“You can’t offer her a cookie without a cappuccino or latte, Lain,” the woman in scrubs scolded.
“I was getting to it!” Lainey admonished defensively, then turned to me with a smile. “Cappuccino or latte?”
I quickly glanced at the board to see how much a coffee drink would cost and realized I could only afford a cappuccino. Better yet, a regular coffee was almost half the price.
“Just coffee.”
“Milk and sugar? Or do you prefer creamer?”
“Creamer and sugar.”
I reached into my purse and asked, “How much do I owe you?”
“It’s my treat today.”
“Oh, I couldn’t—”
“Yes, you can,” Lainey said a little more insistently, then gestured to a nearby table by the register. “Have a seat, I’ll bring it over.”
I did as she suggested and was surprised when she set a real coffee mug down in front of me instead of a disposable one, along with a stainless-steel pitcher of creamer and a white ceramic caddy filled with packets of sugar and sugar substitutes. I was even more surprised when, just seconds later, both women sat down next to me with their own coffees and cookies.
“I’m Lainey Beaumont, and this is my sister, Jade.”
“Oh, do your parents own this place?”
Jade shook her head with a proud smile while pointing toward her sister. “No.Shedoes.”
I felt my eyes widen as I focused on Lainey.
“Wow! You’re so young!”
Oh shit, did I just insult her?
“I mean… you don’t look much older than me, and I could never see myself doing something this bold.”
Jade put her arms around her sister’s shoulders. “That’s our Lain. She’s a warrior.”
Lainey tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and murmured, “I don’t know about that…” Then she leveled me with a look. “And why couldn’t you ever see yourself doing something so bold?”
I let out a small sigh as I poured creamer into my coffee.
“I’m not brave enough.”
I hated admitting it out loud to myself, let alone these ladies.
Jade kept her eyes on me as she took a long sip of coffee, then set her mug down and asked, “What are you most afraid of?”
I blurted out without thinking, “Having my daughter taken from me.”
Her mouth formed an “O” before she softly muttered the word, then, “I wasn’t expecting that. How old is your daughter?”
“Five weeks.”
With her brows furrowed, Lainey leaned her forearms on the table. “Why would your daughter be taken from you?”
I shrugged, embarrassed about what I was about to admit out loud to perfect strangers.
Granted, they seemed kind, but they were still strangers.
