Delia
Trouble at the coffee shop. COME QUICK.
* * *
“I made a big mistake.” Elisa set Delia’s wheelchair brake at the corner table by the window at Chug a Mug and hurried to move the extra seat out of the way. The espresso machine whirred from the front counter, and several patrons turned and offered sympathetic smiles to Delia in her chair.
“What mistake? Did you forget to order me decaf?” The older woman’s brows rose as she looked up at Elisa. “Because I sure wouldn’t complain.” She covered an exaggerated yawn with her hand.
Elisa took the remaining seat opposite Delia. “You know what the doctor said—no caffeine. Your blood pressure has been high.”
“Wouldn’t yours be if you’d been stuck at the hospital the last few days while your café burst into flame?” Delia tugged a napkin free from the dispenser and wiped the table in front of her.
“You heard, huh?” Elisa winced.
“Of course I heard. It was on the news last night. That hospital TV was tiny, but not mute.”
“I’m so sorry. I meant to tell you, but things have been a little hectic.” To put it mildly. There’d been the hours spent cleaning up, going with Noah to the lighthouse, her father running into the inn unannounced...
Her stomach flipped. She was being such a coward, not texting Noah after her abandonment of their victory party last night. But seeing the anger in her dad’s eyes had sent her straight into survival mode—stay calm. Defuse the tension. Hide her emotions.
“I’m teasing you.” Delia patted her hand. “Actually, Lucius came to me yesterday evening, owning everything. He felt horrible.”
“He was a big help cleaning the diner.” Elisa nodded. “He’s over there again with Trish now, finishing up. We should be able to reopen for breakfast tomorrow after the health and code inspections this afternoon.” She checked her watch. Hopefully they could get back to business for their faithful Saturday crowd.
She really needed some normal.
“That’s what I heard.” Delia wadded the napkin into a ball. “I will say it’s a little odd getting secondhand information on my own diner.” She glanced out the window at the café across the street. “In some ways it’s like I’ve already sold it.”
“Don’t say that.” Elisa touched her arm. “Everyone has been trying to let you rest.”
Delia waved one hand in the air. “I fell, that’s all. I’m not completely fragile.”
Elisa frowned. More like fell, cut her arm, obtained a mild concussion, needed surgery,andwas rolling around in a wheelchair with high blood pressure. “At least they discharged you this morning.”
“On a handful of ridiculous conditions.” Delia pursed her lips. “Speaking of my accident—have you seen Noah since?”
Elisa licked her suddenly dry lips. Time to confess. “About that…”
Miley appeared at their table, two coffees in hand. “Here you go!” Her smile was wide as she deposited the drinks in front of them with a flourish. “One mini mug decaf latte, and one chug a mug white chocolate mocha with almond milk.”
Oh, no. Elisa offered a weak smile. “Thanks, Miley.”
“Of course!” The girl tugged her tank top down over her low-rise jeans. “Enjoy!”
Elisa met Delia’s gaze as the young barista practically skipped away. “The weather is apparently quite sunny.”
“Well, I wasn’t all that excited about decaf, anyway.” Delia nudged her cup away without trying it.
Elisa risked a sip, then fought the urge to spit it back into the cup. “We better warn the others. You know Sadie comes in here every day like clockwork.”
“I’ll send a few texts, spread the word.” Delia pulled her phone from her pants pocket. “I’ve learned how to use this smartphone pretty well since I’ve had nothing else to do—though it sure makes this old lady feel dumb.”
“You’re a whiz in the kitchen, Mama D. You don’t need to be up-to-date with technology, too.” Elisa gestured to the wheelchair. “How long are they making you use that?”
“Until after my surgery. They don’t want to risk another fall.” Delia wrinkled her nose as she typed out a text, like the very idea of it happening again was simply preposterous.
“Do you have the surgery scheduled yet?”
