Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Monday coffee rush was over.
Abby smiled. It appeared news of the new espresso machine was making the rounds. People who didn’t normally frequent the Steaming Brew were now stopping in. If she knew a new machine would draw in more business, she would have figured out how to get one before now.
Her thoughts strayed to Brad. She hadn’t heard from him lately. And try as she might to find an excuse to call or message him, she hadn’t come up with a legitimate reason to reach out to him.
Still, she wondered what he was up to. Of course, she knew she could ask Reed. The two of them communicated almost every day since they were business partners as well as best friends. But asking Reed or Sadie about Brad would only stir up more questions than she was willing to answer.
“I’ve got things under control out here,” Mia said. “If you have other things to do.”
With a resigned sigh, she said, “Thanks, Mia. I guess I’ll go do some desk work.”
But before she took more than two steps, the front door opened. And a familiar voice said, “Abby, just the person I wanted to see.”
Abby turned around to see Sadie headed toward her. Something was up. She could see it in the big smile on her friend’s face. Immediately, Abby was curious to know what had put her friend in such a good mood on a Monday morning.
Abby retraced her steps. “You seem awfully happy. Mind sharing?”
“Want to get some coffee and sit with me for a minute?” Her eyes pleaded with her to accept the invitation.
Abby nodded. “Do you want your usual?”
“You know what? I’m going to be different.” Sadie turned to gaze up at the handwritten menu board. “I’m going to have the toasted marshmallow latte.”
Abby’s eyes widened. “You always order the mocha latte.”
“It’s good to put myself out there and try new things every now and then.”
As Abby walked away, she was certain there was some sort of message in there for her, but she didn’t know what it was. But there was definitely something going on with Sadie.
Abby made the toasted marshmallow latte for Sadie and made herself a caramel latte. It was a different drink for her as well. Something told her this chat with Sadie was going to be different, as well, but she had absolutely no idea what it was going to be about.
When she returned, she found Sadie had picked a table in the corner, away from the other patrons who were either working on their laptops or reading a book. She never minded people hanging out at the coffeeshop…as long as they bought something to drink.
She placed the cup in front of Sadie. “One toasted marshmallow latte. Hope you like it.”
Sadie took a sip and then nodded. “It’s good.” She took another sip. “It’s really good. I shouldn’t have waited this long to try it.”
Abby was happy to hear it. She took a sip of her caramel latte. It was good too. “So, what has you smiling so much?”
“Reed asked me to go to Chicago with him.” Her smile broadened, puffing up her cheeks.
“That’s great. But why are you going there in the middle of winter?”
“Well…he wants to show me his old stomping grounds, and he has some business to do while he’s there.”
Abby nodded. “What are you going to do while he’s working?”
“I was thinking of doing some wedding shopping. I thought maybe I could find some gifts there that I can’t find in Bayberry.”
“So, you’re going to go run all around Chicago on your own?”
Sadie shrugged. “Unless you would be willing to go with me.”
“Me?” She immediately shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
“Come on. We’d have fun together.”
It was true they would have a lot of fun, but then her sense of responsibility kicked in. “But I have to be here to run the coffeeshop.”
“Mia can keep an eye on things here for you.” There was a glint of hope in her eyes.
It was more than the business that had her dragging her feet.
Brad’s image filled her mind, and then just as quickly she imagined there was a blonde reaching for his hand before she leaned her head against his shoulder.
It happened with her ex, and they were supposed to be in a relationship.
She wasn’t even dating Brad. There was no reason for him not to be seeing someone.
The thought created a sour feeling in the pit of Abby’s gut.
She shoved the image to the back of her mind. She didn’t want to think about him. And she certainly didn’t want to see him again.
“Will you go with us?” Sadie’s voice drew her attention. “Please…”
Abby shook her head. “I don’t think so. Besides, I don’t want to be a third wheel. You and Reed will have more fun without me.”
The smile disappeared from Sadie’s face as she sighed. “It’s okay. I understand. And just so you know, you wouldn’t have been a third wheel.”
Feeling bad about letting her friend down, she wanted to move the conversation away from herself. “So, when are you leaving?”
Sadie lowered her gaze as she shook her head. “I’m not going to go.”
“What?” Oh no. This wasn’t good. “Why? Because I’m not going.”
Sadie shrugged. “It was a silly idea. I have things to do here with the plans to rebuild the newspaper building.”
“Sadie, why aren’t you going to go?” She hated the thought of her friend missing out on this trip because of her.
Sadie shrugged as she stared at her latte. “I don’t want to be an obligation to Reed. He has other things to do besides worry about me.”
Abby worried her bottom lip. It wouldn’t be so bad getting out of town. It had been years since she went anywhere. In fact, the last time she went on a road trip, it had been to Bluestar Island. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She had had the best time on the island.
“What are you smiling about?” Sadie arched a brow.
“I was just thinking about our road trip to Bluestar Island. All four of us had such a great time.” It had been her, Sadie, Carrie, and Kate. Best friends for life was the way they’d referred to themselves.
Sadie smiled. “It was a great time. Why did we stop doing things like that?”
Abby paused to give it some thought. “I think because we grew up, and responsibilities got in the way.”
Sadie nodded. “I think you’re right.”
This was a chance to get back some of that fun in her life. But she still wasn’t sure about this trip. “So, how long were you going to be gone?”
Sadie’s eyes flickered with hope. “Not long. We’re flying out Friday morning, and we’d fly back on Monday morning. So, just a long weekend.”
It really wasn’t that long. “And you want just the two of us to go shopping?”
Sadie nodded. “I was hoping to find something special for the bridal party and maybe a groom gift.”
It seemed like something fun they could do together. “But you know it’s going to be really cold.”
Sadie rolled her eyes. “You do realize we live in Vermont, don’t you?”
Abby laughed and then Sadie joined her. She was out of excuses not to go. “Okay. I’ll do it.”
“Yay!” The smile was back on Sadie’s face. “I’ll work on figuring out some stores for us to visit. Do you have any place you want to go?”
Abby shook her head. “I’ve never been to Chicago. I wouldn’t know where to go.”
“I need to tell Reed that we’re going.” Sadie got to her feet. “He’s going to be so happy. Thank you for doing this. We’re going to have a great time.”
Abby stood. “Yes, we will.”
After a quick hug, Sadie left. Abby was left wondering if she’d made the right decision. After all, it was going to be nearly impossible to avoid Brad. What was that going to be like?