“A leaf,” I say.
She nods a few times then mumbles, “Well, this’ll be the first one of these going in me.”
I laugh and she tries not to spit coffee through her nose as she takes a drink.
“You’ve never had coffee before?” Nai Nai asks.
Lacey laughs harder as she pulls the drink away, but not quick enough. A spurt of coffee comes flying out of the cup. She swallows hard and Ace pats her on the back. I grab a rag and help clean up her hands.
“Want one, Nai Nai?” I ask.
She waves me off. “I’ll have tea.”
I skip down the bar and whirl the little plastic tea display around. “Which one?”
She looks them over with narrowed eyes. “Tea bags. Jiahui…” She changes to Chinese. “How are we going to enlighten people if we give themtea bags?”
“Elder Feng, looseleaf tea is more to clean up, and takes a practiced hand to get right. Most of these people prefer a bag of tea.”
She snorts coldly. “They won’t after they’ve hadmytea. I will make a pot every other hour and give it out for free. Everyone will want some, and then we can charge.”
I cross my arms and sigh. “Have it your way, old crone, but I’m not cleaning your pots.”
The bell over the door chimes again and a wash of cold northern air pushes into the shop. A woman who could only be described as the embodiment of “quirky anxiety” steps in.
She’s layered in shawls of different colors over a shin-length dress that covers worn leather boots. Her glasses seem to encompass her entire face and amplify her eyes to unnatural proportions. A coiffed bun of graying-brown hair sits piled on her head in a bun that looks more like a nest. Various pins stick out of it at different angles to keep it all in place.
Something about her is familiar, though…
“Welcome to the Cosmic Café,” I say after shaking myself from the entranced stupor. “What can I get started for you?”
“Hot water, please, if I can,” she says in disjointed stammers that mirror her peculiar look.
“Find a spot to sit and I’ll bring it to you,” I say with a smile that feels way too big.
First customer. Hot water.
I sigh as I turn to the espresso machine. I dump the grinds and push down the button on the electric kettle. It has a cool LED light ring around the base of it that makes the water look like a lava lamp, and the more it boils, the crazier the light show gets. It was a pretty neat find on Lacey’s part, and I’m glad she brought it in for us.
I look over my shoulder to see where the woman is sitting, but she still hasn’t picked a spot. She’s going from chair, to booth bench, to chair, touching them and closing her eyes. Not the weirdest thing I’ve ever seen by far, but still strange.
The kettle makes a cute chime and clicks off. I pour the water into a blue and purple nebula cup and put it on a black, star-speckled saucer, then head out to her. The woman makes a relieved peep when she seems to find the spot she likes. She jerks a little as she reaches into the layers of her shawls and produces a book and a bagged tea packet.
Nai Nai clears her throat and heads into the back.
“Here you are,” I say, setting the saucer down at the table painted to look like Jupiter.
“Very nice theme,” she says, her head snapping from the table to the ceiling then back to me.
“I’ve always liked space,” I say with a shrug.
She hums. “What’s your name?”
“Jade,” I say, reaching out to shake her hand.
She recoils for a moment and then seems to remember what a handshake is. Her fingers are adorned with so many rings it’s a wonder she can lift her hand. Her skin is weathered, but not papery, and her grip is stronger than I’d have thought.
“I’m Deelia,” she says.
