Page 165 of Suck My Puck

“You’re amazing, Bella.”

“Everyone is gonna love this place.”

“We’re thrilled for you.”

I walk over to the entrance and open the door. The crowd turns to me.

Heart pounding, I smile at them. “Welcome to Maizie’s Coffee, everyone!”

Two hours later, the place is packed. Every table and chair in the shop is taken and there’s a line of people out the door waiting to order.

I finish taking a customer’s order, then hand off register duties to one of the full-time employees I hired.

I restock the napkins, refill the container of lemon water, and put more freshly baked chocolate chip cookies into the display.

I spot Braden and his teammates standing in the back room, drinking coffee with Maya, Ingrid, and Sophie. I walk over to them.

“You guys are allowed to sit down. Especially after all the work you did helping me open this place,” I say to them.

Xander shakes his head. “We don’t want to take up a table from customers.”

I pat his arm. “That’s really nice of you guys.”

“Bella, honey!” I spin around and see my mom and dad walk in. Braden and I walk over and hug them.

“Honey, this is amazing!” Mom’s eyes are wide as she gazes around the crowded shop.

“First day and look at how well you’re doing,” my dad says.

I smile. “Thanks, guys. And thank you for coming today.”

“We wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Mom says, holding my hand.

“Just like we wouldn’t miss one of this guy’s games.” Dad nudges Braden’s shoulder. Braden smiles.

My parents adore Braden. My mom thinks he’s the sweetest guy in the world, and my dad has become a hockey fan because of him. He always makes sure he’s home to watch Braden play during the Bashers’ games.

We visit with them for a few minutes before I jumpback into coffee shop duties. I spot Braden taking out the trash and wiping down the tables. I mouth “thank you” at him. He winks at me. For the next half-hour, I’m busy whipping up coffee orders.

Ingrid’s mom Amy and her friends arrive and stand in line to order. I take a few minutes to chat with them and thank them again for all the support they’ve given me.

When the line is just a handful of people, I run to the back to grab a snack. Braden walks up to me carrying a massive vase of flowers.

I gawk at the huge assortment of pink roses, peonies, and Gerbera daises.

Braden looks around the flowers at me. “My dad had these delivered to you for today. He says congratulations.”

I smile. “That’s so nice of him. I’ll be sure to tell him thank you when we see him this weekend.”

Braden’s relationship with his dad has been slowly improving. They’ve talked on the phone a handful of times since they reconciled right after Braden’s surgery. And he’s come to Braden’s games a few times to cheer him on.

He accepted a coaching job with the AHL in Victoria, so navigating the distance has been difficult, but I can tell it means a lot to Braden to have his dad in his life. He’s visiting us next week and asked if he could take us and my parents out to dinner.

I make room on the back table for Braden to set the flowers down.

“Are you excited to see your dad?” I ask.

He lets a small smile breaks free. “Yeah. It’ll be nice to catch up with him.”

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