3. Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Mazie
W ith Alina on her honeymoon, it requires me to be present in the café more than the few times a month I’m usually there.
When we bought the café, we all learned how to work the various coffee machines and the register. But only Alina knows how to bake well enough to sell everything. We’ve had to order out for the week she’s away, and the quality is just sub-par.
Enough so that our regulars are asking when Alina will be back.
Not soon enough is the answer I say in my head. “Just a few days now,” is the answer I give with a forced smile.
Thankfully, it’s not prime tourist season, so we’re not giving anybody except our regulars less than our best.
Liv’s okay with me spending most of my time in the safety of my small office. It’s really more of a closet that I’ve squeezed a small desk into. The girls use it for breaks sometimes, which is fine by me. They’re welcome to my fortress any time they need it, but I know they both typically end up in the kitchen instead.
Though I’ve never explained my reclusiveness to Liv, she seems to understand my need to not be in the front of the house. She’s always been very perceptive. It’s something I don't give her enough credit for.
Ever since Liv’s accident a few years ago, we’ve hired a few more staff members to help out in times of need. It’s been great for the weekends that Jameson takes Liv and Jordanna down to the city.
But it makes writing schedules something I have to do more frequently and more in depth. Before, it was clear that Liv and Alina were in every day, and then they’d let me know what days they wanted an extra set of hands and who. Now, I try to make sure there are at least two other people on every single day.
It also makes our costs higher, but revenue is solid. Jameson begged me to let him look over the numbers to make sure we were on steady ground since it’s Liv’s livelihood, and even he was impressed with how well we’ve been able to make the little shop do.
That’s what happens when you open the only decent café in a small town. We have people who come from Pineville City too, but that’s because they want the small town, Mom-and-Pop feel.
While Juniper Grove is a small town, it’s rich with local flare and even some history. There are amazing nature trails and it’s a nice, quiet town just outside of a larger city. People like to frequent here for weekend getaways, and many who come, return in later years.
That’s part of what makes me nervous about owning the shop. The tourists, the drifters, the strangers who come in and out. It’s something I’m working on with my therapist and have been for years.
Most of the girls who work here are high school or college age, coming in to work their shifts after or before classes. They’re all incredibly easy-going and sweet, which is good, because I’m not sure Liv would be able to handle a snotty attitude and would surely fire them on the spot. As far as she’s concerned, she’s the only one who’s allowed to have an attitude.
Once the schedules are set for the next two weeks, all classes and day-off requests accounted for, I take out the checkbook to start writing this week’s paychecks.
I’m about to sign the second one when I hear a squeal out on the floor and jump up from my chair, pushing out into the dining area.
What I see warms my heart before the quick, icy tendril of jealousy wraps around my ribs.
Jameson brought Jordanna by and she toddles to Liv, who’s squatting and has her arms outstretched, the proudest smile I’ve ever seen on her face.
Jordanna falls right into Liv’s waiting arms, and she scoops up her daughter, giving her kisses all over her face until my niece giggles.
“I thought you’d want to see what we mastered today.” Jameson closes the gap between them and puts an arm around Liv’s waist, pulling her close and kissing the top of her head.
“I’m so proud of you, baby girl. What a big girl you’re getting to be.” She wipes a stray tear from her eye.
Though I try to keep the green monster at bay, it rears its ugly head in moments like this. Because I so desperately want what Liv has. The husband who loves me unconditionally and dotes on me constantly. The adorable baby who only has eyes for her mommy. At times, it makes things tense between me and Liv, which is entirely my problem and something I hate about myself.
I worry my time is running out. It’s not that I’m old, per se. It’s more that I feel my clock tick, tick, ticking and I have no suitors. With my detachment and inability to trust new people, it’s going to take a while for somebody I’m dating to become a real love interest.
And I’ll have to actually start dating again for that to happen.
Quickly, I shake the thought away and throw on my best smile. “Who’s here to see her favorite auntie?” I reach into Liv’s arms and pull Jordanna from her, tickling the sweet girl’s little belly so she giggles again.
I swear this child has the best laugh.
“Favorite auntie, huh?” Liv crosses her arms and taps her toe on the ground. “You’ll have to fight Alina for that title, you know.”
“She’s not here, so I get to say it. Yes, I do.” I don’t even look away from Jordanna as I talk in my baby voice.
“Did you see her new skill?”
“I did. She’s growing up so fast.”
“She really is.” There’s a waver to her voice. It must be hard to watch your first baby grow so quickly. And especially for her to do it without Mom and Dad around. I haven’t spent enough time asking her how she’s handling that.
Jameson leans down and whispers something in her ear, which makes her smile and nod. He’s good to her, and good for her. I definitely didn’t give him a fair chance at first.
But I’m hoping I’ve been able to make up for it in recent years.
Jordanna starts to wriggle in my arms, so I set her down. She takes careful steps right to Liv, wrapping her chubby little arms around my sister’s legs.
Liv scoops her right up and smatters her face with kisses. Seeing my sister be a mom is truly amazing.
While she still insists on having pink streaks in her hair and wearing ripped jeans, she’s so much more grown than I’ve given her credit for.
I find it somewhat ironic that, for years, I was the one who she turned to for advice, usually after Alina because they’re just closer than Liv and I ever have been, and at some point in the future, I’ll be turning to Liv. Or at least, I hope so.
The family I so desperately want just feels farther and farther away these days.
The bell above the door chimes and a group of teenagers piles in. Resting my hand on Liv’s arm, I smile and nod, moving away and hoping she gets my silent message that I got this.
Despite the butterflies in my chest, my award-winning smile plants itself on my face as I round the counter. “Hi there. How can I help you today?”
While I take the order, I can’t help but continue to glance over at the happy family in the middle of the café.
My smile falters as I see something that feels like it may never happen for me.