Chapter 6
Violet
Today has not been a good day for me. I've been trying to learn how to make coffee, and I suck at it. While Josy was teaching me how to make different coffees, I was struggling to keep all the information in my head.
When it was my time to shine, I did everything wrong. I spilled all the steamed milk on the counter, I over-poured the creamer, the top of the sugar container fell into a cup of coffee… I was just a mess. If it could go wrong, it did. And to top it off, I couldn’t understand the fancy machine that Josy uses in the shop.
When it was clear that making coffee was not going to work, Josy asked me to go to the kitchen and help Edna.
I met Edna earlier today. She is in charge of the kitchen. Edna bakes all the pastries and ensures that we have everything set for lunchtime. She is a short, sixty-year-old woman with a round, cheerful face framed by wisps of graying hair that escape from under her flour-dusted hair net. Her bright blue eyes are twinkling with a mix of sternness and warmth, and her rosy cheeks make her look perpetually kind.
When I was introduced to her, she was nice to me and told me that she was going to teach me the way around her kitchen. By the way she was looking at me in my dirty apron I had only put on two hours ago, I could tell she instantly regretted that sentiment. After I burned her chocolate croissant for not paying attention to the timer and confused all-purpose flour for self-rising flour, she kicked me out. It was comical, which helped my self esteem just a little bit.
She just looked at me in such a caring and endearing way and said, “Bless your heart. Thank you for trying, but I’ve got it from here.”
All I could do was laugh as I exited the kitchen.
And that’s how I ended up back in the front of the shop, trying to stay out of trouble and not spill anything else. So far, I’m doing well.
I’ve been refilling the sugar and salt containers on each table while also cleaning each one. I made sure that there was no trash on the floor and kept everything tidy. Finally, I am successful at something in this store, I just wish that something would be more interesting than cleaning the place.
When I am done with my cleaning, I stand beside Josy while she’s wiping down the counter. Leaning toward her, I whisper, “I didn’t know I was so bad at working. Now I know why Taylor didn’t want me to work. I am the worst.”
I sound like a child running to her mom, whining about her day, but I can’t stop feeling like a failure. Josy turns, placing her hands on my shoulders so I’m facing her completely. She looks me straight in the eye and says, “You are doing okay, Violet. It’s your first day of work, and you have so much to learn. I wasn’t expecting you to know how to bake or make coffee right off the bat. I’m okay with teaching you how to work with me. Besides, who cares what that fucker thinks of you? He can go to hell, for all I care.” Her words are a balm to my wounded pride.
I take a deep breath, nodding. “Thanks, Josy. I needed to hear that,” I replied.
She smiles warmly. “Anytime. Now, why don’t you take a break and then come back fresh? We’ll take it one step at a time.”
I smile back, feeling a bit more hopeful. “Okay, I’ll do that, but can you make me a vanilla latte, please?” I ask Josy with pleading eyes.
“Yes, I can,” she replies.
While she works on my coffee, I look around the shop. I love how she decorated the walls. Everything here screams Josy. I’m just glad that I could help her when she was indecisive about the color and the theme. I can see my suggestions all around, and it brings a smile to my face. I can’t wait to learn everything there is to do.
When Josy finishes my coffee, I grab it and start walking to the back of the shop so I can sit and people-watch. I am not paying attention when I slam into a hard chest, spilling my latte all over the person.
Can this day get any worse? Really, Violet? Why did you have to go and spill scalding coffee on a man…and it's your first day at a new job? Josy is going to be so mad at me…
“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!” I exclaim, all flustered, as I quickly move to grab napkins. I haven’t even seen his face, but I don’t care. I start patting his chest with the napkins. “I didn’t see you there, I’m really sorry,” I say, my voice dripping with embarrassment.
“It’s okay,” the man annoyingly says to me while I’m still busy trying to clean him with the wad of napkins in my hands.
“I’ll pay for your dry cleaning, I promise,” I reply.
“Really, it’s fine,” he says, trying to sound more reassuring. “Accidents happen.”
I guess that’s true, but with the day I’m having, it’s like accidents have been happening to me all day long. I can’t help but feel like a complete mess.
I finally stop, looking up at the tall guy. “I just started working here today. What a way to make a first impression, huh?” I say with a nervous chuckle.
“Really, it’s fine,” he says again. I can barely look at him. “It’s just coffee. No harm done.”
Yeah, say that to Josy or Edna .
I am definitely doing some harm to my pride today. But if he’s okay with being burned by coffee from a complete stranger, I’m not going to complain. I give him a relieved smile, even though I am utterly embarrassed. “I’ll still pay for your dry cleaning,” I insist.
The stranger waves it off. “No need. Just part of the Monday morning excitement, I guess.”
I laugh at his words—no truer words have ever been spoken. Because my Monday has been full of excitement, and it’s not even nine in the morning.
“Well, I hope the rest of your day is better,” I say to this complete stranger.
He nods, giving me a reassuring smile. “It will be. Thanks for the napkins.”
I nod back and turn as fast as I can toward the back of the shop. I’m going to close myself in Josy’s office and forget that today even happened.
Hopefully, Adrian is having a better first day at his school than I am here at the coffee shop.
After this morning's disaster, my day seemed to get better. I learned how to work the register, and became quite good at it. I also really enjoy talking with the customers, I think I might even be good at it. Cleaning, counting money, and talking; maybe the list will get longer after a few more days of practice.
I glance at the clock and realize it’s almost time for me to pick up Adrian from school.
But, before I go, I need to talk with Josy. I look for her in the kitchen, but she’s not there, so I go to her office. When I enter, I see her sitting at her desk going over paperwork.
“Hi, whatcha doing?” I inquire.
“Lots of stuff. I need to keep track of the sales while maintaining the books. I also need to update my website, my social media, and my email list. I feel like I’m drowning in work.”
Now that I’m really looking at her surrounded by paperwork, I notice that she looks exhausted. “Tell me how I can help. You know that I am good at social media, and I can learn how to work on your website. If you tell me what you want to send in your emails, I can do that too. That way, you just have to focus on the other stuff,” I say, trying to hide my excitement in case she feels like I’m overstepping.
Josy looks up at me, a grateful smile spreading across her tired face. “That would be amazing, Violet. Are you sure you have the time?”
“Absolutely,” I reply. “I’m here to help, remember? Plus, I think I’ll be better at this than making coffee or baking.”
She chuckles, a hint of relief in her eyes. “Okay, you’ve got a deal. Let’s sit down tomorrow and I’ll show you what needs to be done.”
“Sounds perfect. I’m headed out to pick up Adrian from school. I’ll see you at home later. Do you want to have dinner with us?” I ask Josy.
“Sure. What are you in the mood for?” Josy asks me.
“I don’t know. Let me pick up Adrian and see what he wants to eat, and we’ll go from there.” I shrugged.
“Sounds like a plan,” Josy says as she gives me a big smile.
I wave goodbye and head out, feeling excited and hopeful about the days ahead. Helping Josy with the marketing side of things is just what I need—a chance to actually use what I learned in school. It’s been forever, but this could be my way back into the groove. I’m already thinking about the YouTube and TikTok videos I need to binge to catch up on the latest trends. I know I can take Josy’s coffee shop to the next level, make it even more irresistible, and help her attract new customers.
As I drive to Adrian’s school, I think about all the possibilities. Social media campaigns, engaging content, maybe even a loyalty program to keep customers coming back. I pull up to the school just as the bell rings and see Adrian coming out, his blonde hair bouncing with each step.
“Hey, buddy!” I call out, and he waves enthusiastically before running over to the car.
“Hey, Mom! How was your day?” Adrian exclaims.
“Interesting, to say the least. How about yours?”
“It was good. We had gym outside today, and I scored the winning goal in soccer! I think I love soccer, Mom.” He is so excited, and it makes me happy to see him smile so big.
“Did you know that I’m the only new student? All the kids in my class have known each other since Pre-K. Now I’m the talk of the school. The boys are saying that the girls will flock to me, but I don’t know what they mean by that.” Adrian grunts with his last words.
“Well, I guess they are saying that the girls in your class will enjoy looking at your handsome face,” I say to Adrian.
“But why would they want to look at me? I’m just a kid. There are plenty more kids. Why me?” Adrian says, annoyed.
Oh, my dear son, he is so oblivious, and I hope to keep it that way; he is growing up too fast.
“The girls will look at you because you are a handsome boy. Why else would they be looking at you?” I answer him with a disbelieving look on my face.
“If you say so,” Adrian mumbles.
“Did you like any of the girls?” I ask him while I wiggle my eyebrows.
“Gross, bruh. I didn’t even look at them like that,” Adrian says with a disgusted look on his face. I guess that’s good. I am not prepared for the time when he starts to look at girls any different way than with disgust.
“By the way, we’re having Josy over for dinner. Any idea what you want to eat?” I ask.
He thinks for a moment, then grins. “Can we have pizza?”
“Pizza it is. Let’s pick one up on the way home,” I say, smiling at his simple request. I pull out my phone and text Josy to let her know tonight's menu and to get her order.
Me: Adrian wants pizza.
Josy: I knew I liked your kid. I want pepperoni, please.
Me: Only if you promise not to steal all the pepperoni like last time.
Josy: No promises. You know the pepperoni calls to me.
Me: Fine.
Josy: Want some cinnamon bread sticks for dessert?
Me: I thought you’d never ask. Yes!
Josy: YES! I need some sugar in my system.
Me: Okay, see you in a few.
Josy: Don’t forget extra napkins for the pizza grease!
Me: And maybe a bib for you?
Josy: Hey, a girl's gotta eat!
We head to our favorite pizza spot, A Slice of Heaven, and while we wait for the pizza, I pull out the notes app from my phone, and start jotting down ideas for Josy’s marketing plan. Adrian is excited, chatting away about his day, and I listen, feeling like I'm finally finding that balance between work and family. When we get home, Josy shows up not long after us, and we gather around the table with our pizza. The evening is filled with laughter, stories, and talking about what’s next. It feels good to have these moments.
As we clear the table, Josy turns to me. “Thank you for inviting me, Violet. This was just what I needed.”
“Me too,” I reply, feeling content. “Here’s to new beginnings and making things happen.”
“To new beginnings,” Josy echoes, raising her glass. The clinking of glasses marks the start of an exciting journey ahead, both in friendship and in business.
After dinner, Adrian heads to his room to finish his homework, and Josy and I sit on the couch, enjoying the last of the cinnamon bread sticks. We talk about our plans for the coffee shop, brainstorming ideas for social media campaigns and special promotions.
By the time Josy leaves, I feel more confident about the future. I tuck Adrian into bed, and as I kiss him goodnight, I’m filled with gratitude for this fresh start.
“Night, Mom,” Adrian says sleepily.
“Goodnight, sweetheart,” I whisper, turning off the light. “Sweet dreams.”
As I lay in bed, I think about the day's events and smile. Despite the rough start, it turned out to be a pretty good day. I close my eyes, ready for whatever tomorrow brings.