Page 4 of Brandt's Rule

“You know what? I’ll try to do that. But you’re here for a reason, and it’s not to uplift my self-esteem. What’ll you have?”

“What do you suggest?”

“Fancy or regular coffee?”

“Surprise me.”

“Favorite flavor?” the girl asked.

“Vanilla. Oh, and caramel. Caramel is my most favorite.”

“Hot vanilla macchiato with caramel overtones and crispy caramel flecks in the whipped cream, coming up.”

Tempest’s mouth fell open and she looked at the girl, her eyes filled with wonder. “Is there a hotel nearby? I think I may move in just to have that all the time.”

The girl laughed. “I’m Bailey. It’s nice to meet you.”

“I’m Tempest. Nice to meet you, too. I’m new here, so I’m glad to make a friend.” Tempest watched while Bailey made her drink, then seemed to think about it for a moment before making a second one.

Bailey turned back to her and handed her both. “I prefer frappes, all the time, even in the winter. But it’s cold as hell out there, so I made you the macchiato, too. See which you like better.” Bailey placed them both on the counter top in front of Tempest.

Tempest picked up the hot coffee and sipped it. “Ohhh, this is good.”

“Isn’t it?” Bailey asked.

Tempest set it down and picked up the frappe, sipping it through the straw. She paused and her gaze met Bailey’s, then she sipped again and again.

“And we have a winner. Caramel Frappe it is!”

“Oh, I’ll drink both, but I’m definitely leaning toward the frozen one if I have a choice.” Tempest dug some cash out of her jacket pocket and handed it to Bailey.

Bailey rang her up for the coffees, then handed her her change.

“Oh, you know what? Let me have one of those breakfast sandwiches, too, if you don’t mind.”

“Sure thing. Which kind?”

“Doesn’t matter. As long as it’s filling.”

Bailey handed Tempest a sandwich and waved away her offer of money. “It’s on the house.”

“Thanks,” Tempest said, unwrapping her sandwich and starting to eat it right there at the counter.

“How long you planning on being in town?” Bailey asked.

“I’m not sure. I’m trying to track down a friend of mine.”

“If you’re here long enough, would you mind going to the hair salon with me so the stylist can see your hair color? I’d really like to duplicate it, or at least something like it. It’s gorgeous.”

Tempest smiled at Bailey. “Sure, I’d be happy to. Not sure if we can duplicate it, but I’m sure you can get something similar.”

“That’s all I ask,” Bailey said happily.

Tempest ate her breakfast sandwich and sipped her frappe as she listened to Bailey describe the town and all it had to offer. Which according to Bailey wasn’t much, but was so much more than it had before thanks to a couple of decades of intense growth.

“What caused so much rapid growth?” Tempest asked, not really caring but trying to be polite and show interest in her new friend’s stories.

“A hurricane. Big one came into the mouth of the river and devastated parts of New Orleans. A lot of people decided to just move north rather than rebuilding once the insurance companies paid off. All the small towns north of New Orleans and its suburbs have doubled if not tripled in population and business growth. It’s how me and my family ended up here.”

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