They didn’t seem nearly as disturbed by my presence as I was by theirs. I instinctively scanned the room to make sure I hadn’t stumbled into a middle-aged strip joint. Was this the steamy part of Steamy Sips?
“Just a minute!” called a soft voice from down the hallway beyond the low counter.
I smiled uncertainly and fidgeted with my watch as one man locked eyes with me, mid-body roll, in perfect synchrony with the rest of his group. An involuntary convulsion moved through me, and I perched on one of the low barstools at the counter. A novelty I wasn’t used to after London life. The intimacy of sitting so close to everything felt uncomfortable, but I wasn’t brave enough to sit at one of the tables, which had all been pushed back to make room for the twisting men.
“Sorry about that!” A bright voice emerged from the hallway carrying a heavy box full of coffee beans, which she dropped to the floor. The woman’s blonde hair was pulled back into a low ponytail, and her hazel eyes sat in a face dotted with freckles.She scrambled under the counter looking for something and emerged with a peach and white lace apron.
“There,” she said as she tied it around her waist. “Now I’m ready. What can I get you?”
Her smile sparkled, and she looked like someone about to be discovered by Victoria’s Secret.
“Can you do a long black?” I asked, trying to ignore the dancing in my peripheral vision.
“I thought you might challenge me, being from out of town. No triple mocha chai salted caramel swirl latte?” She teased, loading a shot into the machine.
Ew. And expensive. I wrinkled my nose.
“How’d you know I’m not local?” I asked.
She lifted one shoulder. “When you work at one of two coffee shops in a small town, fresh faces stand out. Sorry about The Balls Club, by the way.”
“The what?”
She nodded towards the hip-thrusting men.
“The Balls Club. That’s what they call themselves. It’s a prostate cancer support group. They rent the space after hours and come together a few times a week for a cardio-strip fitness class. No actual stripping,” she added quickly, seeing my expression.
Thank fuck for small mercies.
“Then they all have coffee here. You’re a little early, so they’d usually have packed up by the time we're open.”
Hanging in the window, I noticed the sign on the door was still turned to Closed.Riley, get your head out of your own ass for a change!
“Sorry! I can come back later?” I said, my palms now sweaty on the counter as I considered having to leave my beloved coffee behind.
“Oh, gosh don’t even worry about it. I’m about to open anyway.” Her eyes crinkled as she placed the drink in front of me. I reached for cash, but she waved it off.
“First one’s free. As long as you come back,” she said, winking. I felt at ease around her in a way I rarely did with people. Smart marketing too, because now I felt obligated to return and avoid the other café altogether.
“So, what brings you to Glades Bay? Got a penchant for old fishing villages?” She asked as she began pulling the tables into place now that The Balls Club had wound down. I thought about giving her one of my standard vague answers, but then I remembered my other goals for the day. Someone who worked at one of the only cafes in a small town no doubt knew more about the comings and goings of Glades Bay than most.
“Solving a mystery,” I answered, taking a sip of my coffee. Jack Reacher, eat your heart out.
“A mystery here? Go on,” she said, eyes wide.
I hesitated. I wasn’t one for opening up, but I needed intel.
“Someone left me the old Bellamy Children’s Home. I’m trying to figure out who,” I said as casually as I could, my elbows resting on the counter.
“No way! That place is spooky as hell.”
She adjusted her apron while I gave her a condensed version of the story. Just enough that she might let me know if she heard anything, but not enough to make it a confessional.
“So you’re not keeping it, even if you find out who left it to you?” she asked, folding her arms across her white shirt.
“I don’t have the kind of income that property requires for upkeep. Caring for the rates and grounds alone would be astronomical,” I replied. Not to mention the fact that I couldn’t bring myself to walk beyond the kitchen downstairs.
She bobbed her head, sighing out a breath.
