“Holy crap,” I breathe, dropping my bags just inside the entryway. “This is way cozier than I imagined.”
“The owner did renovations recently, so everything here has a brand-new warranty. Like I said in our previous call, your neighbor has the garage as part of his lease agreement, but I’m sure you could work something out for the winter months. If you have any problems, just give me a call, all right?”
“Thank you, Grace.”
“Now, I promised my little girl I’d take her ice skating, and I won’t hear the end of it if I’m late. Let me know when you open your coffee shop because this momma has been without a decent cup of joe since before Christmas.”
I laugh. “If you had time to wait, I’d unpack my coffee maker and make you my special blend.”
“Another time, honey. You settle in first.”
Grace kisses my cheek and heads out the door.
The living room stretches before me, all warm wood floors and soft cream-colored walls. A stone fireplace dominates one wall, and I can already picture myself curled up in front of it with a steaming mug of hot chocolate. Maybe I’ll even learn to make s’mores without setting anything on fire this time.
I wander farther in, and as I explore, my mind races with decoration ideas. I could put a reading nook by the window and maybe some funky art on the wall. Oh! And fairy lights. Definitely need fairy lights.
I pause in the kitchen, admiring the gleaming countertops and modern appliances. “Well, hello there, sexy fridge. You and I are going to be best friends.”
A thought occurs to me, and I press my ear against the wall separating my unit from my neighbor’s. It’s quiet. Maybe my new neighbor is out.
I wonder what they’re like.
Perhaps they’re a charming guy with a twinkle in his eye. Or a delightful granny with a penchant for cookies. Or,gasp, could they be a stealthy secret agent in disguise?
“Chill out, Caspian. They’re likely just your run-of-the-mill neighbor. But hey, having a buddy next door would be pretty cool!”
I lean against the kitchen counter, a mix of excitement and nervousness bubbling in my chest. “Well, mysterious neighbor,” I say to the wall, “I hope you’re ready for some company. Because ready or not, Caspian Lane has arrived in Maplewood.”
My phone dings with a message from the moving company. They’ll be here with my stuff in a couple of hours, so I guess I have time to check out my new kingdom and do some grocery shopping.
The brisk Vermont air nips at my cheeks as I step outside, but I barely notice. My mind buzzes with anticipation about the coffee shop. I’ve only seen photos online, but in a few minutes, I’ll be standing inside my very own business.
“Please don’t be a total dump,” I mutter, climbing into my car. “Or haunted. Actually, a haunted coffee shop could be cool. We could do ghost-themed lattes!”
As I drive through Maplewood’s quaint streets, my palms sweat. What if I hate it? What if it’s a mistake? What if—no, stop it, Caspian. Positive vibes only.
I park in front of a charming storefront with large windows and a wooden sign that saysSpecial Blendand take a deep breath.
The coffee shop is sandwiched between The Honey Spot and The Wild Palette, a honey store and a craft store, respectively. I already can’t wait to meet my neighbors. But first…
“Moment of truth,” I breathe out, stepping out of the car.
My heart races as I unlock the door and step inside. The bell above the door chimes, and even though the coffee shop closed before Christmas, I’m greeted by the scent of coffee.
“Oh. My. God.” I spin, taking it all in. “It’s perfect!”
The space is cozy yet open, with exposed brick walls and warm wooden floors. There’s a long counter perfect for displaying pastries, and I can already envision where I’ll put my espresso machine.
“This is really happening,” I say, my voice echoing in the empty shop. “I’m actually doing this.”
Excitement bubbling over, I plop down at one of the small tables and pull out my notebook. “Okay, let’s see what we’ve got here,” I mutter, flipping through pages of ideas and sketches.
An hour later, I have two lists. One contains the things needed to get the coffee shop ready for business, and the other is a grocery list to experiment with some scone recipes at home.
I lock the place up later than expected and rush back to my new home, managing to arrive just as the moving van parks up by the driveway.
I practically bounce as I dash out of the car to greet the guys who helped me pack the van a week ago.
