Page 2 of Mountain Bean Dream
I propped a hand on my hip. “Well, I’m sure he’d been in other things, but that’s what I know him for.”
“Cool. Thanks for the help.”
“Yeah, no problem. If you need any more assistance, just holler, but I’m only here for a little while longer.” My workday was nearly done.
Wednesdays were the best, mainly because I only had a four-hour day. Start at seven (or in my case 7:20 today), done by eleven. It gave me time to run errands and occasionally meet my boyfriend for lunch, if he was off shift.
However, today I was going to surprise Derek and arrive unexpectedly at his work.
It was our two-month anniversary, and I had ordered flowers for him to mark the occasion. Two months was a big deal for me. In all my twenty-five years, of which only six could truly be stamped with the so-calleddating years, hitting the two-month milestone had only happened a couple of times.
Derek was different. He was older, a doctor at the hospital, and seemed to check all the boxes I wanted:
Educated.
Smart but not in a chest-puffed-out, egotistical way.
Owned his own place (aka, didn’t live with his parents).
Good-looking, bordering on handsome.
Had a slight accent since he was from Newfoundland.
Funny with a dry wit that I didn’t always catch, but he did make me laugh on occasion, which was important in its own way.
He seemed to like me for who I am, notwhoI am. He only knew me as Molly, the small-town barista.
And he wasn’t someone I expected to connect with, sinceI wasn’t sure how long I was planning on staying in Jasper.
The door to the Coffee Loft opened, and as I glanced at my smart watch—right on time—in strode a woman carrying a beautiful bouquet of flowers in a big cardboard box, all wrapped in clear cellophane. My package had arrived.
“Molly Griffith?” She read off the paper receipt.
“That’s me.” I scooted past Elliot and over to the lady, lifting the box. It was bigger and heavier than I had anticipated and had nearly cost me a day’s salary, however, Derek would love it. I hoped. The flowers were in some of his favourite colours, except for black. The floral shop didn’t carry black flowers and dead ones didn’t count.
I set the package on the table beside Jeremy and signed the delivery receipt, handing the unit back to her. “Thanks a latte.”
The sharp rise of her eyebrow indicated she was not a frequent guest of the Coffee Loft.
“Would you like a coffee for the road?” I asked.
“No, thanks.”
“How about one of our pastries?” Like a game show model, although the furthest thing from that, I swung my hand out to point out the fully stocked display case.
She spun on her thick-soled boots. “No, thank you.”
Well, can’t say I didn’t try. I sighed and turned to admire the beautiful box of flowers.
Elliot walked over and inspected the package. “Those are nice. Who’d you get them from?”
“Not from, for.” I removed my Coffee Loft apron and hung it on the rack near the office door, leaving the flowers on the table. “They’re a gift for my boyfriend. It’s our anniversary.”
“Well, congrats!” Elliot gently clapped me on the shoulder and opened the office door. “See you Friday, bright and early. Seven o’clock.” He stepped into his private space.
Shifting on my feet as a tinge of heat rose like a thermometer in my chest, I swallowed down my daily shame, and raised my voice so he could hear. “I’ll set two alarms. Maybe three.”
Exiting the office, he gave me a gentle head bob and stepped behind the counter, assisting Annie with the orders.