8. Violet
Chapter 8
Violet
“These pop tarts are the best thing I have ever tasted in my life,” Dustin says as we all continue to munch on the freshly baked strawberry pastries and sip on warm coffee.
Olive was not kidding when she said she was making strawberry pop tarts. This is the most mouthwatering pastry I have ever tasted. With golden flaky edges coated in butter, white icing drizzled on top, homemade strawberry filling bursting from the edges, I’m in heaven. These will definitely be part of my go-to breakfast stop.
“I told you not to miss trying out my new recipe! And to think, you almost said no,” Olive says with a smug grin. She knows she can bake anything to perfection. And she’s not afraid to prove it.
“I will never even think of denying another invitation to try anything you make. Ever again.”
“Can you stop moaning and just eat it already?” Mason says.
“I’m not moaning,” Dustin says.
“Yes, you are!” Olive, Mason and I say in unison.
We all laugh. “Don’t make them so delicious and I won’t,” he says with a shrug. He shoves another bite into his mouth.
I can’t blame him. They are that good.
“How is training going?” Mason asks.
“Honestly better than expected. We have the chicken race in the bag,” The part I leave out is how our last trial was a disaster. Olive looks at me with a smirk, insinuating something. I ignore her taunting gaze the instant her eyes stare into mine. I know that look.
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Dustin grumbles.
After everyone leaves the shop, ranting and raving over her new menu addition, Olive and I are the only ones left.
“Now that everyone’s gone, I have to tell you what happened yesterday.”
“What happened?” I ask, curiosity lining my voice.
“Out of all the people I expected to show up, guess who did?”
“I have no clue?” I think I know exactly who showed up.
Chad.
The infamous Chad.
Their on and off again relationship reminds me of a rollercoaster. Not some bunny hopping slow ride. More like one of those ones that makes your stomach drop to your feet as it flips upside down. He’s a nice guy when he wants to be. But he has major commitment issues. He breaks her heart, puts on the charm and she takes him back. It’s been a never-ending cycle of disappointment. She has a soft spot when it comes to him. Not that I can blame her; he is charming, just like Prince Charming, minus the sculpted face and long blonde hair. Okay, maybe I have an obsession with Shrek . Can you blame me?
“It was Chad!” she exclaims.
Told you.
“He had the audacity to show up with his new girlfriend. It’s only been three days! Three days since we broke up. He couldn’t have the decency to wait even as little as a week before he moved on.”
“Oh, Olive, I’m so sorry you had to see that. I can’t believe he would show up with someone else at your shop.” Okay, maybe I can believe he would do that. He is that kind of jerk. I mean come on, his name is Chad. “What did you do?” I have a feeling things didn’t go well by the look of pure rage shooting from her green eyes directly into my soul. I’m just glad I’m not on the receiving end this time.
“I’ll get there, Vivi. I didn’t even get to the best part—” She pauses, staring at her coffee while it swirls. The ice cubes race each other in a spinning whirlpool. “He showed up with Chelsea. I could have screamed. She has had it out for me since elementary school. Remember eighth grade when Will kissed me during study hall? Well she had a crush on him and the evil sprouted from that day on. She was so mad that he liked me that she made a vow to make my life miserable. I swear she is Regina George’s twin. I know she still has it out for me. It’s been her mission to steal every single guy I show interest in. Then what she did to you in high school. Unforgivable. Are you hearing…”
“Woah. Woah. Woah. Slow down,” I say, tapping my fingers on the coffee cup. I do not need to think about what happened in the past. “I remember what she did to me. We don’t have to talk about that. Back to what you did. What did you do?”
“Ha! Well, I was going to act civil until he came up to the counter and flaunted his new relationship in my face. He grabbed her hand and kissed her right at the counter. So, I did what any self-respecting person would do—I threw a cup of cold brew all over him. Then I threatened him. She got caught in the crossfires and I can’t say that I regret it.” A menacing grin crosses her face.
“No way Olive, you didn’t!” I laugh so hard coffee shoots out of my mouth. “And what did you threaten him with?” I step around the counter to grab a rag to clean up the mess I made on the floor.
“If he ever steps foot in my coffee shop again, I wouldn’t be so nice. I will use hot coffee next time. He knows I’m not bluffing. And the asshole could go to Annie’s Diner for coffee or just make it himself. As long as he’s out of my life for good.”
I laugh so hard tears start to form in the corners of my eyes. What I would have given to see the look on his coffee covered face.
“I don’t think I’ll be hearing from him anytime soon. And I will admit it’s time to move on from him. He dragged his feet out of the door, coffee soaked and all. Chelsea hung on his arm scowling at me as they left, stomping out of the doors. And it was worth all the mess I had to clean up.”
“I am so relieved to hear you say that. I think you dodged a bullet with that one.” And this is the truth.
“Come in dear. You’re late. I was just about to leave to play a round of bingo, this better be good.”
“Nice to see you too Darcy,” I sing-song while skipping in the door.
“Oh please sit down and relax, I have all day. What’s that?” She points in the direction of the paper bag I’m holding.
“Nothing! You don’t have time so I’ll just leave.” I know all too well that she will want what’s in this bag. I spin on my heel to rush out the door. I know what she’s going to say. Something like, “Wait! Please!” Or maybe, “I’m so sorry. Stay all day, Violet.”
“Wait!”
I told you.
“Come back, please. I’m sorry; I didn’t mean it honey. What’s in the bag?” Okay, maybe I wasn’t exactly right, but I was pretty close.
“Only a couple strawberry pop tarts from the Olive Bean. But it’s okay if you want to play bingo. I’ll be going.”
“No! No! Get back here, it's so nice to see you. Please stay all day, Violet dear.”
There it is!
“I thought so,” I mumble under my breath, smiling at our exchange. She’s my only family left. I love her more than anything in the world. I also love to tease her; besides, I inherited most of my puns from her. It’s been getting harder to tell when it is a good or bad day. Today seems to be going well. She seems to remember everything, not questioning or becoming confused.
She takes a huge bite of the sugary goodness and grins with delight. “You’re unusually bubbly and smiling today. What’s going on?” she says as she continues to devour the treat.
“Nothing much is new. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Liar! I’ve known you since you were a baby. I know you better than I know myself. It’s a man, isn’t it?”
“What? No…”
“Yes! That’s it. What’s his name.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“It’s Dustin, isn’t it? I heard you were paired with him for this year's small business games. He’s handsome, why wouldn’t you be head over heels with him?”
I blush scarlet. “What? Ew! One, I’m absolutely not. And two, how do you know what he looks like?”
“I’m not dead yet. We do have phones in here. Constance keeps me updated on you anyways.”
“Constance and I are going to have a chat.”
“Absolutely not, she is my only form of entertainment in this place other than bingo.”
“You know you don’t have to stay here. I didn’t want you to leave. I would have taken care of you.” My voice softens.
“I wanted to be here with my friends. Besides, you need your own space to blossom.”
“Like flowers in spring,” I say, smiling at the memory. It’s something she always told me growing up. After I lost everything.
She continues to eat as we sit in comfortable silence.
“I came here for one more thing. I have something to show you.” I pull out the purple notebook from my purse and hand it over to her.
She gasps in surprise as one hand grasps the notebook, the other over her heart. “I thought this was gone forever. I couldn’t find it anywhere.”
“I found it under the old tower computer. The one that you’ve had since you opened the store. Would you mind if I read them?”
“Of course you can read them! I wrote about so many things. About the shop, about my life. Even tips on running the shop. It may be helpful to you. I don’t mind.”
The question lingers in the depths of my mind. I might as well come out with it. “Who is H?”
“No one important.” Her answer is clipped.
That was not the answer I was expecting.
“Look who’s being evasive about a man now?”
“Touché. Maybe once you tell me I’ll tell you, how’s that sound?”
So, she doesn’t deny it was a love interest.
“Okay, I’ll let you get to bingo. Knock ‘em dead.”
“I will! Don’t fail me at that chicken race!”
“I won’t. See you next week!”
I end up leaving with more questions than I came with. Who is H and why did she look so sad when I handed her the notebook? I might have to do some investigation work on my own.