Page 16 of A Cup of Autumn
“Exactly.”
Raine remembered conversations. That was how she knew what customers drank. She set the machine.
Something about his visit felt off. It wasn’t his casual clothes or letting her pick his drink. And then she remembered.
“You’re on the quarter system, right?” She wished Summit Ridge University wasn’t on semesters or Timmy would be working his usual shifts.
“You’re correct.” He might not look like a professor, but he sounded like one. “Classes begin today. I’m not teaching this quarter.”
Weird.She remembered him excited about revamping the curriculum. He’d been so enthusiastic and mentioned a few foreign words. One had sounded like a superhero character. “Taking time off for research?”
His expression froze. It thawed two seconds later, but his eyes had dimmed. “Something like that.”
Raine rang up the drink.
He paid with cash and tucked a dollar into the tip jar. “Thanks.”
“Be glad you came in when you did, or you’d be waiting for a bit.”
“Been crowded?”
She placed a cup under the nozzle and adjusted the knobs. “It was, and I’m on my own.”
He glanced around. “Where’s Timmy?”
“College. Full-time this semester. He’s only working weekends and two evenings a week now.”
“Good for him.”
Raine nodded. “It is, but I need to find weekday replacements.”
The coffee shop’s phone rang. She glanced toward the office where she must have left the receiver when she spoke to a supplier.
“Go answer it.” Keaton motioned for her to go. “I don’t mind waiting.”
“Thanks.” She hurried and answered the phone. “Tea Leaves and Coffee Beans. This is Raine.”
“It’s Margot.”
“What can I get for you?” Raine didn’t want to be curt, but she didn’t want to make Keaton wait too long.
“Two cappuccinos, one hot chocolate, a mocha, and a pumpkin spice latte. It’s for my quilt workshop. My coffee isn’t as good as yours.”
Raine stood taller. “Thanks. I’ll prepare your order, but I’m short-staffed again, so I can’t deliver.”
“No worries.” Margot sounded as if she were brushing away a gnat. “I’ll send someone over. We haven’t been busy this morning.”
“I wish I could say the same.”
“Be careful what you wish for. Bye.” Margot disconnected from the call.
Raine held on to the phone. She would put it underneath the counter where she could answer it more easily. She turned.
Keaton stood behind the counter and refilled a cup.
With a smile, he handed the cup to a customer, who wasn’t a regular. “Have a nice day.”
She walked toward him. “Bored?”
