Page 6 of It Never Was

"Yes, of course. I'll finish up here. And then meet you in your office."

As Paul is walking away Willow slides off the countertop until her back is leaning on it instead.

"What's that all about?" she asked me.

"I have no idea," I say, feeling just as clueless as her.

I turn to the coffee station, grabbing the next order and trying not to worry about if I am in trouble or not.

2

Ryen

Once I'm done finishing up my shift, I toss my caked apron in the laundry bin and head to Paul's office.

"Good luck," Willow calls to me.

The door to Paul's office is cracked open slightly as I approach, but I still knock before pushing it open slowly. His office looks like him. It has low yellow lights that make it feel like you are in a cabin on a winter night. The smell of cedar and musk, the same smell I have smelt the few times I have hugged him. It smells so warm. It almost makes me want to hug him when I walk through the door.

I don't, of course.

On the brown wallpapered walls hang pictures of his wife and him on vacations, hikes, holidays, and what looks like their backyard. He misses her. I miss her too. Lisa was the polar opposite of Paul. She was bright colors and wide smiles, with her pixie-cut platinum blonde hair and ocean blue eyes that would crinkle so deeply whenever she laughed. Everyone loved Lisa, she would always make everyone match her smile when she was around.

It was hard on Paul when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer. It never broke her though. Lisa was still so positive, always thinking of others and wanting them not to worry about her. She would still come into the shop and hang out. She loved Morning Cup. She and Paul started it together soon after they got married. It was a local favorite. Paul loved having her close, and after she got the diagnosis, he wanted her even closer. He was by her side the whole journey, taking her to chemo, doing therapy at home, making sure she was eating right, and taking all the medicines her doctor prescribed. Till the very end, he was there.

He was lost for a long time after she passed away two years ago. I took it upon myself to keep Morning Cup up and running to the best of my abilities while he took the time he needed to heal. I don't think he has healed fully, but he's started to come into the shop more over the last four months.

As the door opens fully, I see Paul in full owner mode with files covering his desk.

"All done. What did you want to discuss, boss?" I walk towards him sheepishly.

"Sit," he says, not looking up from the papers he is shuffling through.

I oblige, taking the seat in the one chair that is positioned in front of his desk.

"Am I fired?" I joke nervously.

"No. Why would you be fired?" he says dryly, not catching on to my humor.

"I was making a joke." A nervous chuckle escapes my lips. "If I am not fired, what's going on?"

"We need to hire a pastry cook." He is still not looking at me.

"We have a pastry cook, Marge," I say, confused. Was he firing her for not showing up today? I mean it was shitty, but I don't think that is really termination worthy. Poor Marge has worked here for the past six years. She is part of what makes Morning Cup, Morning Cup.

"No, we don't. She passed away," he says, finally looking up at me.

"Whoa…wait, what? I thought she was just a no-show today. What happened?" I say in surprise.

"She had a heart attack in her sleep. Her daughter found her when she went over yesterday to visit her." Paul's face is cold as stone. "So, we need to hire a new pastry cook. Can you cover that department till we hire one?"

"I…" My words linger as my thoughts are still on the fact that Marge was just here the other day for her shift. I had talked to her about my next semester's classes, and she talked about her grandson finally taking his first steps. How can this be? I know Marge was older than Paul, but she wasn't that old.

"Rye…" he says blankly. "Can you?"

Poor Marge.

"Huh?" I say as I come back. What did he say?

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