“You’ve been in the bookstore a bunch. Let’s start in the café space.” Cody held her hand as they walked next door. The front of the storefront matched the bookstore’s whitewashed painted brick exterior to brighten up the façade with black-trimmed windows.
“I think I’ll get some large pots to put out front and fill with flowers. Maybe a few café tables, so people can sit outside.”
“Sounds good to me.” Cody unlocked the café and guided her in before he stepped back and let her take it in.
“Last I saw the space, there was just a big empty room.” Now, a twenty-foot counter spanned the right side of the area, with counters and mirrors against the wall. The far side of the counter had space for two cash registers, where customers would order their drinks and purchase food. Next to that space, a glass case beneath the countertop would show off all the baked goods they’d sell. To the right, customers could sit at the counter, or wander to the cozy chairs and love seats with tables to sit and enjoy their food and beverages while reading or chatting with friends.
The furniture was covered in plastic to protect it until opening, but she loved all the colors of the items she’d picked out in jewel tones of purple, blue, green, and pink.
“That little blue sofa by the window is my favorite.” Cody pointed to it. “I love the Brooke’s Book Nook Café logo on the wall above the sofa. It is the perfect little spot to curl up and read.” His praise boosted her confidence and pride.
“Thank you. It means a lot that you like it.” She’d worked really hard on all the details, wanting this space to feel light and airy and comfortable. She wanted people to feel like they could sit a spell and get lost in a book.
“I don’t just like it, Brooke. I think it’s fucking amazing what you’ve done here.”
That took her aback. “You oversaw all the work.”
“But this is your design and vision. I liked the idea when you presented it to me. I expected that you’d do well. But people are really going to love this place. It’s going to be packed all the time. There’s nothing else like it downtown.”
She grinned again. This time it came easier. “Did you match all the chairs at the tables?”
“Yeah. Well, me and your mom. Why?”
“It looks great. It’s just…”
“What?” His gaze roamed the room, looking for anything out of place from her detailed plans.
“Everything is exactly where it should be,” she assured him. “It’s just that I thought I’d mix and match the chair colors at each table.” She’d bought the chairs in four different but complementary styles and thought it would be kind of cool to have different chairs at different tables.
“I’ll rearrange them if you want.” He let her loose and stepped toward the first table.
She grabbed his arm. “Cody, no. It’s fine. I actually think keeping the colors together makes the place look more polished and soothing.” Everything in her head felt chaotic. Order made her feel more relaxed. She wanted that for her customers.
“I don’t mind changing it if that’s what you want, sweetheart.”
She stared at the beautiful space. “No. This is perfect.” Except… “I think I’ll buy a few plants to spread around the place in pretty vibrant pots to match with the furniture material.”
“That would look really nice,” Cody agreed. “We’ll add a trip to the nursery for the week before opening.”
Brooke’s hand pressed to her belly the second she heard the word nursery. Yes, it was a different kind than the one she’d planned to decorate for her little girl. Still, it hit her right in the heart.
Her spirits dropped at the thought of postponing the opening. Even if it was only a couple of weeks. But she just wasn’t ready to take that on in her condition.
“It’s okay, Brooke. You need time.”
“I don’t know how you’ve held it together this long.” The two weeks she’d been home felt like they dragged on forever.
“I do it because I have to.”
“For me?”
“Yes. I wasn’t there when you needed me. I’m here now. I won’t let you down.”
“But that’s not fair. You lost her, too.”
“And I grieve right alongside you. I just…”
“What?”
