Page 28 of Common Grounds

“Why not?”

“No.”

“The only thing better than one piece of eye candy is two.” He taps his temple. “Think about it.”

I shake my head incredulously as I turn my attention back to the computer screen. I guess if my picture gets more clicks on the article, it’s not a total waste. But from the smile on my face, I have a feeling Ethan snapped this picture right after mentioning he’d give Emery the drink I was making. And knowing she wants to do this whole thing without so much as talking to me leaves a hollow feeling in my chest I can’t quite shake.

LOCAL COFFEE SHOP IN DANGER OF FAILING

Emery Darlis

Welcome to a special, month-long feature of a local establishment, Baker’s Blend Coffee Shop. It’s a hidden gem in the heart of Baker’s Grove. Sitting just off Chestnut Avenue and Main Street, this quaint little shop brings a bit of that old downtown feel to the modern landscape. Come in and enjoy a cup of coffee while seated in a well-loved chair with a view of the bustling street outside. Or enjoy the shop’s free Wi-Fi as you get some work done.

Owner Trevor Kovacic holds the shop close to his heart. “My grandfather opened this place when he immigrated here in the 1950s, and my father took it over from him. Now, I run everything, and there’s no place I’d rather be,” he says. It’s no wonder this adorable shop is family-owned; you can feel the love that has been poured into this place over the decades as soon as you walk in the front door.

“These are the best muffins I’ve ever had,” one patron said around a mouthful. Indeed, the Kovacic family blueberry muffin recipe has a reputation that precedes it, and these tasty treats are a must-have if you come by. While you’re at it, try a beverage. My personal favorite is a steaming-hot hazelnut latte. Yes, even in summer! But, rest assured, anything you order will have your mouth watering.

The shop has had trouble competing with other, larger coffee shops in the area, and it’s no wonder. Over the years, more and more big box stores have chosen sleek modernity over old-world charm. We all know how hard it is to compete with these large corporations.

But they don’t have the family investment that Baker’s Blend has. And they certainly don’t have Kovacic’s muffins. If you’re looking to support a local shop that has been a staple in downtown Baker’s Grove for generations, then you should check out this diamond in the rough. Tell them Emery sent you! And click back next week for more on this endearing place.

Chapter thirteen

Emery

“Well, that was a less-than-stellar showing.” I stab my milkshake with the straw a few times before pushing it away, uninterested.

“Fifty thousand clicks isn’t nothing.” Cass pops a fry into her mouth. She tilts the plate toward me, offering me some. I scowl, and she shrugs, taking two more.

“I know we’re trying to be positive here,” Vi says around a bite of hamburger, “but you’ve got a long way to go.”

“Thank you,” I intone. “I’m aware.”

Cass takes the hamburger off Vi’s plate and takes a huge bite. “You might still get some more visitors to the site over the next few days.” She takes another bite and hums her approval. Vi starts to protest, then resignation settles on her face as she waves Donna over instead.

“I won’t get enough visitors to get to a quarter of a million,” I grouse. “They’ll already be on to the next thing.”

“You want growth with each article.” Cass points at me with a fry. “You don’t necessarily need a quarter on each.”

“No, but it’d be nice.” I sink lower into my seat as Donna sidles up to our table.

“Can I get another hamburger, Donna?” Vi asks. “Mine has been acquired by my wife.”

“Sure, honey,” Donna says warmly as she starts to leave. She thinks better of it and turns back. “Are you girls talking about Emery’s article from today?”

“We sure are.” Cass perks up.

“Baker’s Blend has been around almost as long as this diner. I sure was sad when Marko passed. And then his son, too. Such a shame to lose them both so early. They put so much heart and soul into that place. But I always was a little glad Marko retired before that big store opened up across the street. If the cancer hadn’t gotten him, trying to compete with that place would have. It did a number on my sales, and I’m not even a direct competitor.”

I sit up a little straighter in the booth. “You knew the previous owners?”

“Oh sure,” Donna says. “Watched that boy practically grow up in the shop, too. Wasn’t sure what he’d do after his dad died, but I was glad he tried to keep the place going. He works so hard, but he’s been fighting a losing battle.” She stops talking and taps the end of her pen against her lips, then takes a breath. “A downtown needs a diner and a small coffee shop. It just does. It’s not about the food or the coffee. It’s about the community.” She nods once to punctuate her statement, then turns to leave in a flourish. “I’ll be right back with that burger for you, hun.”

“Hmm,” Cass hums with her mouth full again as we all watch Donna swing open the doors to the kitchen and walk through them. “Who knew she felt so passionately about that little place?”

“I definitely didn’t.” I drag my bottom lip through my teeth, thinking. “But it makes sense. The diner has been here forever. We’ve been coming regularly since we were teenagers, and it was old even then.”

Vi nods thoughtfully. “You know, if Donna remembers that place in its heyday, it’s not out of the question that other people of the previous generation do, too.”

---