Page 6 of Doctor Neighbor

"Yes, but you know we always say, Steele was worse than the dogshit on the bottom of my Doc Martens, but the one good thing he did was to give you Maddie."

"Good point. I have to remind myself of that. Then I know I would never change any of it. Thanks, friend, I needed that."

"Still, it's shitty that Buster disappeared after that. You don't deserve anyone to treat you like that, Coles."

I give her a weak smile. "Thanks. Seeing him today, after all this time. It brought it all back, you know? It's probably just the circumstances that made it all feel so raw and emotional."

Sunday, August 4

I hold Maddie's hand as we walk down the path to the mailboxes. The morning air is crisp, a welcome change from yesterday's oppressive heat.

"Mommy, can we get ice cream later?" Maddie chirps, skipping along beside me. “Now I want to get the other flavor since I got bubblegum yesterday.”

“Sounds ambitious. We’ll see, sweetie. Let's check the mail first."

I fumble with my keys, my mind still foggy from last night's wine and conversation. The mailbox creaks open, and I reach inside.

"Bills, bills, junk..." I mutter, flipping through the stack. My hand freezes on an official-looking envelope. "Health Department?"

My stomach drops. I tear it open, scanning the contents.

"Mommy, what's wrong?" Maddie tugs at my shirt.

I force a smile. "Nothing, honey. Just boring grown-up stuff."

But inside, I'm reeling. Violations? How? I've always been so careful.

We head back to the apartment, my mind racing. I settle Maddie with her coloring books and retreat to the kitchen, spreading the letter on the counter.

Health Inspection Report for Brewed Awakening

Inspection Date: July 15, 2024

Inspector: John Early

Location: Brewed Awakening Cafe, 22076 Main Street, Birmingham, AL

Owner/Operator: Cole Johnson

Findings:

Improper Food Storage Temperatures:

Several items in the refrigerator were stored at temperatures above 41°F.

Cooked and raw foods were stored together without proper separation, increasing the risk of cross-contamination.

Certain perishable items were found past their expiration dates.

Inadequate Food Labeling:

Items in the walk-in cooler and freezer lacked proper labeling and date marking.

There is no clear separation between allergens and non-allergens, posing a risk to customers with food allergies.

Poor Sanitation Practices:

The refrigerator was not cleaned properly, and there was visible mold and food residue.

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