27. Alex
27
Alex
Alex pushed open the door to Juno's Coffee Bar, the familiar scents and sounds of the cafe welcoming him into the cool interior. From what he could tell, he'd timed his visit perfectly. Only a handful of tables were occupied, mostly by people working on laptops or reading.
His meeting with Howard Grantham had gone better than expected. The attorney's confidence about Alex's custody options had lifted a weight from his shoulders that he hadn't even realized he'd been carrying. For the first time since Melissa had told him about Lena, Alex felt like he had solid ground beneath his feet.
He scanned the coffee shop, relieved not to see Leonard among the staff. The man's presence always cast a shadow over his visits, making it difficult to relax completely. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was something off about Juno's father, something beneath the helpful, charming exterior.
Juno looked up from where she was restocking pastry platters in the display case, and her face brightened. "Hey, you," she called across the counter. "I wasn't expecting you this afternoon."
Alex made his way to his usual spot at the counter, sliding onto a stool and waiting for her to make her way down the counter toward him. "I had some good news I wanted to share."
"Good news is always welcome," Juno said, leaning forward on her elbows. "Does it have something to do with your meeting with your attorney this morning?"
"It does." He smiled at her perceptiveness. "He thinks we have a really strong case for joint custody, both legal and physical. Of course, Melissa will have to be amenable to coparenting with me, because any and all major decisions would need to be made and agreed upon together, for one. He also thinks I have a good chance of being able to establish myself as Lena's primary residence since Melissa travels so much and doesn't own property other than a stake in the timeshare across the lake. Apparently, her history of moving around so much works in my favor, especially with all the stability I can offer Lena here."
"That's wonderful, Alex." Juno reached across the counter and squeezed his hand. "I'm so happy for you. For both of you."
"It's early days yet," he cautioned, but couldn't quell the optimism in his voice. "We'll have to see how Melissa responds, but Howard seems confident."
Juno glanced at the wall clock, then back at Alex. "I'm due for a break. You want your usual?"
"You know me too well," he admitted with a chuckle.
"Why don't you grab us a spot by the window while I make your shake? We'll have more privacy there."
Alex nodded and stood. "Mind if I use the restroom first?"
"You know where it is."
He made his way toward the back hallway, nodding to Trevor who was restocking the coffee bins. The restroom was small, but like everything in Juno's establishment, impeccably clean. Alex washed his hands, splashed some water on his face, and took a moment to collect his thoughts. He wanted to share everything Howard had told him with Juno, get her perspective on the steps ahead.
As he exited the restroom, he heard a commotion near the front of the shop. Leonard—when had he arrived?—was apologizing profusely to a woman seated at a table near the door. She was middle-aged with a helmet of silver hair, wearing a floral blouse and white pants.
"I'm so terribly sorry, ma'am," Leonard was saying, bending to retrieve a large leather tote bag from the floor. "I didn't see it there."
"It's entirely my fault," the woman replied, flustered. "I shouldn't have left it where someone could trip."
Leonard handed her the bag with a gallant bow. "No harm done."
But as the bag changed hands, Alex saw Leonard's fingers dip inside the open top, emerging with something small that disappeared into his palm before he smoothly pocketed it.
Alex froze. Had he really just witnessed what he thought he had? He watched as Leonard straightened his apron and headed toward the hallway where Alex stood, a placid smile on his face.
The older man nodded as he approached. "Alex. Good to see you."
Without thinking, Alex stepped directly into his path, blocking the way to the utility closet. "What did you just take from that woman's bag?"
Leonard's expression didn't change, but something flickered in his eyes. "Excuse me?"
"I saw you," Alex said, keeping his voice low but firm. "When you handed her bag back, you took something from it."
Leonard's smile tightened. "I don't know what you're talking about. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get cleaning supplies."
As he tried to step around Alex, Alex shifted to block him again. "Whatever you took needs to go back to her. Right now."
"Is there a problem?" Juno's voice came from behind him, and Alex turned to see her standing there, a chocolate shake in her hand and confusion on her face.
"Your friend here seems to think I'm a thief," Leonard said, his tone wounded. "Apparently, I stole something from Mrs. Harrison's bag."
Juno looked between them, her brow furrowing. "What's going on, Alex?"
Alex took a deep breath, aware of how this must look. "When he picked up her bag, I saw him take something out of it and put it in his pocket."
Leonard spread his hands, the picture of innocent bewilderment. "That's ridiculous. Why would I do that?"
"I know what I saw," Alex insisted.
Juno set the milkshake down on a nearby shelf. "Dad, did you take something from Mrs. Harrison's bag?"
"Of course not, Juniper." Leonard's voice was firm. "I wouldn't do that to you or your business."
The tension in the hallway was palpable. Alex could see Juno's struggle playing out on her face, wanting to believe her father, not wanting to doubt Alex.
"If you're so sure," Alex pressed, "then empty your pockets."
Leonard's eyes narrowed, but he reached into his pockets and turned them inside out. Keys, a handkerchief, some loose change, and a pack of mints tumbled into his palm. "Satisfied?"
Alex wasn't. He'd seen it, plain as day. But if Leonard had taken something, where was it now?
Juno looked troubled. "Alex, are you absolutely sure about what you saw?"
"Yes." He met her eyes, willing her to believe him. "He had his hand inside her bag."
Juno's jaw tightened, and Alex could see her weighing her options. Finally, she sighed. "I need to check this out. I can't just ignore an accusation like this. You two wait right here."
She turned and headed back into the main area of the coffee shop. Alex and Leonard stayed put, a tense silence between them. Juno approached the woman's table, her professional smile firmly in place.
"Mrs. Harrison? I'm so sorry to bother you, but I need to ask you something." Her voice was pitched low, discreet. "Could you please check your bag to make sure nothing is missing? There was a... concern."
Mrs. Harrison looked surprised but obliged, opening her tote and rifling through it. "My wallet is here," she said, pulling it out. "And my keys." She continued her search, producing a tablet, a small makeup bag, and a paperback novel. "Everything seems to be in order."
"You're sure?" Juno pressed gently. "Nothing else that might have been taken?"
Mrs. Harrison gave her a puzzled look. "No, dear. Everything's accounted for."
Juno's shoulders sagged with relief, but her eyes held a hint of embarrassment. "I'm so sorry to have bothered you. Please consider your order on the house today."
"That's not necessary," Mrs. Harrison protested, but Juno insisted.
When she returned to where Alex and Leonard waited, her expression had hardened.
Leonard shrugged, a ghost of smugness crossing his features. "Like I said, I didn't take anything."
Alex felt a swell of frustration. "I know what I saw."
"Apparently not," Leonard countered. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have work to do." He headed back toward the utility closet, his posture radiating vindication.
Juno watched him go, then turned to Alex. "Come with me."
She led him through the kitchen, past a startled Trevor, and out the back door into the alley behind the coffee shop. The afternoon heat hit them like a wall as the door swung shut behind them.
Juno whirled to face him, her eyes flashing. "What was that about?"
"I told you—"
"No, Alex. I want to know why you're so determined to think the worst of my father." Her voice trembled slightly. "Do you have any idea how humiliating that was? Having to ask Mrs. Harrison to check her bag like that? She's been coming to my shop for years."
"I'm sorry about that," Alex said, genuinely meaning it. "But I know what I saw, Juno. He had his hand in her bag."
"He picked it up to hand it to her!"
"No." Alex shook his head emphatically. "He took something. I don't know where he hid it, but he took something."
Juno crossed her arms. "Why? Why would he do that? He's got a stable job, a place to stay. What would be the point of risking all that to steal from my customers?"
Alex didn't have a good answer, just the certainty of what he'd witnessed. "I don't know. But people with addiction problems don't always make rational choices."
"Why is it so impossible for you to believe that my father has changed? Why doesn't he deserve a second chance?"
"This isn't about second chances," Alex countered, frustration building in his chest. "I'm not questioning his right to start over. I'm telling you what I saw today, with my own eyes."
"What you think you saw," Juno corrected. "Mrs. Harrison has all her belongings."
"That she knows of," Alex pointed out. "Maybe it was something small she hasn't noticed yet. Maybe he dumped it when he realized I was onto him."
Juno ran a hand over her braids, exasperation evident in the gesture. "Do you hear yourself? You sound like you're grasping at straws because you can't admit you might have been wrong."
The accusation stung, and Alex felt his own temper rising. "I'm trying to protect you, Juno."
"I don't need your protection!" She declared. "I need you to trust that I know what I'm doing. That I can make my own decisions about my father."
"Even if those decisions put you at risk? What happens when he's done worse than this and you can't ignore it anymore?" The moment the words left his mouth, Alex knew he'd gone too far.
Juno's eyes widened, then narrowed. "You know what? If my father is going to be in my life—and he is—then you need to find a way to deal with that. And if you can't, well, I don't know. Maybe we're moving too quickly. Maybe we need to take a step back..." She trailed off, leaving the implication hanging between them.
"What are you saying?" Alex's heart pounded uncomfortably in his chest.
"I'm saying that maybe you should focus on fixing your own problems before you start creating trouble for me." She reached for the door handle. "My father isn't going anywhere, Alex. So you need to decide if you can accept that or not."
"Juno—"
But she was already pulling the door open. "I have to get back to work. My break is over."
"Wait, can we talk about this tonight? Can I at least explain—"
"Actually, I don't think that's a good idea." Her voice had lost its heat, replaced by a coolness that was somehow worse. "I think we both need some space to figure out what we want."
And then she was gone, the heavy door closing behind her with a finality that left Alex standing alone in the alley, the taste of an argument he couldn't win bitter on his tongue.