Page 18 of All You Need Is Macchiato

"You're just in time." Evie appears with perfect timing, as always. "I've set up coffee and treats in the garden room." She turns to call over her shoulder. "Nolan? Our guests are here."

I watch Nolan approach, suddenly nervous about these two parts of my life colliding. But Jake's already stepping forward, hand extended.

"So you're the marketing genius I keep hearing about." His grin is infectious. "Kathryn mentioned your event ideas. Pretty impressive stuff."

"All part of the job." But I catch Nolan's pleased smile as he leads us to the garden room.

The space takes my breath away—all windows and natural light, with mountain views on three sides. Flowers bloom in copper planters, and a coffee service waits on a rustic table.

"This is perfect for what we want to show you." Sophia pulls something from her bag—a photo album. "The evolution of our Wishing Wall."

"Evolution?" Nolan settles into a chair beside me, close enough that I catch the scent of pine and coffee.

"It started so small." Jake accepts a cup from Evie, who's definitely not hovering with poorly concealed interest. "Just sticky notes on a wall. People writing down things they needed or dreamed about."

"Like what?" Nolan leans forward, and I find myself watching his profile.

"Everything." Sophia flips open the album. "A single mom needing help with yard work. A teenager wanting guitar lessons. An elderly man hoping someone would read to him once a week."

"And Jake here," I add, "started making them come true."

"Not all of them." Jake's modesty is genuine. "But enough. Connected people who could help each other. Before we knew it..."

"The whole town was involved." Sophia's voice warms with memory. "People would come in just to check the wall, see if there was something they could do. It became this beautiful cycle of giving and receiving."

"Show them the Thompson wish," I say, and Sophia flips to a particular page.

"Sarah Thompson, age eight." She points to a photo of a sticky note in childish handwriting. "Wished for someone toteach her to read better because her mom worked two jobs and couldn't afford a tutor."

"What happened?" Nolan asks quietly.

"We found a retired teacher to work with her." Jake smiles. "Now Sarah's top of her class, and her mom brings us coffee cake every Sunday."

I watch Nolan study the photos, his expression softening. "And corporate was okay with this?"

"More than okay." I pull out my tablet, showing him the numbers. "Customer loyalty skyrocketed. People came for coffee and stayed for connection. It transformed our whole shop."

"Into what?"

"Into what Coffee Loft is supposed to be." I meet his eyes. "A place where community happens."

Something shifts in his expression. "And you think it could work here?"

"I think it's worth trying." I gesture to the album. "Look at these stories. These connections. Elk Ridge deserves that kind of magic."

"Magic?" His tone is teasing, but his eyes are serious.

"You know what I mean."

"I do." He studies a photo of a wall covered in colorful notes. "But Cam?—"

"Will be a challenge," Jake interrupts. "I’ve seen it with other managers. Change scares people, especially people more concerned with bottom lines than human connections."

Sophia touches my arm. "You'll face resistance. We certainly do. But when it works..."

"When it works," Jake finishes, "it's like watching a whole town remember they're part of something bigger than themselves."

I feel Nolan shift beside me, his arm brushing mine. "You really believe in this, don't you?" he asks softly.

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