by Jinty James
But Suzanne didn’t make a move to do anything else. Thank goodness.
“When Bobby told me about the party, I just had to come,” Vanessa cooed, smiling at him.
Maddie and Suzanne stared at each other. Bobby?
Maddie risked a glance at Jill, who looked puzzled – and anxious.
“Vanessa’s one of my regulars,” Bob put in hastily.
“Your most regular regular.” Vanessa giggled.
Bob flushed and looked embarrassed at the attention.
Jill cleared her throat. “Would you like an espresso, Vanessa?”
“I would love one,” Vanessa gushed. “Thank you – oh, what did you say your name was?”
Jill looked as if steam was about to emerge from her ears.
“This is Jill, my partner,” Bob told Vanessa in a steady voice. “And Maddie and Suzanne are our friends, and doing the catering for today.”
“That’s so nice of you girls,” Vanessa said, as if noticing them properly for the first time.
“I’ll make your espresso.” Maddie escaped, glad to leave the little group.
She peeked over at the small gathering as she pulled a shot. Vanessa hadn’t specified which type of roast she’d like, so Maddie had chosen the light one, thinking it would suit her personality – or what Maddie had glimpsed of it so far.
As she came back to the group with the steaming espresso, she wished she was out in the garden, watching Trixie and Boyd play on the lawn.
“Thanks.” Vanessa snatched the coffee and downed it in one gulp. “Ah! That’s better.” Then she frowned. “But I like your dark roast the best, Bobby.”
Suzanne rolled her eyes. Jill looked like she wanted to do likewise but was forcing herself to refrain. Bob looked uncomfortable.
“I’m sorry. I can make you another one with the dark roast, if you like,” Maddie offered.
“That would be super.” Vanessa thrust the empty cup at Maddie.
Now it was Maddie’s turn to flush. As she readied the machine, she wondered if taking this catering job had been a bad idea. It had sounded perfect when Jill and Bob had approached her and Suzanne about it, but now she wasn’t so sure.
Suzanne came over to her, just as Maddie pulled the shot.
“I’ll take it to her,” she muttered, her natural good-humor dimmed. “Why on earth did Bob invite her?”
“I don’t know.” Maddie shrugged helplessly. “You don’t think …”
“That she’s his ex-girlfriend?” Suzanne arched an eyebrow. “I did wonder, but I don’t think so. But I think she wants to be his current girlfriend.”
“And as far as we know, that’s Jill – isn’t it?”
“If she’s not now, I think she will be in the future.” Suzanne grinned, her annoyance with their first guest seemingly forgotten.
Maddie checked her watch. “I thought the guests were supposed to arrive at six, and it’s only quarter to.”
“Yep. Vanessa definitely wants to be Bob’s girlfriend. I bet she arrived early so she could get some alone time with him.” Suzanne tsked. “Men are so clueless sometimes.”
“You better take it over to her,” Maddie whispered as she intercepted an impatient glance from Vanessa.
“Okay.” Suzanne hurried over to Vanessa, Bob, and Jill.
Maddie decided to stay behind the counter and let Suzanne handle Vanessa. Perhaps their first guest hadn’t known about Bob and Jill’s relationship – whatever that was exactly – and that’s why she was acting a little spoiled?
“Grandma Pat!” Bob rushed to the front door that had now been propped open.
“I told you I could get here on my own.” An elderly lady with short cropped gray hair, wearing a lavender pants suit and using a matching lavender cane that tapped on the wooden flooring, entered the café. She patted Bob’s shoulder.
“Everyone, this is my Grandma Pat.” He bussed his grandmother’s cheek. “Come and meet Jill, my partner.”
“Hi,” Jill said, holding out her hand. “Bob’s told me a lot about you.”
“As long as you treat him right, I’m sure we’ll get along just fine, dear.” Grandma Pat shook Jill’s hand.
Maddie watched Jill smile tentatively at the senior, and then Bob introduced Suzanne and Vanessa to his grandmother.
“And this is Maddie.” Bob ushered Grandma Pat over to the espresso machines. “She and Suzanne are helping us out today.”
“Would you like a coffee?” Maddie smiled at the older lady.
“That would be lovely, dear. How about a nice cappuccino with lots of chocolate powder on top?”
“Coming right up.”
Grinding and hissing ensued as Maddie made Grandma Pat’s order.
“Let’s get this party started!” A deep female voice boomed into the room, causing Maddie to look up.
A woman with curly chestnut hair, a sturdy figure, and a bright smile pinned to her face, stood in the entrance of the café.
“Genevieve!” Jill hurried over to meet the newcomer.
“I wonder who that is?” Grandma Pat mused as Maddie dusted plenty of chocolate powder on top of the cappuccino.
“I haven’t met her before,” Maddie said, watching the two women embrace.
“This is my friend Genevieve,” Jill said, bringing her into the room.
“What do you need me to do?” Genevieve rubbed her hands in a ready to work manner.
“I think everything is just about ready.” Jill looked around the room that now had a large space in the center for people to mingle.
“But let me introduce you to everyone. This is Suzanne, who will be handing around the espressos and treats. She makes these delicious health balls – you’ll have to try them. And I’ve made some brownies.”
“You know I love your brownies, Jill.” Genevieve smiled at her friend.
“Maddie’s working the espresso machine.” Jill waved a hand in Maddie’s direction. “And of course you know Bob.”
“Hi.” Genevieve nodded politely in Bob’s direction.
Maddie noticed Bob return the gesture.
Hmm. Didn’t Genevieve like Bob?
Suzanne glanced in Maddie’s direction, a “What was that about?” look on her face.
“And this is Bob’s Grandma Pat.” Jill brought her friend over to the elderly lady, who had just taken her first sip of cappuccino.
“Hello, there,” Genevieve boomed.
“I can hear you just fine, dear.” Grandma Pat set down her cup on the counter. “No need to shout.”
“Sorry.” Genevieve lowered her voice slightly. “Why don’t we sit you at a table where you’ll be more comfortable?” She reached out to take Grandma Pat’s arm.
“I’m fine where I am.” The elderly lady shook off Genevieve’s hand. “I’m perfectly happy here, enjoying my cappuccino.”
“We can set up the tray of goodies for Suzanne to take around.” Jill urged her friend around the counter, toward the kitchen in the back.
“Good idea,” Genevieve’s loud voice faded a little as she and Jill walked out of sight.
“I hope she’s not going to try and boss me around all night.” Grandma Pat’s mouth pursed.
“She’ll probably be too busy helping Jill,” Maddie said.
“I’m perfectly capable of looking after myself.” Grandma Pat sipped at her cappuccino. “Lovely coffee, dear. I do everything for myself, you know, except mow the lawn and change the lightbulbs. Don’t like climbing ladders at my age. Bob takes care of those things for me.”
“Wow,” Maddie murmured, wondering if she would be as spry at eighty-something.
“I just hope Jill is going to be good to my Bob.”
“I’m sure she will,” Maddie replied. “She’s a lovely person. And she’s good at making coffee.”
“Hmm.” Grandma Pat picked up her cup. “If she makes a cappuccino as good as this one, then we’ll see. I must say Bob has had a spring in his step for the last couple of months. I just hope they’re not ru
shing into this business partnership.”
Maddie had wondered that too at first, then decided that surely Jill and Bob would know if merging their cafes into one chain was right for them.
“Bob!” A hearty male voice. A man in his early forties with short dark hair, and wearing navy slacks and a gray shirt, entered the coffee shop.
“Kevin!” Bob left Vanessa and Suzanne and stepped over to greet his friend.
Suzanne hurried over to Maddie, seemingly glad to leave Vanessa.
“I think I need a latte after that.” She dramatically mopped her brow.
“She’s not to your liking, dear?” Grandma Pat asked, her eyes bright with curiosity.
“You can say that again.” Suzanne leaned her elbows on the counter. “But I didn’t want to leave Bob alone with Vanessa – I was starting to wonder if she was actually a man-eater.”
Grandma Pat hooted with laughter. “I like you.”
“Thanks.” Suzanne grinned. “Maddie and I are doing the catering tonight.” She looked around the room, guilt flickering across her face. “Where’s Jill? I should be helping her.”
“She and Genevieve are in the kitchen.” Maddie tilted her head toward the back of the room where the kitchen was located.
“I’d better go and see how I can help.” Suzanne headed toward the rear.
“Well, tonight mightn’t be as boring as I thought it might be,” Grandma Pat confessed as she finished the cappuccino. “I didn’t like to disappoint my grandson and say I’d rather stay home and play in the online poker tournament my friend Mary told me about. She’s taking part in it. I so wanted to beat her.” The senior looked wistful.
“My friend Suzanne has made some health balls. And I know Jill has made brownies.” Maddie couldn’t think of anything else to cheer up Grandma Pat apart from food and coffee. “And I can make you as many coffees as you like – or even a hot chocolate if you don’t want to drink too much caffeine.”
Grandma Pat brightened. “Now there’s an idea. And I might like a cup of tea later – do you think you could make me one?”
“Of course,” Maddie promised, hoping Jill had some tea bags – or even loose-leaf tea – somewhere. Surely she had some customers who preferred tea over coffee, like Maddie and Suzanne did?
“And here’s Grandma Pat.” Bob appeared next to his grandmother, his friend Kevin right beside him.
“Hi, Grandma Pat.” Kevin grinned at the elderly lady. “What do you think about all this? Bob and Jill going into business together?” He slapped Bob’s back. “Before long you and Jill will have a whole chain of coffee shops all over the state!”
“Two’s enough to start with.” Bob smiled. “You know I’ve been thinking of expanding for a while. Partnering with Jill seems like the right move.”
“I think Bob knows what he’s doing.” Grandma Pat nodded.
“You’re right there,” Kevin agreed.
“Hello?” A woman in her thirties appeared in the entrance to the shop. “Is the party on?”
“It sure is!” Bob hurried to greet his guest.
After that, more people arrived in ones and twos. By six-thirty, the party was in full swing.
Maddie was kept busy making espressos as well as lattes, mochas, and cappuccinos. She barely saw Suzanne as her friend circulated around the room with her tray of caffeine loaded drinks, and then again with brownies and health balls.
Genevieve was helping out by taking people’s orders and relaying them to Maddie, practically peering over Maddie’s shoulder as she worked nonstop at the espresso machine. Maddie wished the other woman would go join the party, but couldn’t think of a way to say so politely.
“Don’t forget the mocha,” Genevieve told Maddie.
“I’ve just made it.” Maddie gestured to the steaming cup she’d just placed on the counter.
“Oh, right. Good.” Genevieve studied her notepad. “And a dark espresso, and a light espresso. Then I’ll get Suzanne to come over and take them to the guests.”
“Great.” Maddie focused on pulling a shot. “If you grab Suzanne now, they’ll be ready by the time she gets here.”
“Just what I was going to say.” Genevieve made a beeline for Suzanne, who was offering one of the guests a health ball or a brownie – or maybe both?
Maddie relished the brief respite from Genevieve. Perhaps she was being unfair, but Jill’s friend seemed to be acting as if she were in charge of the catering, not Maddie and Suzanne. Perhaps Jill had asked her friend to help out as well? But if so, why hadn’t she told Maddie and Suzanne?
“I didn’t know Genevieve was in charge of the catering.” Suzanne frowned as she put down her tray on the counter.
“You’ve just read my mind.” Maddie placed the mocha and the two espressos on the tray Suzanne used for the drinks. “Mocha, light espresso, and dark espresso.”
“And then I think I’m going to need one – a triple!” Suzanne picked up the tray and headed back into the crowd of guests.
No more orders – for a minute, at least. Maddie glanced over at the guests. Vanessa seemed to be flirting with Bob. Jill stood next to Bob, and didn’t seem to like Vanessa paying so much attention to him. Maddie couldn’t tell if Bob was completely clueless, or if he was enjoying Vanessa’s company, although he didn’t look like he was returning the flirty gestures.
Grandma Pat sat at a table with a cup of tea, a maple macadamia health ball, and a brownie.
Genevieve was taking more coffee orders, striding from one guest to another.
And Kevin was standing on the other side of Bob, seeming to make jokes – when Vanessa wasn’t flirting with Bob.
A shout of laughter caught Maddie’s attention. Kevin brandished a fancy silver pen, taking off the cap and writing something on a card.
“Here’s my cell phone number,” he said loud enough for Maddie to hear. He addressed the middle-aged woman standing next to him. “Call me anytime. You’re right – you can never be too early for tax time!” He chuckled as if he thought he’d made a funny joke.
Maddie crinkled her brow. She thought Jill and Bob were going to circulate amongst their guests – not stand in a little group. Although, she couldn’t blame Jill for wanting to keep an eye on Vanessa if Jill and Bob were a couple, and not just business partners.
An hour later, and the crowd of perhaps twenty people began to thin. As Maddie took a breather from the espresso machine, she watched Jill and Bob walk a few guests to the door and say goodbye to them.
Perhaps now would be a good time to check on Trixie and Boyd. With a start, she’d realized she’d been so busy handling the espresso orders that she hadn’t gone out to the garden to make sure they were okay.
What sort of cat person or witch was she?
But, she reasoned, she hadn’t experienced a whisper of intuition that Trixie needed her.
Still.
She caught Suzanne’s eye and gestured for her to come over.
“I’m going to check on Trixie and Boyd. If anyone needs a coffee, can you make it?”
“Sure.” Suzanne’s ponytail bobbed.
“I haven’t had a break all evening.”
“I’m sure Bob and Jill will be cool with it.” Suzanne looked over her shoulder – Jill and Bob headed toward Grandma Pat, who still sat at the table. “Anyway, they said we could have a break if we needed one – so you’re having yours now.”
“Thanks.” Maddie smiled at her friend.
She headed out the back door to the garden. The sun was slowly sinking in the sky, but there was still plenty of daylight.
Maddie inhaled the fresh air as she walked over to the enclosed lawn. At first she couldn’t see Trixie, or Boyd, then she spotted a pile of white and black fur in the kennel.
She opened the wooden gate, a slight squeak emitting, and walked quietly over.
Boyd snoozed in the shelter, Trixie curled up beside him, her white paw touching his black one.
“Ohhh,” Maddie whispered. She didn’t want to
disturb them.
She tiptoed back to the gate, wincing as it squeaked again when she closed it. Hopefully she hadn’t woken Trixie and Boyd.
“Well?” Suzanne asked as Maddie entered the café. A couple more guests seem to have departed.
The espresso machine hissed and burred as Suzanne pulled a shot.
“They’re asleep.” Maddie smiled as she described what she’d seen.
“Wish I’d been there.” Suzanne mock-pouted. “It sounds too cute for words. We’ll have to ask Jill if Boyd would like to come over to your house for a playdate one day – what do you think?”
“I think Trixie would like that,” Maddie said with a laugh. “So would I. Maybe one weekend?”
“We’ll talk to Jill about it after tonight.” Suzanne put the espresso shot on a tray. “My feet are killing me right now. I’m glad the party seems to be winding down.”
“I know what you mean,” Maddie said ruefully. “At least we have stools inside our truck if we need to get off our feet.”
“Swap you.” Suzanne slid out behind the counter and grabbed the tray. “This is for Vanessa.” She scanned the knot of guests standing around Bob. “I can’t see her though.” She frowned. “Or Jill.”
“Maybe Bob knows where Vanessa went,” Maddie suggested. “Are there any more coffee orders?”
“No.” Suzanne shook her head. “Genevieve only gave me this one. Uh-oh. She’s coming this way. Bye.”
Maddie watched Genevieve head towards her.
“Where were you, Maddie?” Genevieve furrowed her brow.
“I was taking a short break,” Maddie replied, hating confrontation like this. “I believe that’s allowed. And Suzanne was here to make any espressos.”
She watched the other woman flounder – something she didn’t think Genevieve was used to.
“As long as someone is here to make the coffee,” she finally said. “That’s what Jill is paying you to do.”
“And Bob,” Maddie pointed out although she didn’t know why.
“And Bob. Yes.” Genevieve answered, as if she didn’t like to say his name.
She turned to go back to the guests, her back stiff.
Maddie had no idea what that was all about. Maybe when the party was over and Genevieve had gone home, she’d ask Jill exactly who Genevieve was? Because right now, it seemed as if Genevieve was in charge!
