
He escorted them to a large room that had comfortable looking sofas and armchairs.
“This is our library,” he said proudly. Oak bookshelves lined the walls. “We have a lot of gardening magazines and books if you two are interested in the subject.”
“Thank you, but I don’t have much time for gardening because of the café,” Lauren said. She hadn’t even mowed her lawn lately – Mitch had done so.
“But we do have an herb garden,” Zoe piped up.
“Wonderful.” Barry beamed, then his expression changed. “What is this doing here?” He picked up a fashion magazine from the coffee table near them. Underneath were gardening magazines.
“Problem?” Zoe asked.
“Denise again.” He shook his head. “She knows I like to keep the magazine topics separate from each other. The fashion magazines belong on that coffee table over there.” He gestured to the other side of the room.
“I can take it over there,” Zoe offered.
“Thank you.” He placed the magazine in her outstretched hand. “I’m sure Denise does these kinds of things on purpose.”
“Really?” Lauren frowned.
“I think she’s always wanted my job.” He chuckled without mirth.
“But she’s retiring soon. Just like you.” Zoe zoomed back from the other side of the room.
“She is?” Barry’s eyebrows rose. “How do you know that?”
“Oops.” Zoe unzipped her lips.
“We don’t know for sure what Denise’s plans are,” Lauren hurriedly said, giving Zoe a warning glance. “Do we?”
“That’s right.” Zoe nodded vigorously. “Not for sure.”
“If she’s leaving, then I need to know about it.” Barry frowned. “So I can advertise for a replacement.”
“You might be retiring before she does, though.” Zoe put in.
Barry seemed disgruntled at the thought.
“We’d better go.” Lauren nudged Zoe.
“Yep. Thanks for letting us put up our poster.”
They waved goodbye and hurried out of there.
“Me and my big mouth.” Zoe shook her head as she jumped into Lauren’s car. “I hope Denise doesn’t find out what I let slip just now.”
“Me too.”
***
THAT NIGHT, LAUREN and Mitch had dinner at the Italian restaurant at Zeke’s Ridge.
Over their meal of lasagna and mushroom risotto, she told him she’d finally finished knitting her scarf.
“That’s great.” He smiled across the table. “Why aren’t you wearing it? You’re going to show me, aren’t you?”
“Of course,” she replied, warmed by his interest. She’d debated wearing it that evening, but had eventually decided it didn’t quite go with her teal dress. “I’ll show you back at the cottage.”
“I’ll hold you to that.” His dark brown eyes were warm.
Yes, she was totally going to knit him a scarf for Christmas – one that didn’t have any holes in it.
Afterward, Lauren enjoyed watching an action adventure movie with Mitch. The seats were plush and comfortable, and his arm around her shoulders was reassuring. The theater was only half full, and she had a great view of the screen. She was a little sorry when the movie finished, and their cozy cocoon was no more.
Mitch drove her home and walked her up the porch steps.
“Come in and you can see the scarf,” she told him.
He followed her inside, her senses attuned to his close proximity.
There was no sign of Zoe and Annie – were they hiding somewhere, spying? Or were they going to jump out and surprise them? Sometimes she wouldn’t put anything past her cousin.
“It’s in here.”
He followed her to the living room.
The garter stitch scarf lay across the sofa.
“Brrt?” Annie asked sleepily. She was curled up next to the woolen garment.
“Hi,” Lauren said softly.
“Hi, Annie,” Mitch said.
“Brrt,” Annie replied. She studied the two of them for a moment, then closed her eyes, as if dozing off again.
“Here it is.” Lauren picked up the scarf and wrapped it around her neck.
“It’s good.” His smile was full of approval.
“It is? But there’s a hole here, and one there.” She felt compelled to point out the mistakes. “And another one down here.” Her finger jabbed at the annoying error.
“You put a lot of effort into it,” he told her. “Don’t be so hard on yourself.”
“I’ll try,” she promised.
He leaned in to kiss her. Zoe’s faint giggle down the hall barely registered.
***
ON MONDAY, THE ONE weekday the café was closed, Lauren and Zoe visited the handmade shop.
“Oh, look.” Zoe swooped toward the bead section. “Orange, and pink, and red – and yellow! How am I going to choose?”
Lauren barely heard her, because her attention was focused on all the different types of yarn. Should she buy pure wool, a wool/acrylic blend, or just acrylic? She wanted Mitch’s scarf to be warm and cozy, and not scratchy.
“Hello,” a woman with curly brown hair greeted them. “Zoe, do you need any help?”
Zoe explained her bead jewelry dilemma, adding that Lauren needed to buy some yarn to make her boyfriend a scarf.
The clerk recommended to Zoe that she start off slow, only buying what she needed immediately, and helped Lauren choose a wool/acrylic blend yarn that was soft and snuggly, in a fawn hue.
“Mitch is going to love it,” Zoe assured her as they left the shop.
Lauren peeked into Zoe’s paper bag. Her cousin had chosen pink and gold beads, some leather cord wire, and a silver clasp.
“I think you’re going to make an amazing bracelet,” Lauren told her.
“I hope so.” Zoe grinned. “Maybe this will be my new thing.”
***
THE NEXT MORNING, LAUREN and Zoe sat down to breakfast extra early.
“It’s good that you called Ed yesterday and asked him to work an extra hour this morning.” Zoe grabbed the slice of whole-wheat that had just popped up from the toaster and slathered butter on it.
“I didn’t want anyone to be disappointed if all of his pastries sold out quickly,” Lauren explained. “But ...” she paused “... what if our half price specials today are a big flop?”
“Then we can offer Father Mike the left-over pastries and cupcakes,” Zoe replied. “I’m sure he can put them to good use.”
Lauren nodded as she crunched on her granola.
“But I bet it will be a huge success,” Zoe continued. “Just like our half price special for protestors was last week.”
“Brrt?” Annie wandered into the kitchen. She jumped up on the wooden chair next to Lauren’s and peered at the cell phone next to the bowl of granola.
“We’ll be opening the café soon,” Lauren mumbled around her cereal.
“Brrp.” Annie hooked her paw around the phone and brought it toward her. “Brrp!” She pressed a button.
“What are you doing?” Lauren’s eyes widened.
“Brrt, brrt, brrp!” Annie spoke to the phone.
On the other side of the line, a faint “Mew!” sounded.
“Who are you talking to?” Lauren glanced at the screen.
“Who?” Zoe leaned across the table.
“She’s called Ed,” Lauren replied.
“You mean she’s called AJ.” Zoe giggled. “How is AJ, Annie?”
“Brrt.” Good.
“Mew, mew, mew!” came from the phone.
“Who is this?” Ed’s gruff voice sounded from the other end.
“It’s Annie,” Lauren called out. “She’s saying hello to AJ.”
“I’ll be at the café in a few minutes, Lauren,” Ed spoke. “AJ’s fine. She’s really settled in.”
“That’s great,” Zoe shouted toward the phone.
“Ed has to go, Annie.” Lauren indicated the phone. “Do you want to say goodbye to AJ?”
“Brrt, brrt,” Annie said.
“Mew, mew,” AJ replied.
***
“I CHECKED AT THE VET’S again yesterday,” Ed told them when they arrived at the café. A tray of apple Danishes was already in the oven. “No one’s reported a missing kitten matching AJ’s description. And nothing in the lost and found newspaper column either. So I’m keeping her.”
“Awesome!” Zoe grinned. “I bet Annie will be happy to hear that.”
“If she doesn’t know already,” Lauren said. “Maybe that’s what she and AJ were talking about over the phone.”
“Tell Annie she can call AJ anytime.” Ed smiled – a rare occurrence. “If I told anyone what I’d heard, I don’t think they’d believe me.”
“Unless they knew Annie was involved,” Zoe said.
***
THEIR HALF PRICE COFFEE specials were a big success. Lauren and Zoe were slammed with customers the minute the clock hit ten. A lot of them were members of the senior center.
“Hi, gals.” Martha appeared at the Please Wait to be Seated sign, pushing her walker. “Where’s the cutie pie?”
Annie trotted over to greet her. She patted the black seat of the walker. “Brrt?”
“Hop on!” Martha slowly pushed the walker toward the tables as Annie kept her balance on the seat. “Tell me where to sit.”
“Brrt!”
Ms. Tobin, Hans, Mrs. Finch, and Father Mike visited. So did Denise and Barry. Annie had directed Martha to a large six seater, and had chosen which customers could sit with her. This included Denise, Father Mike, and three ladies that Lauren recognized from the party at the senior center.
Martha talked and laughed with her tablemates, occasionally jotting things down in her notebook.
“I told you today would be successful.” Zoe beamed with pride as she surveyed the full café. They’d made lattes and cappuccinos practically nonstop for the last hour.
“Luckily Ed made extra pastries.” Lauren surveyed the empty glass case that usually held the cupcakes and pastries. Only three cupcakes remained. “We’ve sold them all so far.”
“But he’s got two more batches in the oven,” Zoe told her. “And I’ve already put our names on two of them.”
“Good thinking.” Lauren smiled.
She glanced over at Martha’s table. Barry stood next to the senior, talking to her and the others at the table. Martha wrote something down in her notebook, then said something to her tablemates, laughing as she did so.
“I wonder what Martha’s up to?” Zoe followed Lauren’s gaze.
“I hope she’s not investigating the murder.”
“But I think we should,” Zoe said. “Let’s talk about it later today.”
The morning raced by. Some of the customers lingered, opting for a second coffee at full price, even though Lauren offered them the half price discount again.
Lauren and Zoe got a short break at lunch, when they were able to cover for each other. They weren’t as busy; Zoe reasoning that some of the lunch crowd came during the morning instead so they could get a bargain coffee.
Lauren knew without counting the receipts that they’d made a decent profit that day already.
She had a quick lunch in the cottage, making do with some toast, fruit, and the pastry that Zoe had earmarked for her.
When she came back from her break, Annie dozed in the cat bed. Only one-third of the tables were occupied.
“You could have taken longer,” Zoe told her as Lauren joined her behind the counter. “It’s been pretty quiet.”
“After this morning, I don’t mind fewer customers.” Lauren eased onto the stool and wiggled her feet.
“Maybe we could do this every week – or every second week,” Zoe suggested. She gestured to the tip jar next to the register – it was stuffed full with dollar bills and silver coins. “Ed and I are going to be very happy today.”
Since Lauren owned the café, she didn’t think it was fair she took a share of the tips. She paid Zoe and Ed a decent wage, and the tips were a little extra for them.
“I guess I’d better be going, girls.” Martha pushed her walker to the counter. “I must owe you a lot of money. I had a good time here today.” She looked over at the cat bed. “I think your cute gal is all tuckered out, though.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed yourself.” Lauren found the bill.
“I’ll definitely come back.” Martha handed over some cash. “Half price lattes is a great idea. Everyone’s talking about it at the center.”
“Awesome!” Zoe beamed.
Lauren opened the door for Martha and watched her trundle out of the shop.
“Bye.” Lauren waved to her.
Martha waved back, then pushed the walker forward down a slight incline. The walker kept rolling forward. Martha’s mouth opened in surprise as she struggled to keep up.
“Help! I can’t stop!”