Chapter 8
Jo stared at the mirror in her bathroom, deftly applying makeup to cover the dark circles that appeared under her eyes. She’d hardly slept after the disaster with Blue.
She lifted her chin and spoke to her reflection. “You’re a queen. You’re a goddess. You’re a…mess…” Her voice faded away.
Blue didn’t need to spell it out for her. She had to face the truth. They could continue as they were, and that would be fine for some. She wasn’t judging anyone’s choices.
But for her, she’d always wanted a family, probably because hers had been so dysfunctional. She wanted to do it right—with a man she loved and respected, one who would treat her the same.
If Blue couldn’t do that, it was time to choose herself and follow her version of happiness. She snapped her cosmetic case closed and left for the diner.
The entire day was busy at Cuppa Jo’s. When the flow of customers finally slowed in the later afternoon, Jo changed and left Candy in charge. She’d arranged a meeting with Junie and Maileah after work at the Majestic Hotel.
Jo arrived in the beautifully restored lobby. The soaring ceilings, polished antiques, and potted palms made her feel as if she were stepping into a different world.
Whitley spied her at once. “Welcome. What brings you here today?”
The general manager wore a rose-colored sport coat today. “Hi, Whitley. I’m meeting Junie and Maileah here. They’re helping me cook up a surprise.”
“You’re three powerhouses,” Whitley said, smiling. “I believe you’ll find them in the cafe, plotting to take over the world.”
“Yes, we are,” she said, laughing. “Don’t tell anyone.”
Whitley had always been courteous and helpful with a subtle sense of humor. She couldn’t imagine the Majestic without him.
Jo walked through the hotel, admiring the plush furnishings her customer, Deb, had chosen. Junie worked at her own shop on the grounds, and Maileah was managing a special promotional project for Ryan and his team. That is, when she wasn’t managing Sailor’s promotional appearances.
Maileah and Sailor were engaged, and Jo knew they’d worked out problems in their relationship. They seemed happy now. They were nonconformists, living the lives they wanted, so maybe they weren’t bothered by what others thought.
The hotel’s ocean-facing patio hummed with summer crowds. Families lingered over late lunches, and children chased each other between the tables. A group of women in chic swim coverups were sharing stories and laughing.
Beyond the terrace, the Pacific Ocean glittered under a clear sky, and sailboats tilted in the wind.
On the beach, kids in colorful rash guards paddled on surfboards in the shallows.
Sailor used to teach those lessons. Now someone else ran them, just as someone else managed the bike rental concession he’d handled for his father.
Sailor had moved on to bigger waves, and the island had filled in behind him.
Sort of like she had with Cuppa Jo’s, which had once been called Island Break. She’d changed the name to make it hers.
Jo spotted Junie and Maileah at a table under a marine-blue umbrella. Junie had her laptop open, and Maileah was typing on her phone, likely managing something for Sailor’s growing profile.
“Give me one more minute,” Jo told Junie and Maileah, heading toward the kitchen.
She found Chef Gianna in her office reviewing a catering job menu. The executive chef was from the Amalfi Coast, and she ran the Majestic’s kitchen with precision, high standards, and little patience for excuses. Her dark hair was wound into a bun, and her white chef jacket was spotless.
“Hi, Chef,” Jo said, tapping on the open door to her office. Sometimes Gianna came to Cuppa Jo’s late at night for a Stilton cheeseburger with sautéed onions. Her guilty pleasure, she’d told Jo. “Do you have a minute?”
Gianna looked up. “For you, I’ll make it two. What’s up?”
Jo placed a small burlap bag on the counter. Inside were three sample pouches, each labeled in Jo’s handwriting. “I’d love your honest opinion on these new coffees. No rush. Whenever you have time.”
Jo briefly told her about each one and her plans to offer them at Cuppa Jo’s.
Gianna picked up the bag and looked at the labels. “People always say they want my honest opinion. Then they don’t.”
“I do. I need your blunt assessment, so I don’t make a fool of myself.”
Gianna held each bag to her nose. “Hmm, very flavorful. All right. I’ll try them and tell you what I think.”
“Fair enough. Thank you.”
Jo understood. Running a kitchen staff required tough skin and clear judgment. Gianna wouldn’t sugarcoat her opinion, and that was exactly what Jo wanted. If the coffee was good enough for the Majestic’s chef, it would be good enough for Jo’s customers.
Sometimes Jo liked her cooking too much. Like the tropical banana burger that failed miserably. None of her customers could understand fried bananas on a burger. She didn’t want to delude herself on a project she would sink so much time and money into.
“You’re back,” Junie said. “Have a seat. We’re drinking mojito mocktails—cocktails without the alcohol. Want one?”
“Sure, I still have work to do,” Jo replied, placing Rocky’s folder on the table.
Maileah poured one for her.
The chilled blend of muddled citrus, soda, and mint was cool and refreshing.
“Is that the project you and Rocky were going over at the sushi place?” Junie asked.
Jo was surprised. “You heard about it, too?”
“Small island, but I told her,” Maileah said. “Rocky mentioned it later when he returned to Sailor’s house. He thinks you have a great plan. That means a lot coming from him. He was a whiz kid at university.”
“I didn’t know that,” Jo said. “Surely he had some job offers, then.”
“Rocky is looking for a unique opportunity,” Maileah said. “He’s a smart guy.”
“Okay, here’s what I’ve done.” Jo shared her notes with her friends.
Early this morning, she’d reviewed other crowdsourcing campaigns in her industry. She looked at what was popular, what flopped, and why. She’d made notes on pricing tiers, stretch goals, and fulfillment timelines. Now she wanted to hear what they thought.
“You did all this?” Junie asked. When Jo nodded, she added, “It’s impressive.”
“I got interested, so I decided not to wait on Rocky,” Jo said. “My questions are about branded merchandise. What should I offer beyond the coffee itself? I’m thinking about what would entice people.”
Jo knew this was Junie’s expertise. She’d built Crown Island Princess from a small gift shop in the Majestic into an online brand by sourcing and designing custom products.
“Mugs are obvious, but they have to be good quality and a little different,” Junie said. “A large ceramic size that people would reach for every morning. With your logo, of course. You can buy those in small quantities, but you don’t have to place an order until the campaign funds and closes.”
“This is good,” Jo said, making notes. Her spirits lifted at the ideas. “What else?”
Junie ticked off items on her fingers. “Tumblers for iced coffee. An apron, maybe, in your red-and-white striped theme. I think a nice tote bag for shopping trips would be popular. A sturdy canvas type that people could take to the farmers market.”
“Could you help me find suppliers?” Jo asked.
“Absolutely. I have contacts for all that. They can provide samples before the campaign ends. Oh, and make a note about lead times. You’ll need to know that in advance.”
Jo did. “This is exactly what I need.”
Maileah joined the conversation. “Are you planning to sell your coffee anywhere other than Cuppa Jo’s?”
Jo nodded. “I thought it could do well in specialty grocery stores, but Rocky found that I’d need funds for shelf samples and store promotions. That was the original plan before my manufacturer fell through.”
“He’s probably right,” Maileah said, putting her phone down.
“I don’t want to burst your bubble, but grocery is tough.
The shelf space is competitive, margins are thin, and buyers at those stores are flooded with pitches from brands with big ad budgets.
It’s not impossible to get in, but it’s a long game. Better to wait until they come to you.”
Jo suspected as much, but hearing it again from Maileah, who understood marketing better than anyone she knew, made her reconsider.
“So what would you recommend?” Jo asked.
“Start where you’re strong,” Maileah said.
“That’s what you’re doing. Every customer who drinks your coffee is a potential retail buyer.
Sell the bags at the counter for souvenirs and gift-giving, take orders on your website, and build your mailing list. Once you have volume and a track record, the grocery buyers will come to you. ”
“You might even decide against that, or only sell wholesale,” Junie said. “Being exclusive has many advantages.”
This was more modest than Jo’s original vision, but it was also realistic. In the long run, Jo realized it would likely be more profitable and easier to manage.
“I also think you need an official launch,” Maileah said with a broad smile. “Not just a campaign page. An event that you can splash all over social media. Send samples to influencers or invite them to a party. Your Friday nights at Cuppa Jo’s are the best party in town.”
“Maybe a coffee tasting,” Jo said, envisioning this. “We could set up stations for each blend, pair them with Dulcie’s cookies, and have Adrian bring in another musician.”
“Now you’re talking,” Maileah said, grinning. “We can create a good visual area for photos and video. I think I know where. So be prepared to do video interviews.”
“You can also invite the local press, food bloggers, and the wealthy summer crowd,” Junie added. “I can design event cards for you to pass out to customers. I can just imagine Cuppa Jo’s taking over the coffee world.”
“There’s still a lot of work to do,” Jo said. “I know this is just the beginning.”
“The product is the hardest part,” Junie said. “You’ve already done it. I think a launch party would be fun.”
“I’d love your help.” Jo bit her lip. “But you should know my budget is slim, and I can’t pay you very much for all this.”
Junie and Maileah looked at each other and burst out laughing.
“We couldn’t charge you,” Maileah said. “Besides, this is our idea of fun.”
“We want to see you succeed,” Junie added. “We know what you’ve gone through to get to this point.”
They chatted a little more. Maileah told them how busy she was fielding offers from surfboard companies, apparel brands, and a sports drink company that wanted Sailor’s face on their bottles. She also planned to go with Sailor to the championship surfing competitions.
“So, about this latest gossip,” Maileah began. “Any truth to what’s going on between you and our good-looking cousin?”
Jo put a hand to her mouth in surprise. “There’s gossip?”
Maileah smiled. “You’re well known in town. A lot of people saw you with Rocky. He’s really easy on the eyes. If he weren’t my blood cousin, and I weren’t engaged—”
“Stop right there,” Junie said, poking her. “Are you concerned about Blue hearing about it?”
“Too late,” Jo replied. “He invited me over for a makeup dinner last night. Cooked for me and everything. I thought he was going to propose. But I think he only wanted to reassert his boyfriend status.”
“And did you reconcile?” Junie asked.
“For a little while, before I found out he didn't have any intention of that.” Jo shook her head. “I proposed to him, in fact.”
“You didn’t,” Maileah said with surprise.
“Well, why not?” Junie asked. “We’re not living in the Dark Ages. If you want something, go for it. Right, ladies?”
“Blue had plenty of time to think about it,” Jo said, sipping her drink. “He doesn’t want anything about our relationship to change. You know I want more.”
Her friends nodded solemnly and reached for her hands.
Clasping their hands tightly, Jo blinked hard. “So now I’m planning a coffee launch party instead of a wedding.”
Junie looked at her with compassion. “Maybe he’ll change when he realizes what he’s lost.”
“Or you’ll find someone better,” Maileah said. “I think you might have already.”
Jo managed a brave smile. “I don’t know. I’ll miss Blue, grouchy as he can be.”
Her friends knew how devastated she was, but what choice did she have? If Jo stayed in the relationship, she would grow bitter over being denied the marriage and family she’d always wanted.
This was the right choice for her. Maybe not for everyone, but for her, it was.
Moments later, Chef Gianna appeared behind them, holding a cup of coffee.
The aroma was instantly recognizable to Jo. It was her Kona coffee.
“Hello, ladies,” Gianna said. “My staff and I decided to try your coffee before you left.”
Jo caught her breath, dreading Gianna’s assessment, but also eager to hear what she thought. “What do you think, Chef?”
“They’re all quite nice, but this one…” Gianna lifted her cup and gave Jo a serious look. “If you can supply enough, I’d like to serve this at the Majestic as a special, elevated coffee, and feature your brand. Ryan takes supporting local businesses seriously.”
Junie added, “That’s what differentiates the Majestic from competing corporate hotels that have no personality. We’re an island resort, and our guests like discovering unique items and experiences.”
“I’ll talk to the grower and let you know,” Jo replied, thrilled at Gianna’s assessment.
Her friends around the table looked equally excited for her.
Gianna smiled. “Check with your sources, and we’ll work out the details later.”
Jo shook her hand with enthusiasm. “Thank you, Chef. Thank you so much.”
After she’d gone, Jo turned to her friends. “She loved it,” she cried, her spirits soaring at the professional validation.
Success might be the best way to get over a relationship after all. More reason than ever to go for it, she decided.