Page 1 of Vow Of A Fox

1

SIENNA

The espresso machine hissed, sending up a swirl of steam as I wiped the counter beside it. My cousin Cassie was across from me, double-checking her inventory list. She looked so calm and focused.

This coffee shop was definitely her happy place.

“Let’s add an extra container of decaf vanilla, just in case,” she said, nodding to herself as she wrote it down. “We almost ran out last month, and I’m not about to aggravate Pastor Elton again and receive one of those looks he gives. I swear that man can see right into a person’s soul.”

“Pastor Elton and his precious decaf.” I chuckled. “No one should be that attached to caffeine-free coffee.”

Cassie grinned while wrinkling her nose. “I know, but it’s good for business.”

“True,” I said.

Not that this place needed any help in that department. The Caffeinated Fox was practically a town landmark, and Cassie had earned her place as its beating heart after taking it over for her mom, Regina, a few years ago. I was only here temporarily, filling in for Annette—who’d decided to stay home with her kidsafter finding out she was pregnant with her third—until Cassie hired someone else. It was supposed to be a quick favor, but I wasn’t sure ifa few shiftswould turn into something more permanent.

It wouldn’t be such a bad thing.

After all, Cassie was easy to work with, the tips were nice, and it wasn’t as though my dog grooming business was thriving. Getting the word out had been more of a challenge than I’d anticipated.

Another customer made their way to the counter, grabbing my attention, and I stepped up to take their order while Cassie finished making her inventory list.

“Hey, what can I get you today?” I asked the elderly woman.

I’d seen her around town but couldn’t remember her name. However, I did remember her weird tortoiseshell purse and the stories that came with it. My heart started beating triple time as I wondered if the old woman had something to give me.

That was what she did—she gave things to people.

Gifts.

Sometimes it was actual trinkets and others it was the gift of advice. As I stared into her pale blue eyes, I wondered which she might give me today.

“Hello, dear,” the old woman said. “I’ll have a pumpkin spice latte. I’d like to see what all the fuss is about.”

A little late to the trend, but okay.

“Sure. One pumpkin spice latte coming right up,” I said, trying not to gag.

I hated pumpkin spice. Give me apple anything all day. That was the original flavor of fall.

“Hey, Ms. Lynette,” Cassie greeted the old woman, making her way to the counter. “How are you today?”

Ms. Lynette.

Yep. That was her name.

“I’m good, dear. Out and about today,” she said with a smile. “Figured I’d try one of those pumpkin spice lattes I see everyone raving about all the time.”

Cassie went ahead and made one for her while I rang her up.

“Let me know what you think,” Cassie said, placing it on the counter.

“Thank you, dear,” Ms. Lynette said, and then her attention shifted back to me. “I almost forgot. I came here to give you something.”

I blinked. “Me?”

Ms. Lynette set her latte on the counter and rummaged through her tortoiseshell purse. “Yes. Ah, here it is.” She pulled out a phone charger and set it on the counter. “You’ll need this.”

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