Venti white chocolate mocha. Two Sweet’N Low packets.
Venti white chocolate mocha. Two Sweet’N Low packets.
Venti white chocolate mocha. Two Sweet’N Low packets.
Luca kept repeating it like a mantra in his head. According to the unofficial rookie rules, it was his job to get their captain her favorite coffee drink from Starbucks on Saturday morning at 8:00 sharp along with the Saturday edition of the Boston Globe. Glancing at his watch, he noted it was 7:42 and there were four people ahead of him. Shit! What’s with all the crazy people up early on a Saturday? Finally, it was his turn.
“Hi, what can I get you?” The perky blonde barista with a high ponytail smiled brightly at him.
“Venti…” He hesitated. “Venti…” Oh no! What’s the name of the drink?
“We have a wide array of coffee and tea beverages as well as a great selection of breakfast sandwiches.”
“Mocha latte for Amanda!” a male barista shouted from the end of the coffee bar.
“White chocolate mocha,” Luca said in a rush. The blonde barista asked his name and processed his drink order. Two minutes later, he was out the door and on his way to Captain Moore’s brownstone on Marlborough Street. He wished he could turn on his siren, but this early on a Saturday morning? The upscale neighborhood wouldn’t appreciate it.
Score! Spying an empty parking spot right in front of the captain’s house, he jumped out of the car, gripping the newspaper in one hand and the coffee in the other. He rang the doorbell and waited a few moments. When no one appeared, he rang it again. A man answered the door dressed in scrubs.
“Can I help you?” he asked, brow furrowed.
“Yes, I’m here to see Captain Moore. I’m Officer Luca Fierro. I have her Saturday morning coffee and newspaper.”
The man’s face creased into a grin. “Oooookay. I think I know what this is about.” He turned back and shouted, “Hon, a rookie is here.”
Captain Moore appeared a moment later with a sympathetic smile on her face.
Luca handed over the coffee and newspaper. “Here’s your coffee and newspaper, Captain. Venti white chocolate mocha with a couple packets of Sweet’N Low on the side.” Luca smiled, hoping for a compliment.
“Thank you, Fierro. You do realize you’ve been had.”
“Huh?”
“The guys at work are just busting your chops because you’re a newbie.”
Luca could feel the heat rise to his cheeks. “Shit.”
“Besides, I only drink tea.”
Her husband plucked the cup out of her hand and took a sip. “Mmm…they picked a good flavor this time. Thanks!”
This time?
“Fierro, this is my husband, Lloyd. He’s just on his way to the hospital, aren’t you, dear?”
“Yep. This will certainly perk me up on my rounds.” With a peck on his wife’s cheek and a nod at Luca, Lloyd made his way down the steps to a car that had double-parked a moment before. Apparently, he was carpooling to work.
Luca rubbed the back of his neck, feeling like a fool. “Sorry, Captain Moore. I guess the guys are enjoying a good laugh this morning.”
“I would say they are,” she replied with a grin. “Don’t worry about it, Fierro. You’re doing a great job.”
“Thanks, ma’am. That means a lot.”
She reached out her hand with an expectant look on her face.
Realizing what she wanted, Luca handed her the newspaper with a sheepish smile.
“Might as well make good use of it.” She wished him a good weekend.
