Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Kathryn
" A bsolutely not." Cam Prescott flicks through my proposal with barely a glance. "Community partnerships? Local supplier integration? We don't have time for that touchy-feely stuff."
I lean forward in my chair, ignoring how the vinyl squeaks beneath me. "It's not 'touchy-feely.' It's Coffee Loft's core mission. Creating spaces where community happens."
"Look." Cam leans back, his designer tie at odds with the coffee shop's rustic interior. "I know what corporate preaches about community integration, but let's be realistic. Quick promotions and flashy drink specials, that's what brings in the money."
The morning sun streams through the windows, illuminating dust motes and missed cleaning spots. The place has good bones. I like the exposed brick walls, high ceilings, and plenty of natural light that remind me of our Wilmington location. But Cam's stripped away everything that should make a Coffee Loft special. Everything I imagine was here when he bought out a local coffee shop and turned it into a Coffee Loft franchise.
"Have you seen the numbers from our Wilmington location?" I pull up the stats on my tablet. "Customer retention is through the roof. Average visit time doubled after we implemented community initiatives."
"Wilmington isn't Elk Ridge."
"Exactly. Each location should reflect its community. That's literally in the franchise handbook."
Cam waves this off. "We need quick wins. Corporate gave us three months."
"They sent me because this location has lost its way. You're ignoring our brand values, trying to copy chains that Coffee Loft has never wanted to be."
"Coffee is coffee."
"No, it's not." I think of the Wishing Wall back home, of the local art shows, of the book clubs that meet every Wednesday. "Coffee Loft is about connection. About being part of something."
He checks his watch. "Very inspiring. But I've got a conference call. Push the seasonal specials, run some BOGOs, and let's focus on what matters."
"What matters is that your highest-rated drinks are from the original menu. The ones that actually reflect this community."
"Those'll phase out eventually." He stands, straightening his jacket. "People want consistency."
"They want authenticity. It's why they chose Coffee Loft over the big chains in the first place."
But he's already heading for his office, leaving me alone with my proposals and mounting frustration.
Outside, Main Street is coming alive. Marie's Flowers catches my eye first. Bright bouquets spill from buckets onto the sidewalk. Next door, Miller's Bakery has a line stretching to the corner. The scent of fresh bread makes my stomach growl.
Every shop window tells a story. Just like every Coffee Loft should.
I start walking, making notes on my tablet. Back home, our local partnerships are the backbone of our success. The Wishing Wall just amplified connections that were already forming. Here, I'll have to rebuild those bridges from scratch.
A bell chimes as a door opens ahead of me. A young woman exits a bookstore, carefully balancing a stack of novels.
"Need a hand?" I ask as one book starts to slip.
"Thanks!" She readjusts her grip. "I get carried away sometimes. Sara Miller." At my blank look, she adds, "From the bakery?"
"Kathryn Taylor. From the Coffee Loft." I watch her expression change. "And I was hoping to talk to you about rebuilding our partnership."
"You mean the one Mr. Prescott killed because our prices weren't 'competitive' enough?"
"I mean the one Coffee Loft never should have lost. We're supposed to be part of our communities, not working against them."
She studies me for a moment. "You sound different from Cam Prescott."
"Because I've seen what works. In Wilmington, our local partnerships aren't just good community relations. They're good business."
"Stop by the bakery tomorrow morning," she says finally. "We'll talk."
The sun is setting by the time I make it back to the lodge. The great room glows with warm lamplight, and a fire crackles in the massive stone fireplace despite the mild evening.
"Productive day?" Evie looks up from her knitting as I sink into the chair across from her.
"Interesting one." I kick off my heels, curling my feet under me. "Your town has so many amazing local businesses."
"Mmm." She sets her knitting aside. "And how does Coffee Loft corporate feel about local partnerships these days?"
"They're our priority. It's why they sent me." I meet her knowing gaze. "Cam's been running this location like a generic chain. It's everything Coffee Loft tries not to be."
"Is that so?" There's something careful in her tone.
"The Wishing Wall at my location in Wilmington? It transformed our shop. Created real connections. The kind that can't be measured in daily sales reports."
"The kind my family used to have with the old owner."
Through the window, I spot a familiar figure crossing the parking lot. Nolan's carrying supplies to the activity center, his movements sure in the gathering dusk.
"He used to work there too, you know," Evie says, following my gaze. "Helped create some of their most popular drinks."
The specialty menu I've been fighting to preserve. "Sounds like exactly what Coffee Loft is about."
"It was." Evie's needles click softly. "Before Cam decided he knew better than the brand he bought into."
I think of my notes, my plans, my determination to restore what should never have been lost. "I want to make it right," I say finally. "I want to make it special again."
"Good." Evie stands, gathering her knitting. "Though you might find some people need convincing that corporate and community can coexist."
She's right. I have partnerships to rebuild, trust to earn. Starting with the man I can still see through the window, whose walls I'll have to find a way past before I can help restore what Coffee Loft should have been all along.