Eloise sold her coffee shop in Florida, a bittersweet end to an era that had taught her what she needed in life. She had been in survival mode those years in that muggy corner of the world, and coming here, leaving that behind had been terrifying but now she understood there was a vast difference between surviving and living.
And she much preferred this.
Plus, she hated the weather down there. Not having frizzy, sweat-dampened hair constantly turned out to be a big positive in her current lifestyle.
Eloise went inside the cafe to check on business as the small soiree with live music played out back.
"Thanks for keeping bar while we got the party going," she said to Tess.
Tess shrugged it off. "My job. Hey, so I know I'm leaving for school at the end of summer, but I was wondering if when I came back, could I," she paused, the words having a difficult time finding their vulnerable way into the sharp-edged world.
"You have a job here as long as you want," Eloise answered softly, putting the poor girl out of her proud misery.
She ducked her head and smiled. "Thanks. You've kind of become, I don't know. You've just really been nice. And I guess, I don't want to get weird, but I'll miss you." The girl looked uncomfortable but Eloise's heart felt bigger. "Thank you," Tess added and looked at her, then frowned. "Are you crying?"
"No," Eloise choked out.
Someone pulled them from their cheesy moment with a cleared throat. A young man, high school age, stood at the register. He was familiar, but Eloise couldn't place him as she busied herself with making a batch of coffee.
"What can I get for you?" Tess asked barely on the side of polite.
The young man tilted his head up, a haughtiness in his posture and asked, "Is Bess here?" But it was less of a question, more of a demand. She placed a pitcher of steaming coffee on the bar watching him carefully.
"You know, she's not right now. But can I get you something?"
Eloise didn't say anything. Bess was here, but there was an odd energy happening. She smelled school erasers and cheap beer.
"No. I know Bess is here and I'd like a fucking word."
Eloise stood up straighter. "I'm sorry, is there a problem?" Why did he look so familiar?
"This is Kyle. Sandman," Tess filled her in.
Oh.
"Hey Kyle," Eloise said brightly. "I'm her boss and she's busy at the moment but I can leave her a message if you would like."
"I don't want to leave her a fucking message," he said, leaning into the counter. He may be in high school, but he was a large guy, pushing six feet tall and though he hadn't fully filled out like he likely would in college, he had a solid forty pounds on both of them. Everyone was currently out back enjoying the opening party except for a few customers out on the front patio.
"Why don't you go on home and I'll let Bess know you stopped by."
"That fucking bitch has cops looking into me for bullying," he pushed the words out between bared teeth. "Do you have any idea what that could mean for my scholarship?"
"Man, that is rough," Tess said thoughtfully before a shocked Eloise could reply. "You know what's worse though? Being bullied by a bunch of guys who have nothing better to do than talk trash about a really good and kind young woman who hurt your ego by saying no to your sexual advances. And then getting other people to turn on her. And ostracize her. Your predicament sounds like a you problem that you created. Hers," she shrugged, "is also a you problem that you created." She looked at Eloise who was watching with a happily shocked expression.
She smiled at Tess before she swung her look to Kyle.
"Yeah, sounds like we found a common denominator, Kyle." Both women stared at him. His shoulders held an anger Eloise could smell and then everything happened at once. He picked up the large, glass tip jar in both hands, raising it above his head. Somewhere Bess yelled Kyle's name as Eloise's eyes widenedand before he could throw it, a pitcher of iced tea was thrown into his face causing him to stumble backwards with a shout, the jar slipping from his hands and crashing to the floor.
Tess was around the bar and standing over him with another pitcher, this one hot coffee, the steam billowing menacingly into the air as she stood over his angry, sopping form.
"You come in here ever again, you ever even speak her name, and I will make sure the next thing I throw at you isn't iced," she warned, her voice calm and low.
The young man had the decency to look startled, his eyes losing their edge of anger as they watched the steaming pitcher held above him with trepidation.
Hell, Eloise was startled.
She slid a look to Bess who smiled with eyebrows pressed up and under her beanie at the scene.
