Coffee Wars - Free Excerpt # 2

Coffee Wars - Chapter One, Part Two

April pushed pastries around in the display case, cramming the extras she retrieved from the refrigerator in with the others. After squeezing the last one into place, she set the tongs down, brushed her palms on the back of her jeans, and headed toward the front window.

Christina’s gaze followed her sister. As had become customary, a group of people stood on the sidewalk across the street, waiting to get inside Expresso. She thought she recognized two in the group as previous regulars at May’s.

Buddy inched up beside April. “What’s happening over there?”

“The same thing that’s been happening since they first opened. They’re packed with customers, and we’re not.”

“Well, don’t worry. You and Christina will be the last ones I fire if I gotta start laying people off.”

April shot Buddy a dirty look, but he missed it. He was too busy craning his neck, ogling the goings-on across the street.  He nodded his head again and again.

“What’s with the head bobbing?” April asked him.

“I’m counting how many of our regulars have jumped ship.”

April turned and walked away.  Behind the counter, she snatched up a clean rag, shoving it under a raging stream of water from the sink. With an angry flick of her wrist, she shut off the faucet and twisted the rag in her fists. “Are you really thinking about laying people off?”

“Not really, but now that we’ve got competition, it’s a possibility.” Buddy walked behind the counter and plucked a large cold cup from the stack next to the register. “Don’t you worry, though, April. I’ve got an idea to bring the customers back.”

“And what’s that?” Christina asked from her perch in front of her laptop.  She couldn’t wait to hear what dumb idea Buddy had come up with.

Apparently, April didn’t care if she heard or not because she slapped the damp rag onto an empty tabletop and started wiping away.

“The back patio,” Buddy told them. “I’m going to spruce it up and make it a place for customers, too.”

April stopped her manic scrubbing to glare at Buddy.  He wasn’t fazed, though.  In fact, he didn’t even seem to notice. He finished making his drink, stuck a straw in the cup, and took a sip.

April finally spoke. “Is that your idea of a joke, Buddy? Because, if so, it’s a bad one.”

Buddy took another sip. “Nope. No joke.”

“Buddy, you can’t do that,” April said.

“Why not?”

“Because recreational weed is illegal and letting the customers smoke weed is crazy. It’s bad enough you let the employees smoke back there.”

“Smoking weed is not a bad thing. It’s a good thing. Besides, it could be legal soon enough. I’m just getting a head start. Trust me. The customers will appreciate it. Don’t you think so, Christina?”

Christina lifted an indifferent shoulder.

April’s mouth dropped open. “Christina, you can’t think it’s a good idea.”

“It’s a terrible idea, but it’s probably the only chance May’s has to survive.”

April turned on Buddy. “How can you still be so irresponsible when you're in your fifties? You’re too old to keep acting like a child.”

“How can you be so square when you’re still young and in college?” he snapped back.

“Up yours, Buddy.”

“Careful, April, or I’ll change my mind and fire you.”

April slapped the rag on the table. “You know what? Don’t bother. I quit.”

“Are you serious?” Christina said as her stomach knotted.

But before April could answer, Buddy said, “Good riddance. You and your responsibility this and responsibility that. It really brings me down.”

In a huff, April gathered her belongings and stomped out of May’s. She bypassed her car to cross the street on foot. Christina’s heart sank as she watched her sister walk into Expresso. Then she sighed. Probably for the best, Christina thought. April’s intensity would fit in better at Expresso.

© 2024 Beth Pontorno