Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Mark nodded toward the trio of baristas as they took orders from the test customers and cleaned surfaces, their every motion displaying well-trained efficiency. Confidence was key, he reminded himself. But as the health inspector, a tall figure with an air of authority, paced around the shop, his eyes scrutinizing, Mark felt his heart drum a rapid beat in his chest.
Emily stood beside the inspector, her voice strong and clear, explaining the setup with unfaltering confidence. Her calm was infectious, and as Mark chimed in with his own steady comments, he felt the pulse of nerves settle into a more familiar rhythm. Together, they looked on as the inspector marked his clipboard, their combined assurance a silent vow that everything would go exactly as planned.
“Thank you for being here,” Mark said as he extended his hand for a firm handshake. The inspector’s face was as serious as the checklist in his hand, eyes bright behind thin glasses.
“Everything seems in order so far,” the inspector replied, his voice a gravelly monotone. He looked up, one brow arched. “You folks seem well prepared.”
Emily jumped in, her voice confident. “We’ve been working hard. Let us show you around the rest of the place.”
Mark gestured to the bright, spacious interior that was sparkling from all the hard work. “The store layout is simple. It keeps everything efficient. Customers flow in from there.” He pointed to the entrance, where Sue smiled and handed a sample cup of coffee to townsfolk as they passed by.
Emily nodded. “Then straight to the counter. We can handle the busiest crowds.” She led the inspector’s gaze along the polished floor.
The inspector leaned slightly forward and began to scribble a note on his clipboard, the sound of pen scratching on paper filling the room. His eyes, sharp and inquisitive, briefly flickered up to meet Mark’s before he asked, “And how do you handle employee training?” His voice was calm yet probing, seeking to uncover the layers of procedures they had in place.
“We focus on cross-training,” Mark said, stepping forward with an earnest expression. “Everyone knows every position. Our trainer makes sure of it.”
Emily motioned to the staff, working with military precision. “Schedules are staggered for overlap during peak hours with regular cleaning of machines and counters.”
The inspector’s gaze followed the synchronized ballet. “You’ve certainly got a solid system.”
Mark felt a growing sense of assurance. Emily’s presence was like a steadying hand on his shoulder, and he found himself moving with newfound ease. “We’ve drilled the team on health codes. We hold practice inspections just to make sure they are following all the proper procedures. ”
With a nod, the inspector gestured to behind the counter. “Let’s see your equipment.”
Mark led the way, gesturing to the high-end machines and neatly stacked supplies. “Everything’s top of the line, self-cleaning and easy to sanitize.” He walked briskly with Emily by his side, his words quick and full of certainty.
Emily flashed a warm smile, her expression brimming with confidence. “We’ve got a well-organized maintenance schedule,” she explained, “that effectively keeps breakdowns at bay.”
The inspector jotted down meticulous notes on his clipboard. His eyes remained fixed on the baristas, who moved gracefully behind the counter. They wiped surfaces with swift, efficient motions, ground beans with rhythmic precision, and poured lattes with an artful flair, their actions seamlessly interwoven like a finely tuned dance.
Mark’s mind ticked with each motion, checking off mental boxes and planning his words with precision. This was going to go flawlessly. It had to.
Next up, Mark and Emily led the inspector to the brewing stations. “We have backups for every critical piece,” Emily explained, her hands danced through the air, illustrating her points.
Mark gestured toward a variety of items scattered around the shop, each carefully arranged and meticulously placed. “We exceed requirements for full operation,” he declared with pride. “Our motto is to always be overprepared.” As he spoke, his voice reflected his dedication to ensuring everything was in perfect order, and they were ready for any challenge.
“I can see that. Very efficient,” the inspector finally remarked, his voice carrying a subtle but discernible tone of approval. His eyes, sharp and observant, scanned the scene with an expert’s precision, noting the careful organization and seamless operation before him. The faintest hint of a nod accompanied his words, as if to punctuate his recognition of their hard work.
Mark glanced at Emily, catching her eyes for a moment. They shared a wordless communication, one of mutual accomplishment, knowing that they were on the right path to passing.
The break room was next. Cozy and clean, with a sense of order that matched the rest of the shop. “Staff training materials, all organized,” Emily said, gesturing to a row of binders.
“Your documentation is impressive,” the inspector stated in an improving voice.
Mark’s shoulders eased, and he let out a breath he didn’t realize he'd been holding. It looked like all the hard work was going to pay off, and Birdie’s sabotage wasn’t going to work after all.
They continued to follow the inspector as he did one final check of cleanliness after going through the storage areas. Emily anticipated every question, answering with smooth assurance while Mark filled in gaps with quick, certain comments. Between the two of them, they covered everything, and the inspector had nothing but approving nods.
The inspector placed his clipboard in his folder and closed it, nodding to them. “Everything is in order, just like the last time. You’re ready to open.”
Mark felt a palpable weight lift from his shoulders. The long-held tension, a relentless knot of anxiety wound tightly within him, finally unraveled and broke free. As the inspector turned and walked away, Mark experienced a profound sense of release .
“Take that, Birdie. We passed with flying colors,” Emily shouted, pumping her fist in the air.
Mark returned her smile, a warm pride blooming in his chest. “We did it.” Then, turning his attention to the baristas, he added, “All of us, together.”
The shop erupted in excitement, and the baristas high-fived each other, their enthusiasm a jubilant chorus that filled the room.
Mark turned to Emily, his smile wide and full of triumph. “Thank you for all your help. We couldn’t have done this without you,” he said, the words ringing with a mixture of disbelief and joy.
Emily laughed, the sound vibrant and alive. “I told you we had nothing to worry about.”
The coffee shop echoed with communal cheers of clinking cups and thrilled voices as they shared in the triumph of their passed inspection. Then, out of nowhere, a change in the air’s current, an unease rippling through the room, turned his attention to the door. Birdie’s silhouette was impossible to miss, as disruptive as a cell phone at church. The baristas exchanged glances, whispers curling around the older woman as she made her entrance.
Emily stiffened at Mark’s side, the smoothness of her earlier confidence gone rigid.
Mark saw the flicker of determination in the older woman’s eyes as she moved across the room, her words cutting through the chatter with sharp, precise edges. “You should know that you won’t be able to brew up any more trouble around here.”
The shop’s background noise faded to a tense murmur as everyone watched the confrontation.
Birdie’s eyes widened in feigned surprise, her face a mask of innocence. “Oh, I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about. ”
Emily shook her head, clearly refusing to let it slide. “We both know that isn’t true. You came here hoping to have something to gloat about, but you should know that your little scheme failed. The Brave Badge passed the second inspection you caused, and we’re turning the grand opening into a charity event for the local search and rescue team.”
Mark stayed close, his quiet support as steady as the walls around them. He watched the scene unfold, Emily’s fire igniting the entire room. She had this under control, and everyone knew it.
“Causing a scene like this; I guess I shouldn’t have expected any better from you,” Birdie stated snidely.
Emily stood firm, a formidable force, unwilling to break under the other woman’s biting words. “The only one causing a scene is you. You have every time you’ve come into this shop.” Her words were arrows, each hitting its mark.
“Maybe it’s best if you just stay away if you can’t be happy for us,” Mark added.
“Yeah, we only want positive vibes around here,” Sue chimed in, and then when Birdie gave her a withering look, she ducked behind Bryan.
Birdie tried a new tactic, spreading her hands wide in a show of helplessness. “Now, calm down, everyone. I was just concerned when I made that call. Just trying to look out for?—”
Emily cut her off with a sharp, clear tone and a raise of her hand. “You can just stop. We’re doing fine without any ‘help’ from you.”
Birdie glanced between them, a moment of calculation in her eyes. “Well,” she huffed, her voice suddenly small, “I can see where I’m not wanted. I’ll just be going.” Birdie retreated, her exit a slow dissolve. The door closed behind her, and the whispers she left in her wake filled the shop like the buzzing of bees.
The shop’s atmosphere shifted, a collective exhale as tension transformed into renewed happiness that all was well with the Brave Badge.
Mark turned to Emily, a proud warmth spreading through him. “You handled that admirably,” he said, the words low and full of meaning.
Emily looked back at him, the edges of her resolve softening. “Did you see her face?”
“I did.” Mark nodded with a small laugh. “Everyone did.”
“She knew she was finally bested, and we were the ones to do it,” Emily told him with a big smile.
As the laughter and chatter resumed around them, Mark leaned a bit closer to Emily, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret. “I think we make a pretty great team, don’t you?”
“Yeah, I'd say unbeatable.” Emily’s eyes twinkled with mischief and satisfaction.
Mark’s heart fluttered at her words, a mixture of hope and caution swirling in his chest. He wanted to tell her how he hoped they could have more beyond just the coffee shop. But the words lodged in his throat unspoken.
The rest of the day passed in a blur of plans for the grand opening, but Mark noticed that Emily was becoming more distant as the day wore on. He wasn’t sure what was wrong, and he wanted to ask, but they were never alone long enough for him to broach the subject. But as the sun began to dip low in the sky, the shop was finally quiet after the baristas left for the day.
“I guess I should start thinking about heading back to Hero,” she said as she gathered her things, her voice tinged with something that sounded suspiciously like regret .
Mark’s heart sank. The thought of her leaving twisted uncomfortably in his gut. He leaned against the counter, trying to appear casual. “You know, you don’t have to rush off. You could stay until the grand opening.”
"My work here is complete,” she told him.
Mark felt her statement land like a blow, a solid weight in the pit of his stomach. He searched for the words that might change her mind, knowing they were as elusive as hope. “You don’t have to leave,” he told her, his voice raw with feelings he was unable to name yet.
Emily looked at him, her eyes steady and her expression unreadable. Mark felt an unsettling mixture of admiration and dread as he waited for her response.
“I came to help train your baristas for your opening,” Emily said, her voice gentle but firm. “And now they’re ready. I have to head back and find out what my next job is going to be.”
Mark’s heart dropped at the certainty in her words. Panic rose in him, the realization that she might actually leave hitting him with raw force. “You could stay here,” he offered, the words tumbling out in a rush. “I’ll make you the manager.”
The offer hung in the air between them. It was both a plea and a promise, an attempt on Mark’s part to hold onto whatever was growing between them.
Emily seemed to be considering his offer, a mixture of surprise and something else flickering across her face. Mark held his breath, the suspense twisting in him like a living thing.
“I’ll think about it,” she finally conceded.
Mark sensed the distance already present in her reply, the space between them widening despite his best efforts to not let it happen. Disappointment clenched at his heart, a hollow sensation that felt like defeat. But he knew pushing her wouldn’t get him anywhere. He had to trust that given some time, she would come to realize that staying in Faith Valley would be worth it.
As Emily walked away, the weight of her departure seemed to press down on the shop itself, making it feel emptier even with the sounds of preparation around them. Mark watched her exit, his heart heavy and his mind racing with all the things he wished he could say.
The evening found Mark at the lake, the familiar cool water a balm to his chaotic thoughts. As he swam, the physical exertion helped to clear his mind but did little to ease the ache in his chest. The thought of not seeing Emily every day was more daunting than any of the most challenging rescues he had faced in his career.
Under the twilight sky, Mark’s strokes were mechanical, each one pushing him further into the calmness of the lake. The water, usually a place of solace, now mirrored his turmoil. How was he going to get through this if she didn’t take him up on his offer and decided to leave? He couldn’t imagine his life without her in it.
Mark emerged from the lake with his thoughts marginally clearer but his resolve stronger. He needed to find a way to make Emily see Faith Valley not just as a job location but as a home. Maybe then she would reconsider her decision to leave.
As he walked back toward his truck, drying off with a towel, he made up his mind. He would go to her tomorrow and lay it all out. Not just the job offer but everything—how much she meant to him, how much he wanted her to stay. He knew it was a risk, exposing his feelings so openly, but the thought of not taking that chance scared him more than any potential rejection.
Inside his truck, he sat in silence, staring at the darkening horizon. The decision was made now; he couldn’t let her leave without expressing his true feelings. It was not just the coffee shop that would be missing something without her—his life would, too, and he had to do whatever he could to make sure that he didn’t lose her.