She shrugged, eyes on the counter. “No need to apologize. They’re sweet.”
He opened his mouth to say more, but she’d already turned to help a new customer. TJ swallowed whatever words had been forming and reached for the stack of cups instead.
The day went on, the festival music cheerful and bright, but beneath the laughter and the chatter, something heavy lingered.
By the time the sun began to dip, TJ couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d somehow started to lose something he hadn’t even gotten the chance to hold.
Chapter Fifteen
The festival cleanup done, and the booth packed away in Tilly’s aunt’s garage, Pleasant Beans slipped back into its normal routine.
Lila noticed the calm and realized it was almosttoocalm. In her experience working with Grandma and the other’s meant trouble was either brewing or some accident was about to happen involving the espresso machine.
She stood behind the counter, rinsing mugs that didn’t need rinsing. The steady trickle of water in the sink was the only sound. Normally she liked more noise: the hum of the espresso machine, Grandma’s chatter, the smell of pies, or now muffins, filling the air. But today, the shop felt hollow, like a song missing its harmony.
TJ was in the back room loading inventory onto the shelves. He’d been quiet since yesterday. Not cold, exactly, but his words were… what should she call them? Careful. Polite. Which somehow made it worse. Then again, hadn’t she been treating him the same?
Lila stacked the last mug on the drying rack and stared out the window. Clear Creek’s Main Street was its usual self again. Quiet, friendly, and utterly ordinary. She had no doubt OldTown was back to normal too. The Harvest Festival banners still hung across the lampposts, fluttering gently in the breeze.
She kept recalling her time with TJ at the booth, their few moments of dancing looping through her mind. She didn’t want to replay it, but it came anyway. The way he’d stepped closer, the breathless second where she thought he might actually kiss her.
“Cream or sugar?”
Grandma’s voice startled her from behind.
Lila blinked. “I beg your pardon?”
Grandma planted her hands on her hips. “For that cup of self-pity you’re brewing. Land sakes, child, you’ve been scrubbing the same mug for ten minutes!”
Lila looked down at the mug and sponge, then hurried to rinse it. “I’m fine!”
“Of course you are.” Grandma poured herself some coffee, unconvinced. “Funny thing about beingfine. It usually means you’re not.” She took a sip, grimaced. “Ugh, needs sugar. And no small amount of cream.”
As she fixed her cup, Lila sighed and glanced over her shoulder to make sure TJ was still out of earshot. “He’s leaving, Grandma. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but soon.”
Grandma raised an eyebrow. “Is that so? And you care because…?”
Lila didn’t answer.
“Mm-hmm,” Grandma murmured. “Did it ever occur to you, child, that maybe he’s just trying to figure out where he fits? Sometimes folks need to wander before they realize what home really means. Orwho.”
Lila gave a small, rueful chuckle. “You always make it sound so simple.”
“Oh, it is simple,” Grandma said. “It’s just not easy.”
Footsteps echoed up the hall, and TJ appeared carrying a crate of milk jugs. “Inventory’s done. Do you want half of this up front or all of it?” He set the crate on the counter.
“Half is fine,” Lila said, forcing a brightness she didn’t feel.
He nodded and disappeared back down the hall.
“I’ll get the syrups,” Grandma said, then lowered her voice. “Careful, dear. If you keep pretending you don’t care, one of you is bound to believe it.”
Lila set another mug aside and wiped her hands on a towel. “Maybe that’s for the best. It’s not like he’s going to notice me before he leaves.”
Grandma just hummed and wandered off. Lila was left with the soft hiss of the espresso machine and an ache she couldn’t name. She knew Grandma meant well, but what she really needed was a good”Take your eyes off that man, girl!”lecture. Everyone kept pushing her toward him, and what was the point?
The bell over the door rang, and Lila turned to see Irene, Paddy, and Polly march into the shop. They commandeered a corner table, heads together like generals plotting a siege. When Grandma joined them, Lila decided that was officially a bad sign.
