Page 20 of There’s Trouble Brewing

Mark laughed, gesturing for her to join him at a table in the back. “Coffee people aren’t mysterious. That’s why I brought this.” He opened the bag, releasing a cloud of diner smells—eggs, bacon, pancakes, and a couple of other items she couldn’t quite distinguish.

“Okay, so on that note, it’s lucky I have all these extra coffees to go with our food.” She picked up two of the abandoned cups and took them over to the table.

Emily watched Mark spread out their assortment of choices, a quiet warmth spreading through her as she took a seat across from him.

“Thanks,” she told him with a grateful smile. She felt a strange flutter at how simple and right this felt, sitting across from him and sharing breakfast.

“Didn’t want you to faint mid-training,” he teased, passing her an empty paper plate so she could pick out her favorites.

Emily shook her head gently, touched by his thoughtfulness. His kindness was like a soothing balm, and she couldn’t help but be moved by it. Perhaps it was the delicious breakfast spread before them, or perhaps it was the joyful company they shared, but she found herself beginning to feel truly at home within this chaotic, not-quite-finished space that seemed to pulse with charm and promise. As she settled into the chair across from him, her eyes lingered on his, and a grateful smile played upon her lips.A feeling of rightness washed over her as if she had unknowingly wandered into something rare and beautiful—an unexpected gift that had been waiting just for her.

Mark grinned. “Ready to try my masterpiece?” he asked, holding up a forkful of scrambled eggs with potatoes and hot sauce like it was a work of art.

“I think you mean J’s masterpiece.” Emily took the fork and let their fingers brush for a second longer than necessary. She couldn’t help the small smile that spread across her face as she took the bite.

His next offering was just as delicious as the previous. The biscuit was a flake away from crumbling, but Emily couldn’t let go, even when Mark’s fingers touched hers. A tiny shock ran through her, familiar and new at once. He didn’t pull away. If anything, he leaned closer, his eyes deep and steady on hers, daring her to say this was something else. His hand brushed her cheek, and the world shrank to the warm hum of their corner.

Then the door chime pierced the air, a shrill announcement that they weren’t alone. Nancy strolled in, oblivious, and Emily’s heart did a quick nosedive as she and Mark jolted apart.

Nancy waved, hanging her jacket behind the counter. “Morning, you two.” Her voice bounced off the walls, too loud for the moment she had just walked in on. Emily felt the heat rushing to her face.

“Morning,” Mark greeted in return, clearing his throat and looking at Emily like he wasn’t sure if he should laugh or apologize.

She wanted to say something light, something that would make everything normal again, but the words stuck. “You’re early,” she finally managed, hoping she didn’t sound as breathless as she felt.

Nancy shrugged, tying her apron like she hadn’t interrupted anything at all. “Thought I’d get a head start. Can’t wait to try that fancy new recipe you were teaching me yesterday.”

Emily nodded, the space between her and Mark now feeling like an entire ocean instead of a few inches. “I should get back to work,” she said, half to herself, half to Mark.

He gave her a look that was a mix of understanding and amusement. “Me too,” he said, standing and gathering up the breakfast remains. Their eyes met for a long moment before Emily turned away to go coach Nancy.

It wasn’t disappointment she felt. Not exactly. But as she did her best to move back into training mode, she couldn’t help wondering if they would ever get the moment right for a kiss or if it would always slip away.

The training with Nancy went smoothly; her eagerness to learn made Emily’s job easier. The energy in the shop shifted as they practiced pouring techniques, the air filled with the scent of rich coffee drinks. Despite her older age, Nancy was a quick learner, catching on to each new trick with a bright smile that energized everyone around her.

As they wrapped up a session on milk frothing, the door chimed again. This time, it was Sue and Bryan who entered, their expressions contrasting starkly. Sue looked calm and focused, ready for the day, while Bryan seemed tense, his small brow furrowed.

Emily greeted them both cheerfully. “Good morning.”

Bryan barely muttered a response as Sue said, “Hello.”

As they started working through the mistakes from the coffee booth, tensions escalated quickly. Sue accidentally bumped into Bryan while reaching for a filter, and his reaction was sharper than necessary.

“Watch it. You’re always in my space,” he snapped at her, pushing the filter holder onto the counter with more force than needed.

Sue’s eyes widened in surprise. “I’m sorry, Bryan. I didn’t mean to upset you. It was just an accident.”

But Bryan wasn’t having it. “It’s always ‘just an accident’ with you,” he retorted heatedly. His frustration was palpable, echoing off the walls. “And you think you can get away with it because you’re the teacher’s pet.” He gestured between Emily and Sue with frustration.

Emily stepped in swiftly, sensing that things could spiral out of control if she didn’t intervene. “Hey, hey,” she said softly yet firmly, placing herself between them. “Let’s take a breath here. We’re all on the same team.”

Bryan’s shoulders slumped slightly as he looked away. “Maybe this job isn’t for me,” he muttered, the edge of resignation in his voice hinting at a deeper turmoil.

Emily reached out and gently turned him back to face her. “Look at me, Bryan,” she said calmly. “We need you here. You’re doing a great job learning all this so quickly.” Her words were genuine. Bryan had shown a great deal of potential despite his current frustration.

“It doesn’t feel like it,” he mumbled, avoiding her gaze as he crossed his arms over his chest.

“It’s not always going to be easy or perfect,” Emily continued, keeping her tone encouraging. “We all make mistakes—that’s how we learn and get better together as a team.”

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