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New Owner

Celeste Vamos

The SUN Café - 10:30am

Ms. Santerclaire is gone. And by gone I mean dead.

A police officer just dropped the news on me. Shocked is just an understatement for what I am feeling now. Suddenly questions starts flowing in my head.

"What am I going to do?"

"How am I going to afford rent and most especially taking care of my daughter?"

"According to her lawyer, she left this behind for you." The officer said handing me an envelope . This brought me out of my thoughts, but did not clear the confusion. "What is this?" I asked. The office shook his head indicating he had no idea. " Here take this", he said offering me a business card and leaving me to process everything.

Apartment -7:30pm

Locking the café Was part of me now. Ms. Santerclaire entrusted The keys of the café to me. Usually the café at 10:30 PM but on Fridays, the café closes at 7:30 PM. Everybody including Ms. Santerclaire clocks out at 6:30 PM, but I stay 15 minutes more to clean and close the café. New York begins to get cold in October. It’s been exactly 5 years since I move here. After locking up the café, I made my way home. Upon reaching home, I made my way my neighbor’s door to pick up Alaina, my daughter. When I first arrived in New York, I knew nobody and had nowhere to go. All I had was my bag , my life packed into two suitcases and 50 dollars. I made my way to a bus station and I bumped into Mrs. Creakson and the rest is history. She took me in and helped me get a job. She even introduced me to Ms. Santerclaire. She let me stay with her till I was ready and able to stand on my own to take care of my daughter and myself. Lucky, at that time too, the apartment next to her happened to be vacant and needed new tenants and it fitted my budget for a month considering how pricey the apartment looked. Mrs. Creakson took care of Alaina after she came back from school. I pick her up when I close from work and I save a ton of money in this rather than hiring someone I do not even know. The door was opened by Augustine, her son.

"Hey" he said greeting me with a smile.

"Hey" I replied returning the smile.

"Where are they" I asked referring to Mrs. Creakson and Alaina.

He smiled leading me to Mrs. Santerclaire’s room "Alaina wanted to bake you some pastries but we’d run out of flour. My mom suggested they write down what they would need to make it so tomorrow they purchased . I went to attend to a call but before I left they were doing just that. I came back thirty minutes later to find them like this". He said as we entered the room, both of them were cuddled up fast asleep. I stare in awe . I’m not even complaining they looked so cute but sadly it was time for my baby and I to leave. Just as I was about to move to pick up Alaina, Mrs. Santerclaire woke up. She looked up and spotted me. She nodded her head to me after giving Alaina a kiss on her forehead.

Making my way to our apartment I bid both of them good night. Ally was already dressed for bed and upon all the movement, she did not wake up. I put her to bed in her room and kissed her good night. I made my way to my room and take a shower. Later, as I lay in bed memories of today’s event comeback flashing. Suddenly the thought that never crossed my mind finally did. "What was going to happen to the café and why haven’t her children been to the café?". As these comes to mind, suddenly I remember the envelope and the business card that was handed to me today.

I checked the time and the lawyer’s closing hours were not yet over. Thank goodness.

I dialed the lawyer’s number and after 2 rings he picks up.

"Hello’ . I say

"Attorney Collins speaking" a voice answered.

"My name is Celest Vamos and I was asked to give you a call. I was also given an envelope that is said to have been left by Ms. Santerclaire for me".

"Ah, yes yes, I’ve been expecting your call. Ms. Santerclaire spoke highly of you. He said.

"She did?". I asked surprised.

"Yes". He confirmed.

After multiple conversations I asked

"Now that she is no more, what is going to happen to us her employees and the café most especially?"

"I take it as you have not opened the envelope right?". He asked awaiting confirmation.

"Yes I haven’t why?"

"Well because Ms. Santerclaire left SUN in your name making you the new owner". Please be at my office at ten thirty pm on Monday to complete the paperwork in order for every other detail thing to be finalized legally.