Muffins and Men in Uniform
MILLIE
It’s a quiet morning,and the sun is still hanging low, casting a soft, amber glow over town. I pull my jacket tight around my shoulders as I walk down Main Street. The street has wide brick sidewalks and buildings that look like they have been here for a hundred years or more.
Because they have.
Cherry Falls is a beautiful place, especially during the springtime months. But who am I to judge the place? I’m 100% biased.
It’s an adorable coastal town my parents found in Delaware about 30 years ago while on vacation. They loved it so much they never left. Whenever they tell the story of finding Cherry Falls, they always say that it felt like home everywhere they looked. Everyone knows everyone, which can be a blessing and a curse.
I have adored living in Cherry Falls since I was a little girl. Even now as a twenty-four-year-old woman, I love our quaint little town.
“Millie, do you think you will ever tire of this?” My best friend Harlow asks, walking beside me with a dramatic sigh. “I mean the smell of sugar, butter, and coffee first thing in the morning?”
A few months ago, I started renovating the old thrift store intown and began turning it into my very own cafe. Now I have a legitimate reason my home is always full of baked goods.
I’ve wanted to open a cafe for as long as I can remember. I made the choice to pursue business marketing at Cherry Falls College. During high school, I took baking classes, which only deepened my love of falling deep into a bowl of flour and sugar.
With a playful grin, I glanced at the bakery window, picturing the forest green oversized sofa that would invite customers to relax.
I spoke with my contractor, Dave, requesting permission to open the cafe for a trial period, although the renovations are still underway. So we came up with a plan to open at nine and stay open for three hours to continue construction.
“Are you kidding? This is exactly what heaven smells like! I just want to give the town something sweet to start their day off right. Plus, you know we will serve savory food. Like bagels?” Harlow rolls her eyes at my statement.
“Babes, not everyone shares your sugar addiction, and sure bagels are good.”
People know our town for its close-knit community, and the local cops have been going to coffee shops outside of town just to get a decent cup of coffee. So, at least I know the entire police department will be subject to this sugar addiction Harlow claims I have.
We pass by Old Man Harris, sweeping the sidewalk in front of his hardware store, his silver hair tousled by the wind.
“Morning, Harris!” I call out, raising a hand.
“Morning Millie! Harlow!” He tips his worn cap at us. “You’re looking chipper this morning. Hope you’re gonna be opening up soon with some good treats.”
I grin. “You know it. Hopefully, it will be open for good in a few weeks! Come in later. I have some muffins made for today.”
He waggles his eyebrows. “You had me at muffins. I’ll swing by after I finish my rounds here.”
People in town have been asking me nonstop formonths when Beanstalk would open permanently. I even have some catering orders set in place already for some parties and events in the next couple of months.
We continue walking. The sun started to warm the chilly morning air. A few more locals wave to us as we pass, like they always do.
It never gets old, and it is the comfort of a small town.
“Har, I can’t stop stressing about everything that still needs to be done.”
“Yeah, but Mills, you have so many people in your life who have your back,” Harlow says.
Opening the cafe has been a lot of work, but Harlow is right. I have a great support system.
My two older brothers, Reuben and Asher, have been helping with a lot of the building. They built me a little bookshelf to display books for people to read as they please. They have even worked closely with the contractor to make sure all of my dreams come true at the end of this journey.
My older sister Kenna has been helping with all the interior design. From running towns over to pick up paints and light fixtures to ordering around the workers on how everything should look. She has been the boss lady of the century.
I love how much Kenna wants to be involved. Despite being a business owner and hairdresser in the building next to mine, she has been very hands-on in helping.
My youngest sibling, Lucie, who is only nineteen, has helped me full-time until she is ready for college. She designed our whimsical butterfly logo and will manage the workers once they begin. Lucie is in charge of all the social media accounts for Beanstalk. Even going as far as creating content that will hopefully attract more customers to our little slice of heaven here in Cherry Falls. Thank God for her help with the social media, because she is always up to date with the current trends.
