Page 35 of Steadfast

“Mia, I’m going to tell you something, and I don’t want you to freak out,” she said, bracing her friend with a steady tone. “This—is just what we wear here.”

“Well, whatever,” Mia murmured. She used the edge of the bed to hoist herself up, struggling to her feet in her tall high heels. She dusted off the back of her flowing jumpsuit, “This house is fabulous, don’t get me wrong, but there sure is a lot of dirt everywhere.”

“Yeah, it’s a ranch.” Oakleigh could already feel herself bristle once again at her friend’s onslaught of criticism.

They made their way out of the house and climbed into the G-Wagon. Oakleigh pressed the ignition, and the engine began to purr. A heavy silence draped between them, and Oakleigh could feel the unease building in her chest as she drove into town.

“Look, I know you’re frustrated,” Mia finally spoke up. “I guess I just don’t understand why you’re still here—doingthis,”Mia gestured out the window toward the coffee shop as Oakleigh pulled the car into her reserved parking spot. “You are a global influencer, Oaks. Crowds packed your dad’s church just to hear you speak. You wrote a book.” She shook her head, giving Oakleigh a look that begged a response.

Oakleigh flung off her seatbelt. Drawing her fingers across her brow, she closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose.

How am I going to say this in a way this girl is going to understand?

She steeled herself, keeping her tone even and calm. “Because I didn’t really do any of those things, Mia,” she muttered, nearly under her breath.

“How was that again?” Mia asked, leaning closer to hear what her friend had to say.

“You and I both know,” Oakleigh said, annoyed that she had to increase the volume of her confession, “I didn’t write that book. Yes, I spoke in public, but those weren’t my words. They were written for me by my dad’s team.”

“Even still, you don’t seem happy, Oaks,” Mia said, scrutinizing her intently through her big designer sunglasses.

“Mia, it’s not this that’s making me unhappy.” Oakleigh threw her hand in the air, dramatically gesturing to Ruth’s Coffee Shop in front of them. It was still dark inside, with the doors locked and the bigClosedsign in the window.

“Then whatismaking you unhappy?” Mia asked. “Please, Oakleigh, I’m genuinely concerned.”

“It’s—” Oakleigh bit her tongue, restraining all of the harsh words she wanted to flip at her friend, like –you wouldn’t understand because you haven’t had to work a day in your life. Oakleigh sighed, saying a quick prayer, reeling in her feelings before she spoke.

“It’s nothing, Mia,” she replied. “Really, I’m fine.”

Avoiding Mia’s glance that was loaded with skepticism, she knew she had been entirely unconvincing.

She fumbled with her jangling keys until she finally found the one that would open the shop door. Pushing it into the lock, she twisted the key with a loud, satisfying click. Mia followed as Oakleigh pushed the door open with the usual loud jingle. She flipped on the lights, illuminating the cafe that would be transformed into church that evening.

“It’s crazy that you meet in a coffee shop,” Mia remarked. “When is the new building finished?”

Oakleigh thought about it and perked up, remembering the white binder of interior options. “Which reminds me,” she chimed, “Maeve has a project for us to work on. I think it’s going to be fun.” Oakleigh lost her train of thought entirely as she noticed Mia pull a red apron off the hook.

“Are you planning to bake cinnamon rolls?” she commented with a smirk.

“What else is there to do? I can’t just sit around,” Mia answered, raising an eyebrow as she held up the large apron by the loops, trying to figure out which way was up.

“We should golive.” Oakleigh’s eyes twinkled with amusement. Her followers would go wild to see Mia Hollister, the glamorous heiress, working alongside her at the coffee shop. She took the apron loop with two fingers and presented it to her right side up.

Mia gave Oakleigh a sheepish yet grateful glance as she pulled the apron over her head and tied it behind her waist.

A loud jingle at the front door brought their light banter to a screeching halt. When Oakleigh turned to see who could possibly be arriving so early, her eyes went wide with surprise.

Standing in the doorway was Audrey, the annoyingly chatty, overly friendly barista that Oakleigh had replaced the year before. Audrey’s brown hair was pulled into a ponytail, and she wore jeans and a red knit sweater.

“Wow, has this place sure changed!” Audrey said, examining the new decor from floor to ceiling.

“Why are you here?” Oakleigh felt her words snap. She corrected and pivoted to Mia. “I mean, this is Audrey. Sheusedto work here.”

Audrey pulled an apron off the hook, “Well, I’m home from school, and I ran into Miss Maeve the other day at Murphy’s, you know, the cattle and feed store—”

Audrey rambled on and Oakleigh could feel her strained patience pushed to the limit.

“Can you just— ?” Oakleigh inhaled sharply, adjusting her tone and bringing her words to a slow crawl. “Why are you here, at the shop?”

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