Coffee Shop

Chapter 6

After school detention sucks. Amelia got lucky though, she only has to stay for ten minutes because the guidance counselor knows her home situation in a way.  Amelia drives to pick Greyson up from school. She watches as he hops in the car silent.

"Hey is everything okay bub?" Amelia looks at him worriedly in the rear view mirror. 

"Yeah. I'm just nervous about the teacher talking to you. I don't want you mad at me." Greyson responds quietly.

"Buddy, I'm not mad. I came by at your recess to tell you I was late but got intercepted by your teacher. She's not mad at you either. She just wants you to succeed. Everything's going to be fine okay? I just need you to do all of the homework you can at the café tonight okay? I'll help you finish it on my break."

"Okay." Greyson said. Amelia could tell he perked up a little bit though. She parked the car and grabbed his hand walking in the café. She led Greyson over to her table and noticed Benjamin was sitting there again. She rolled her eyes but still sat him down. 

"Alright Greyson. Sit here do your homework I'll get you something to eat when I go on break okay?" Amelia searched Greysons face. She was worried about him and her job. "I'll be back out in a few minutes okay. Let me grab your drink." She tussels his hair and walks away. Closing the fridge door she turns around to find her boss staring at her.

"Listen, I'm sorry for being late but-" Amelia stops as her boss holds his finger up.

"Amelia, I know you play the role of a mother to him. You do what you have to do. Most Moms won't even show up if something has to deal with their child. He's a good kid and you you're a great older sister for doing what you do. I want to start training you to be the café manager. Ronnie just stinks at his job and you you're amazing. I watch the tapes too. You do Ronnie's job as is. It's yours if you want it okay? I don't want to overwhelm you but you'll keep the same hours you have I'll just be training you instead. There is a pay increase. Normally it's only a two dollar raise but you....I'm giving you a five dollar raise. You'll be making fourteen an hour. You deserve it. Let me know okay? I'm leaving for the night. Take care." He gives her a pat on the shoulder as he leaves. 

Amelia can't believe her ears. She's been promoted. What he's offering is a great considering the situation. Of course she's gonna take it. She'd be an i***t not to. Amelia walks to her table with Greysons drink in her hand. Squatting down she looks at his homework. 

"Are you gonna be okay for now? I'll check on you periodically." Amelia speaks to him quietly. She didn't need Benjamin overhearing her. Bad enough he's here but this table is the easiest to see from the counter so now her little brother has to sit here.

"Yeah, I'll be okay. Thank you." Amelia goes to walk away when Greyson stops her again, " Did you get in trouble because of me?"

Amelia squats down next to Greyson again, " No bubba I didn't. My boss is very lenient with me. In fact he gave me a promotion but I can still hang out with you. Did you know you're my favorite little brother in the whole world?" Amelia is smiling at him.

"Yes. But I'm you're only brother so that doesn't really count." 

"Well then that's why you're my favorite then. I have no one else to love as much." Amelia kisses the top of his head as she keeps an eye on Benjamin. He doesn't seem to have overheard anything but who knows. Any thing is possible lately.

A couple hours go by before Amelia decides to take her break. The café has been pretty dead this afternoon and she has finished all of the preparation work for tomorrow, covered for Ronnie again, and washed the cups and restock the to go containers. She deserved a break. She makes a burger with cheese stuffed inside and mashed potatoes for Greyson. She grabs his other drink from the back fridge and walks to the table. She stops for a second as Greyson jabbers way with Benjamin. Frustration eats away at Amelia. She just can't seem to keep her personal life away from him. Hopefully, Greyson didn't say too much to him.

"Greyson here. You're favorite. You're lucky you're my boss's favorite employee's sibling. He keeps food back there just for you." Amelia beams as Greyson sticks his tongue out at her.

"Thank you Amie. I just have to do a family tree now. But I need construction paper and markers and crayons and pictures and stuff for it. Will you help me with it when we get home?"

"Of course I will. Why wouldn't I?" He smiles at her answer. She looks up and sees that Benjamin is watching them. She raises her eyebrows up hoping he'll get the hint to mind his business. 

"Hey Amie, " Greyson starts and swallows his food, " Ben helped me with my math homework. He's really smart."

"Um...okay. Do you kind of understand it now. I know the last time it was all fractions, but when I spoke to your teacher earlier she said you had to find the equivalent decimal." Amelia was starting to get really mad. He helped Greyson without even thinking it might not be okay.

"Yeah. He let me borrow his calculator and showed me how to find the equivalent. It was pretty easy." Greyson kept on talking and eating.

Amelia looks at Benjamin debating her next move. "Thank you Benjamin for helping him. I would have done that when I got home tonight."

Benjamin nodded his head as if it wasn't a big deal. For Amelia it was. Her personal life was being, practically, thrown onto this new kid in town. He didn't grow up here. He didn't need to know about her life.

Greyson started talking about what happened at recess today. He was so excited and you could see that he wasn't feeling any stress. It made Amelia feel good. She was doing what she had to in order for her brother to have an easy life. Amelia looked at her phone saw a text from Caterina and replied quickly.

"Greyson, Cat is going to take you home and help you with that family tree project tonight. You can show me though when I get home." 

"Yay! I like Cat." Greyson states. 

"I know you do." Amelia chuckles, " remember the rules okay. Be good for her. I don't want a bad report when I get home. I love you. Finish eating and pack your stuff. She'll walk you to me when you're about to leave." Amelia walks back behind the counter and takes a non- fat soy latte double chocolate caramel grande order with three pastries. Caterina brings Greyson up to the counter to say bye. Amelia watches for a few short minutes as Cat gets him in the car and takes him home- to finish playing Mom.