Page 10 of Steadfast

Ducking back inside the shop, she quickly counted as she ran her fingers down the stack of paper cups and plucked a few off the top. She boxed up what was left of the cinnamon rolls, nabbed a pair of tongs, and threw a stack of napkins under her arm. She lifted the carafe of hot coffee she had recently filled from the coffee maker. Balancing it all, she backed her way through the door. She was thankful for her ever steady hands as she set the cinnamon rolls and other items on a wooden cafe table, relieved to have not dropped a single item.

Oakleigh picked up the tongs and clicked them twice, preparing for the rush of dwindling tourists ravenous for the shop’s popular treats.

Serving each one with a smile, she saw the customer’s expressions of dismay and annoyance replaced with grateful delight. Oakleigh plated the last cinnamon roll and handed out the final cup of coffee when she heard the reassuring rumble of the blue ranch truck pulling into the parking spot reserved just for Maeve.

“All right, that’s it.” Throwing her hands in the air, Oakleigh signaled that they were all sold out for the day. She was pleased to see that the majority were happily snapping pictures of their cinnamon rolls before enjoying their first sweet bite. Quickly sweeping away what remained of the impromptu food pop up, she untied her apron and hung it on the hook. She locked the shop’s door firmly behind her with a quick jiggle of the handle, ensuring it was secure.

Oakleigh used all her strength to pull open the stiff door of the truck. Its idling engine was now marked with a loud knocking sound that she couldn’t imagine was a positive development. She secured the seatbelt across her chest and gave the buckle a hard shove until it clicked firmly in place. She said a little prayer that it would hold in case of an accident, but she still had her doubts.

“Thanks for doing this, Maeve. I know you’re super busy.”

“You looked pretty busy yourself,” Maeve commented. “What was that all about?” Backing the truck out of the parking spot, Maeve forcefully pulled the stiff steering wheel, turning the truck toward the edge of town.

“They’d been waiting out there forever. I felt bad,” Oakleigh glazed over her words as she watched the blur of trees out her window. The leaves were turning just the slightest tinge of orange in the recent cold snap. Oakleigh knew if she had been in their shoes, she would have wanted to feel like she mattered. “I’ll make up the profits at the next live music night.”

“You know I’m not concerned about profits,” Maeve replied. “I trust your judgment.”

She knew the coffee shop was more of a passion project for Maeve, a piece of nostalgia that meant a lot to her for reasons other than business, but she still wanted it to succeed.

Oakleigh’s phone chimed loudly with a text.

Crew — typing…

Hey love, checking in.

I haven’t heard from you all day.

Even though Crew hadn’t officially said the phraseI love you, he often peppered the word into the conversation in a way that made Oakleigh’s heart thump in her chest. They both knew how they felt about each other, but it had become a lighthearted standoff as to who would say it first.

Oakleigh was determined to win.

Oakleigh — typing…

I’m driving with Maeve to the airport.

Be back soon with a surprise.

She curled her fingers into a fist under her cheek as she propped her elbow on the rattling truck window. Her eyelids felt heavy and threatened to drift closed, but were jostled open with every violent bump in the road.

“Is this thing getting worse?” Oakleigh’s exhaustion let her thoughts dislodge and spill out before she could reign them back in.

Maeve responded with a playful gasp, clutching her imaginary pearls around her neck.

“Don’t you talk about her like that.” She gave the dashboard a gentle pat. “She can hear you.”

“Oh great—now it’s aher?” Oakleigh’s eyes narrowed, causing Maeve to burst out in laughter. The lighthearted banter between the two women boosted Oakleigh’s mood ever so slightly.

After a lengthy silence, Maeve pivoted to pressing matters. “We’re headed into the rainy season, you know,” she said, keeping her eyes firmly on the road. “Something’s telling me it’s going to be a bad one, too. Do you think Mia can help out a bit?”

“I’m not sure.” Oakleigh’s response was noticeably clipped. She and Mia hadn’t even spoken to each other in months, and she felt the anxiety over her arrival getting the best of her. Being so disconnected from her prior chapter of life gave her an unsettled feeling over what to expect. After Shayna’s recent post, she couldn’t help but feel like Mia owed her some answers before they could rekindle the deep friendship they had enjoyed for so many years.

With the side of her face pressed against the cold glass of the window, the loud gallop of the diesel engine lulled Oakleigh to sleep. The brief nap was definitely not long enough to leave her refreshed, but it did help pass the time on the lengthy drive through the rural backwoods.

Before she knew it, they arrived at the small country airport with just a single terminal. Oakleigh inhaled deeply, giving a deep stretch as she straightened in her seat.

“That was quick,” she said, pinching the bridge of her nose. She still felt the nag of the tired ache behind her eyes.

“Time flies when you’re drooling all over my window,” Maeve teased, the corner of her lip curled into a smile as Oakleigh’s mouth gaped at the accusation.

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