Chapter 6
Chapter Six
The next day, when Lila entered the coffee shop, she was greeted by Grandma wearing the biggest pair of eyeglasses she’d ever seen. Not only were they enormous, but the rims were made entirely of rhinestones.
“Did Elton John have a garage sale?” Lila asked.
Grandma beamed. “I thought I’d liven things up a bit, that’s all. Besides, it’s that time of year.”
Lila figured she was referring to Halloween. “Um, yeah. Okay.”
“Oh, don’t be a stick in the mud,” Grandma said. “Customers like it. I’ve had quite a few compliments this morning.”
Lila sighed and headed down the hall for an apron. In the back, Irene was handing one of the hot plates they’d been using to make coffee, to Doc. “Good, you’re getting rid of those things.” Her eyes widened. “Irene! What happened to your hair?”
“Colored it,” Irene shot back. “Like it?” She gave her purple hair a proud pat.
Doc grimaced but wisely stayed silent, skeedaddling into the hall.
“He’s taking those to the inn,” Irene said. “We can handle things while he’s gone.”
Lila gaped. “Why did you color your hair purple?”
“It’s all the rage, isn’t it?” Irene gave her hair another pat and sauntered off.
Lila started after her and heard Irene call down the hall, “Don’t forget your costume when you come back!”
By the time Lila reached the front, Doc was gone. “What costume?”
“We’re dressing up,” Grandma said proudly. “This place needs a little color.”
Irene bent behind the counter, fiddled with something, and stood again.
Lila’s jaw dropped. She was now wearing a pair of purple glasses with round frames. “Oh, good grief. Did you discuss this with Tilly or Jack before they left for Hawaii?”
“It’s all part of the fun for Harvest Festival week,” Grandma said.
Lila gaped some more. “Why was I not informed?”
“Because we just came up with the idea,” Irene barked.
“Wait until you see what Doc and Wilfred are wearing,” Grandma said happily.
Lila squeezed her eyes shut. “I’m not sure I want to.”
When she opened them, both women were giving her expectant looks.
“Come now, child,” Grandma coaxed gently. “Have a little fun. Oh, by the way, TJ will be here soon.”
“Why?” Lila asked. “He told you he was coming for coffee?”
“Yes, and to deliver the cats.” Irene added.
“Cats?” Lila looked between them. Both were smiling. “What cats?”
“Tilly’s cats, of course.” Grandma said. “We heard this place has them.”
Irene crossed her arms. “Apparently, Tilly and Jack are boarding them with Tilly’s aunt.”
“Yes, I know,” Lila said. “Tilly didn’t want me to have to bother with them.”
“We don’t mind taking care of the critters,” Grandma said cheerfully. “We love cats.”
“Well, good for you.” Lila began making herself a coffee just as the bell over the door jingled and customers filed in.
The three women got to work. Thankfully, Irene and Paddy had taken to the espresso machine after a few practice runs. And the rest were doing all right with the blender, making iced drinks and frappes. Hopefully, there wouldn’t be another disaster like those first few days.
They served customers, tidied the front, and that’s when TJ arrived, cat crates in hand.
“Oh dear,” Lila murmured. “Here we go.”
“Are they that misbehaved?” Grandma asked.
“No, it’s just one more thing to worry about,” Lila said. “Tilly and Jack
“Don’t worry, child. We’ll look after them.” Grandma turned back to fill a cup with dark roast and pass it off to a customer.
TJ came around the counter with a grin. “Well, where do you want the little troublemakers?”
“Follow me,” Irene said, leading him toward the back.
A few minutes later, three cats—Muffin, Espresso, and Pudding—came trotting up the hall and into the shop. They headed straight for the cat tree by the window, each hopping onto a favorite perch. Tilly and Jack had a special license
“Well, maybe it won’t be so bad if they hang out over there,” Lila muttered.
“What’s the matter?” TJ asked. “Don’t you like cats?”
“Oh, I like them, but the one I have is over the top obnoxious. Coming to work, I get a break.” She smiled. “Okay, he’s not that bad.”
“I see,” he drawled, “Well, I’m the cat wrangler, so you don’t have to worry about a thing.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “A little different from wrangling horses, isn’t it?”
“Quite. And I’d much rather wrangle cats, if you don’t mind.”
“I don’t. But I don’t know about the others,” she said in a low voice.
He glanced toward Grandma and Irene, who were busy putting pies in the front display case. “Where did those come from?”
“We baked them,” Grandma said with a bright smile. “Just tell us when you want a slice.”
Lila blinked. “You brought in homemade pies?”
TJ shrugged. “Why not?”
“We’ve already sold slices of the first two,” Irene said proudly.
“Who said you could bring in pies?” Lila demanded.
“We did, of course.” Grandma arched a brow. “Why do you think business was so good this morning?”
“Yeah,” Irene said. “We’re charging five dollars a slice!”
Lila facepalmed. “Oh my goodness, Tilly is going to kill us!”
“You can handle food here, can’t you?” TJ asked. “They’re licensed for it?”
“Well, yes, but any food sold is brought in because of the cats. Tilly has a licensed kitchen at home and buys pastries of a few vendors. But pies?” She groaned. “Where did you bake them?”
“At the inn, of course,” Grandma said.
“Yes, but is the kitchen licensed for that?”
“It is,” Irene cut in. “Really, Lila, you worry too much.”
And for good reason, she thought. These people were going to drive her nuts.
She shot TJ a helpless look, and he smiled. “It’ll be fine, Lila. You’ll see.” He nodded toward the cat tree. “They seem settled in. Anything else I can do?”
“No,” she breathed. “Everyone’s done quite enough.”
“You seem upset,” he said gently.
“I’m just used to things going as planned… and none of this was planned.” She waved a hand.
“Your elderly help is harmless,” he said. “Let them have their fun. Besides, the customers love it.”
“How would you know? You just got here.”
“Well, I’m a customer, aren’t I? I think they’re adorable.”
She sighed, shoulders drooping. How could she argue with that? “Very well. They can play dress-up, but I don’t want things getting out of hand.”
“You worry too much, Lila Comfort.”
“Maybe I don’t worry enough,” she shot back.
TJ only smiled and crossed the dining room to pet Muffin, who purred like an idling engine.
“The cats approve of him,” Grandma said as she joined her. “That’s a good sign. Animals are sensitive to people.”
“Yes, I know.” Lila slipped behind the counter as more customers came in. They all commented on the cats being back and went to pet them after ordering their drinks.
She decided she’d text Tilly later to explain everything. Hopefully Tilly and Jack wouldn’t be upset with the old folks for taking such liberties. Wasn’t she supposed to be the one in charge? So much for that.
And what had TJ said? Did she want any help? Surely, he wasn’t planning to hang around the shop all day.
She handed off a latte, then turned to him. “Um… when are you leaving?”
“I’m not,” he said. “I’m here to help. Grandma and Irene recruited me yesterday.”
Lila let out a nervous laugh. “Of course they did. What else did they rope you into?”
“They asked me to help with movie night. The screen and projector have to be set up, and those things are heavy. Where do you want it?”
She surveyed the room. “In the corner. That’s where Tilly set it up last year.”
“Good. I’ll fetch the screen later. I can borrow my brother’s truck. This morning I was on cat-delivery duty. Now that that’s done, we can figure out chair placement. Oh, and do you need something to make popcorn?”
“Popcorn?” she repeated blankly.
“Yeah. My mom has a big air popper. All you have to do is melt the butter and pour it over the top when it’s done.”
Lila sighed. When did all this get planned, and why did no one tell me? She hated feeling out of control, and worse, left out of the loop. “Fine. Bring the air popper.”
“Hey,” he said gently. “They mean well. They’re trying.”
She knew he meant Grandma and the others. “I just don’t want them to break anything or hurt themselves.” She made a face. “They’re like misbehaving children.”
“Don’t say that.” TJ’s smile was soft. “I find them delightful.”
“Easy for you to say. You’re not working with them.” Lila sighed again. “I know, I sound mean. But I can’t control them.”
“Of course you can’t. Not at their age. They’re going to do what they want.” He grinned. “Besides, they’re not imbeciles. They’re smart and wise. I had a good conversation with Grandma and Irene yesterday at Dunnigan’s,” he added.
“You were in Old Town yesterday?” Her eyes lit up. She loved Old Town and often spent her breaks sitting in one of the rocking chairs outside Dunnigan’s Mercantile, trying to imagine what Clear Creek was like in the late 1800s and getting around by horse and wagon every day.
“Yeah. Mr. Jensen talked with us too. It was a lot of fun. I’m surprised how much they know about the town.”
She made a face. “That reminds me, I never asked how long ago it was they said they’d lived here. That explains why none of us have ever seen them.”
“Yes, I know. As I recall, Irene said the sixties?”
“That makes sense,” Lila said. She looked at the cats and the customers enjoying them. Her shoulders slumped. “Well, I might as well give up. It is what it is.”
TJ chuckled. “You make it sound like a terrible thing. It’s not, Lila. Everything will work out. Tilly and Jack are going to be ecstatic when they get back and see the shop turning a profit.”
“I hope so.” She watched as customers passed them holding plates of pie. “I wonder if the pie’s any good,” she murmured.
“I don’t know, but I plan to find out.” He winked and headed for the counter. “Two slices of apple pie, please, Grandma.”
“Two?” Irene asked. “Are you being greedy?”
“Not at all. One for me, one for Lila. She needs to try it.”
“Oh, well then,” Grandma said with a wink. She plated two slices, added forks, and set them on the counter. TJ paid, grabbed coffees for each of them, and motioned toward a nearby table.
“Sit. Enjoy,” he said, taking the chair across from her.
“Well, fine.” Lila sat and stared at the pie. She took a bite… and her eyes went wide. “Oh, wow…”
“See?” TJ said. “I don’t think you have to worry about customers not liking the pie.”
She shook her head. “No, not at all.” She took another bite. “Goodness, this is good.”
He gave her a lazy smile, then sampled his own. “It sure is. I’m going to have to get the recipe from Grandma.”
“You bake?” she asked in surprise.
“I do.”
Lila smiled and realized she’d very much like to get to know TJ Jones better.