Page 4 of Fake It True

She rounded the table to sit across from me. “I want to say something like she lives on in your heart and all that, but thatwon’t take away the grief. Even if she does live on in your heart, which I truly believe, you still miss her,” she said, her eyes soft.

I blinked away my tears and took a swallow of my coffee to wash away the scratchy feeling in my throat. “That’s exactly it. I know she’s in my heart. When you love someone like that, a piece of them is always there. It’s not the same as being able to call her up, to hug her, or text her some silly meme that makes us laugh.”

Luna was quiet, her eyes understanding. “If there’s anything I can do…”

Her words trailed off when I shrugged. “Thank you for listening. It helps a lot to know that somebody understands. Grief can feel lonely sometimes.”

I sensed maybe she thought she needed to wait in case I needed to keep talking. “Thank you for listening. I know you have work to do. We’re in the awkward conversation moment,” I teased lightly.

She rolled her eyes, and I glanced at the clock. “Oh! I need to open!” I exclaimed.

Galvanized, I raced out to the front, calling over my shoulder, “Thank you for the donut!”

As soon as I turned on the lights in front and tapped the button so the open sign was illuminated, a customer came walking in maybe a minute later. I was relieved to be busy. It wasn’t as if I would ever reply to that text, but every time I got one, it brought my sister into sharp focus inside. Someday, maybe, I would find a way to tell my parents the whole truth but right now I was busy being fake-engaged after I had fled my small town in coastal North Carolina to come here.

When people asked me why I moved to Alaska, my answer was honest. Alaska was a bucket list place for me.

“Casey!” Janet came into the front and stopped beside me at the counter, curling her arm around my shoulders and giving me a squeeze.

I absolutely loved all the friends I was making here. I couldn’t have known it, but the day I drove into town and happened to stop here for coffee was fortuitous. It had been late enough in the evening that Janet had been about to lock up. When I told her I just got into town, she offered me a job on the spot. When I asked for recommendations for a place to stay, planning to crash at a hotel and bleed through my savings, she set me up in her rental apartment next door to the café. She’d leaned across the counter and whispered to me, “I don’t advertise it and you look like you need a place to stay.”

Inside of the first hour I’d been in town, I had a good job and a cute apartment that was fully furnished. I loved this little town.

When I glanced toward Janet, emotion crashed through me. Maybe it was the text that set off my memories of my sister, fresher than I wished they were, maybe it was the conversation with Luna, or maybe it was just Janet, who was about the kindest person I’d ever met. Janet’s motto was she liked her café to feel like a family, but a healthy family. We even had paid leave and health insurance, which kind of shocked me. Janet had explained that she had organized a cooperative nonprofit for insurance where small businesses like hers could sign up and the collective reduced the rate for everyone. Janet was smart and awesome like that.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

My meandering thoughts snapped back to the moment. Nowthatanswer was complicated, but I didn’t have time to go into it because a group of firefighters came in, and Leo was with them.

“I was just thinking how lucky I am that I stopped here for coffee the night I drove into town and that you let me in even though you were about to close,” I replied.

Janet’s eyes twinkled as she flicked her silver and black braid off her shoulder. “Well, I am so glad you walked in that night. It worked out for both of us.” She nudged me with her elbow and smiled at the group approaching the counter. “All right guys, let’s make it efficient. We have some tourists coming in hot behind you.”

“Just give me all the donuts,” Hudson teased as he stopped at the counter.

“I can’t give you all the donuts,” Janet said.

“I have four dozen ready,” Luna called, peeking over the door with a mischievous smile.

“Luna says you have four dozen,” Hudson teased with a brow waggle.

“I know that, but other people like them too, and I like to keep my customers happy,” Janet said firmly.

“We understand,” Beck chimed in. “Can I carry the box if I pay?”

Janet rolled her eyes with a good-natured grin, and I began getting various coffees ready. The firefighters were all local and usually came in almost every other day. I knew most everyone’s preferences.

Leo caught my eye while I was prepping drinks. Janet was getting them various baked goods and Luna was chatting with Beck, who was trying to persuade her to be a personal baker for him and Maisie.

When I had Leo’s coffee ready, I passed it across the counter. His fingertips brushed mine when he took it from me. That subtle touch felt like a flame leaping from him to me, scattering sparks over my skin. His blue eyes held mine long enough that heat blazed through me.

“So, I’ll see you next week?” His tone was low, just for me to hear.

“Yep!” I chirped. When his lips kicked up at one corner in a half smile, butterflies massed in my belly, spinning in a swirl while my lungs ceased working altogether.

“Casey?” Janet’s voice punctured the haze in my thoughts and I jumped. “Um, yeah?”

“Hand me Griffin’s coffee,” she said, laughter lacing her tone. It was obvious she was repeating herself.

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