Candle In The Wind

Chapter Twenty

How will I be able to tell Ardley his wife is dying?

I can’t. Point blank.

Part II: Domino Effect

One

Juliette’s Barn

It was grand opening day. And I had to pee almost every ten minutes. I didn’t know if it was the baby or if it was my nerves. Maybe they’re collaborating against me. I’ve been up since five a.m., I got ready and perfectly did my makeup in just fifteen minutes. I’d pretty much mastered my routine. I drove to the Barn at six. Since then I’d been roaming around the Barn passing time until we opened at eight—double-checking the menu, facing the commercial fridge, rearranging the small decor on the table, stacking and restacking the paper menus. I checked the time on my phone. It just turned seven and right on cue, Ava got out of her car and walked towards the Barn. She used the key I gave to her last week after she handed me the little promotional cards she said she’d work on.

“Good morning, and happy grand opening.”

She smiled as she walked past me.

I nodded. “Thank you, and thank you for coming in.”

I smiled as I rubbed my belly, when she went to take a look at the machines I quickly said, “I already put coffee beans in the espresso machine, the cold brew is good to go, and the regular cold and decaf coffees are set as well.”

She raised her brows. “How long have you been here?”

she asked as she dropped her purse on the counter.

“Since six.”

“Jesus, Jules, is that good for the baby?”

I pouted. “To be up at six?”

“No, to be this restless. When was the last time you slept a full seven to eight hours?”

I sighed, “it’s been years, Ava.”

She shook her head. “I’ll start filling up the display case,”

she said as she walked in the kitchen.

I checked my time one more time because Benson—our cook—was supposed to be coming in anytime now, and as well as Bailey, my assistant. Temporary assistant, because his summer was almost over. It was just temporary until I found someone who clashed well with me. Besides, Marshall wasn’t too happy with the idea of Bailey working with me, since I quit and everything, which he had no issues with until Bailey said he’d work for me. And I didn’t have to beg him or anything.

I should’ve had some sort of tea on the menu because I couldn’t drink a cup of coffee, so I had to resort to orange juice.

As I opened the juice and took my first sip Benson and Bailey approached the door. Only Ava and I had a key, so I had to go open the door for them.

I unlocked the door and stepped to the side to let them in. “Good morning, boys.”

Bailey cast me a strange look, like he didn’t recognize who I was. Maybe it was the hair and makeup or the long, baby blue shirtwaist dress. At the moment, it was all that could fit me—my belly was expanding now that we were slowly approaching the due date.

“Happy grand opening,”

he said, stealing another glance at me as he walked deeper into the Barn.

“Why thank you, Bailey.” I smiled.

“Good morning, Ben-Ben.”

“Morning, Jules, happy grand opening.”

I smiled, “thank you, you’re too sweet.”

Benson is Bailey’s older brother. And that was the deal Bailey and I made. Hire Ben-Ben and he’d work for me too. Apparently. no one in the family would hire Benson because he’s got Down syndrome. Instead of pushing Benson to do things, they told him he couldn’t do normal things. Which was terrible because that was actually why Benson wouldn’t be able to do anything. It was because they don’t encourage him to, and instead disable him.

I agreed to hire Benson if he was a decent cook, and it turned out Bailey got his sandwich skills from Benson—all it took was one bite for me to say you’re hired.

“Coffee and food are free, so keep yourself nourished,”

I said as I locked the door again. It was almost going to be time soon to turn that open sign on.

Ava started to fill the display case with a few desserts—chocolate and blueberry muffins, glazed donuts, vanilla cupcakes, strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate cake slices.

She baked a whole lot of stuff last night and the only thing she was probably working on this morning were the fresh cookies, croissants, and the bagels.

Everything was working out perfectly.

I made another round around the tables, wiping them even though I knew they were spotless. Then I fixed the stools by the window again. I really wanted to sit down because it felt like my back would soon snap in half, but I didn’t want to sit down and deal with my nerves. I would much rather stand up and do all the tasks I’d already done before.

I started fixing my art, all the mugs and vases and plates and bowls. I twisted them and put them in the right spot. Even though they were in the right spot already.

I turned around to revise the menu one last time only to be startled by Bailey.

“We open in fifteen minutes,” he said.

I nodded with a tight smile as my stomach dropped with nervousness and excitement, “thank you Bailey.”

I glanced at the menu but this time it was the knock on the door that startled me. I looked in the direction the banging sound came from.

I saw a standing figure, but the face was blocked by the largest flower bouquet I’d seen. And behind the person there was a white van. My brows furrowed as I approached the door with caution, then I opened it, but just a little.

“Hello?”

The person moved the flowers out the way and Cal’s face came into view.

“Happy grand opening!”

he shouted as he pushed the heavy bouquet into my chest. I grabbed the flowers as my smile slowly spread with shock.

He pushed the door open and walked past me. “Everyone is here already, I see,”

he said as he clapped his hands and people started coming out of the white van with vases of flowers in their hands.

The flowers were beautiful. Pink, white, and violet, so vibrant with colors.

My heart was so warm it could melt.

“Cal…”

I said in a soft adoring tone.

“Where do you want them, sweetheart?”

I bit my lips and pushed down everything I felt hearing that pet name. “On each table,”

I said as I pointed at the tables and the guys nodded and started putting a vase of flowers on each table.

It looked like the final touch the place was missing all along.

I still struggled to hold my huge bouquet. I glanced at Bailey who looked bored of all this. “Could you grab a big vase from the bottom shelf?”

Bailey looked at me. “You mean our inventory?”

I sighed as I rolled my eyes. “I made that vase.”

“Yeah, to sell.”

“I’ll buy it,”

Cal chimed in.

My brows furrowed. “No, you’re not buying it, this is ridiculous.”

I gently placed the flowers on the nearest table and walked to the shelf myself to grab a damn vase. “They’re all mine until they’re sold,” I said, frustration coating my words.

I looked at Bailey as I placed the flowers in the vase.

“Just trying to keep you in business,”

he mumbled.

I nodded, “yeah, thank you.”

I turned to look at Cal, “these are beautiful,” I smiled.

Cal grinned. His hands were stuffed in his pockets. His hair was slicked back and he wore a dark blue suit. It brought out his blue eyes, his stubble starting to grow again.

He stepped in front of me, easily towering over me, and reached to grab the vase in my hands—his fingers brushed against mine and I sucked in a breath.

“I’ll bring it to your office,”

he said as he pulled away and started walking in the direction of my office.

“Thank you everyone, coffee is on me for today!”

I said to the guys that delivered the flowers. They all smiled and nodded. It was just six guys. Six cups of coffee wasn’t going to hurt anyone.

I made two oat milk lattes, three iced americanos, and one hot black coffee.

As I handed them their coffees one by one, Ava came out with the first fresh batch of cookies. Before she could add it in the display case I stole the plate from her.

“You’re a lifesaver,”

I whispered over her shoulder.

She frowned as she looked around the place, clearly noticing the vibrant look of the place now that the flowers were added. “Who brought flowers?”

she asked.

“Cal,”

I quickly said without an explanation.

Her brows pulled together as she nodded. “Mhmm,”

she hummed before returning back to the kitchen. And I could feel Bailey’s gaze linger on me while he stood by the door—probably glaring at me, and I knew he’d want to shoot me for what I was about to say.

“Grab a cookie or two before you go, thank you for the flowers.”

I smiled as I placed the cookies on the counter near the display case.

I focused on the last coffee I was making. I heard Bailey say bye to the guys as he closed the door behind them and locked it. It was only five minutes until we opened. Which meant I had to hurry. I grabbed a little plate and placed three cookies on top, grabbed the coffee, and made my way to my office.

“Hot black coffee with a shot of espresso,”

I mumbled as I set the cup of coffee in front of him. I remembered his coffee order from Blueberry Lane.

He spun around in the chair, “thank you.”

I nodded. “Thank you for the flowers,”

I said as I took a step back and leaned against the wall. I placed a rubbing hand over my stomach and admired the flowers from a distance.

“Are you alright? Nervous?”

I chuckled as I closed my eyes. “I’m shitting my pants right now.”

I heard his laughter, so familiar yet so far off to what I remembered.

“Let me know if anyone gives you a hard time.”

“What if the person who ends up giving me a hard time is me?”

He sucked in a sharp breath. “Well, I’ll tell you to stop it, that you need to accept yourself and all that you’ve done and be proud of it. Once you give yourself a chance, everyone else will too. What you show us is how we react. So don’t be too hard on yourself and just trust and believe that you’ve made it this far, and you can make it even further.”

I opened my eyes to meet him, and immediately I was lost in his irises.

For a moment we were frozen. Just two people showing up for each other. Even if it meant just telling me what I needed to hear.

Callum often reminded me of someone I used to know—his bright personality and kind heart was bringing up sad buried feelings. People like Callum hardly existed anymore. People who rooted for other people without any malice in their heart. Because as scary as it sounds there are people out there who want to see you do well as long as you’re not becoming better than them. It was a twisted, bitter competition. Between yourself and yourself.

Callum wasn’t like that—so far, besides Val who’d shown me unconditional kindness and support, Callum was the same. It seemed like if I asked for something—whatever it may be—he would be willing to give it to me. Or at least help anyway that he could.

“About dinner,”

I started to say.

“It’s time to open!”

Bailey’s voice boomed through the walls of my office.

I pushed myself off the wall and paused for a second. I grabbed a stack of papers on the edge of my desk and took a step back. This was really, really happening, I don’t know if Callum was able to read the excitement off my facial expression or maybe it was a look of horror.

“You’ll be fine, Julie,”

he immediately said.

I nodded, not believing a single word, but it didn’t matter if I believed him or not—we were opening regardless of how I felt. So, I smiled as I kept on nodding and started making my way to the door.

“Go get ‘em, tiger.”

I swiftly turned around and looked at Cal, “RAWR.”

I clawed the air like a cat—falling victim to the cringey dinosaur roars that plagued the early 2000s.

God, I was really freaking out, wasn’t I?

But Cal, he didn’t seem to mind—my actions took him by surprise of course, but then his expression relaxed as he nodded with a proud and almost adoring look on his face. “Yeah, that’s what’s up.”

He grinned.

I laughed and walked out of the office room and walked straight to the front door where Ava, Bailey, and Ben-Ben were already waiting for me.

I smiled broadly. “Before we open,”

I said as I passed out the papers in my hands, “you guys need to read this.”

“What’s this?”

Ben-Ben asked.

“Non-negotiables, honey,”

I said as I passed Bailey the last paper.

“And what is that exactly?” he asked.

Ava sighed, “just like, stuff we definitely have to do.”

“Definitely, is sugar coating it,”

I chuckled, “this is stuff you need to do.”

“Break down boxes, greet customers before they greet you—don’t you think that one’s a little excessive?”

Bailey’s eyes squint at me.

“No,”

I pressed.

“Thank customers for coming in, mention our monthly running promotions…”

The Barn’s Non-Negotiable List

#1 Break down boxes.

#2 Greet the customers before they greet you.

#3 Weekly menu change.

#4 Mention any running promotions to customers.

#5 Free baked goods of choice to customers who sign up for classes.

#6 Deep clean & prep every night.

#7 Thank customers for coming in.

#8 Respect above all.

I pushed the button and watched the open sign light up.

All we had to do now was wait.

Cal left ten minutes after we opened. He thanked me for the coffee and cookies and wished me a happy grand opening one last time before he left.

The display case was filled and it looked amazing. I took a couple pictures of it to look at later this week to create a new menu. Ben-Ben was all prepped for any sandwiches he had to make—Bailey followed me everywhere like a shadow and Ava sat on a stool behind the display case reading what seemed to be a medical book. I didn’t mind because we didn’t have any customers.

By the time it hit eleven o’clock, we had a total of six customers. They ordered coffee, and one daring, bold soul even tried a sandwich on the menu. It wasn’t a lot, but it was great to see the tables being used. Since I offered free Wi-Fi, out of the six people, one of them was a student and she had up to three cups of coffee already—I don’t even think she realized that. She was just typing away like the rest of us didn’t exist.

It made this place feel somewhat magical.

Two customers looked around at the mugs and other stuff I had on display for sale. I hadn’t sold anything besides coffee and food, but I knew my time would come soon.

My phone pinged and I walked towards the counter where I left it.

Cal: Since you won’t hire me, at least let them pay.

Juliette: Let who pay?

Before I could hit send the door pulled open and the little bell rang.

“Hello, welcome—”

I looked up and instantly my eyes widened.

It was a large group of men—and I recognized almost all their faces. It was the guys that were working on the reconstruction of this building. Cal’s workers. I looked down at my phone and as if Cal knew the situation he started typing again and I watched the text bubbles load until his text appeared.

Cal: I recommended them the best Coffee/pottery shop I knew in town

Cal: Have a good day, sweetheart.

I sighed as the tall giants in front of me politely formed a line and started reciting their order to Bailey.

I guess that was our first busy hour?

We had to serve eleven people all at once. Well, as quickly as possible, and they ordered baked goods, coffee, even sandwiches — it was like their goal was trying to clear us of all our stuff.

I served the last coffee and exhaled a loud sigh.

“You should sit down,”

Bailey said over my shoulder as he wiped the counter where the espresso machine is at.

There were a lot of spills.

“I’m fine,”

I chuckled, “this was a mini rush.”

“Just take the break, it’s not like you have a boss around so I don’t know why you won’t just take the break,”

he mumbled the last part under his breath.

I pouted as I furrowed my brows, pretending to be annoyed at him. “Fine,”

I walked away and pulled out a chair, “I’ll sit down,” I said, like it would satisfy him more than me. But in truth, I was so happy to finally sit down.

My back was killing me and my legs were throbbing in pain. And all I could think about was special hugs and kisses going out to the women who work out while pregnant. Kudos.

I couldn’t help but smile, feeling like today was a huge success. Everyone seemed so happy leaving the place, like every expectation was met.

Today’s total customer was sixty people.

We served ninety cups of coffee. Including lattes and frozen coffees.

Forty-nine different kinds of baked goods.

Twenty-two sandwiches.

Nineteen mugs.

Best day ever.