Page 74 of Fanning the Flames

She peeked through the glass door at the empty unit. A long counter along the wall to the right, ample space for tables and chairs, a place for a nook in the back that’d be perfect for a couch…

Her heartbeat quickened. The too-white color scheme didn’t work with the exposed brick walls. With warm earth tones and pops of color, this could be really cozy.

She shielded her eyes to stare at the counter. An image flashed in her mind of herself standing behind it, handing a to-go cup to a customer. And there was a case of fresh bakery goods. And she was smiling—grinning and happy because this washers.

She stepped back and studied the outdoor space. Two small tables could easily fit on both sides of the door. And a doggie station with a little container of treats and a large water bowl for hot summer days. She could make a super-cute open/closed sign to hang in the door. And oh, the kitschy sayings she could write on a sandwich board to draw customers in.

And this street! Decent foot traffic. Car traffic that was busy but not hectic. Joanie and Mark could park Hot and Cold in front and easily make a killing. Perry could open an art gallery nearby.

Tears pooled in her eyes. This was Sadie’s Café.

Elation surged through her chest, followed by reality squashing it down. This was too perfect a location. The rent had to be ridiculous. What was the cost of everything now that Quake was back?

She shook her head, wiping at her eyes, and forced her feet to move. Then stopped and turned.

Sunlight burst through the clouds, brightening the whole street. Highlighting the perfect place she’d been dreaming of for years and years.

Don’t discount it, Sadie.

She had financial backers ready to invest. Maybe nobody would want to start a new business during heightened Villain activity. Maybe she could get a good deal. Perry could negotiate for her—he’d probably really enjoy that. And Joanie would support her every step of the way. Give her reassuring hugs when things got hard, the way Sadie did with Hot and Cold.

Do it. Call to get more information.

Just a phone call. Gather data. Laugh when the landlord or realtor or whoever told her the exorbitant cost.

She walked back to the—well, to Sadie’s Café. Dialed the number on the sign before she lost her nerve.

Voicemail kicked in for a woman named Lorraine at the management company. “Uh, hi. Hello. My name is Sadie Eagan. I’m calling to inquire about the retail space available in Knollwood Village. The—”Don’t say super cute, that sounds unprofessional.“—space at 1007 North Hampton. It looks like it would meet the needs for my current project.”

There, that was profesh.

Then she grinned and couldn’t help gushing, “Okay, I know this sounds some kind of way, but this is exactly what I’ve been looking for. I think it would fit my needs for a coffeehouse I’ve been wanting to open for years. I’d love to get more information from you, and possibly schedule a tour.”

She left her phone number, then said, “I look forward to hearing from you.”

She ended the call and squealed, dancing in a little circle.You did it! Way to go!

It probably wouldn’t amount to anything, but…

No, she had to stay positive on this one. This was it. This was Sadie’s Café, and she had to push past her fear. She had the support to get through it.

Joan had been brave enough to start a whole new life, and was brave every time she interacted with the Supers.

Time for Sadie to be brave, too.

* * *

Joan didn’t think she’d ever been to Vector City Coffee without Sadie there. But Sadie was working with Mark that afternoon to keep their food truck going. Trying to connect with Greta had been hit and miss. Grets had picked this day and time and place because it was—as she put it—neutral ground.

She paused outside the entrance to make sure her phone was silenced. Zee had been texting about helping them gain access to some of the seedier spots of the city. There had been a flurry of Villain activity last night. Squawk had shattered almost every window at City Hall, and Ether basically shut down the airport with funky skies.

Mark was most likely going to help Zee out, even though Joan had told him it was a bad idea. Anyone recognizing him would be no bueno.

No one was listening to her lately. The Supers just wanted Villain intel. Perry was still being weird and cagey about why Gus wouldn’t stay for dinner. That was something to dig into another day.

Sadie had gone all the way to the Village without her yesterday. It was great that she was excited about finding a perfect location for her café, so Joan had to bite her tongue and not freak out. And then bite her tongue again when Sadie mentioned this morning that Greta actually left the other night because she was on to Joan’s Super meeting.

She knew why Sadie hadn’t told her, even before Sadie explained. The ex-Villain and thief needed one another.

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