“Not to hate on Cindy or anything,” Margret, one of my regulars, whispered conspiratorially, leaning in just enough to make it feel like a secret, “but you do make the best vanilla latte here.”
A soft chuckle escaped me as I shook my head, glancing at the steaming espresso machine in front of me. “Thank you, Margret, but you should just tell her exactly how you want it. I’m sure Cindy will help you out—she’s getting better every day.”
Margret rolled her eyes and waved her hand like she was swatting away a fly. “Nonsense. We can’t have her putting you out of work, now can we?”
With everything going on in my life lately, it was comforting—no, it was grounding—to be back at Cookies N’ Coffee. Being behind the counter again felt like finally exhaling after holding my breath too long. It fel
