Page 59 of Espresso Your Love

“Margie! It’s so good to see you again.” I return the warm hug.

Sadie offers a hug. “We’ve been looking forward to this since last night! I had to opt for decaf or this baby will be wired on the drive home.”

“I got you some donuts as well. They’re from the local bakery.”

“They are delicious,” Ryan chimes in. “While I’d love to stay longer, I have to get to work.” He hugs his mom and Sadie. “I’ll see you two at family dinner.”

“I’m looking forward to it.” Margie gently pats Ryan’s cheek before he leaves.

I watch as he walks down the stairs. Before he walks out of the shop, he looks back and waves at me. I wave back then turn back to Margie and Sadie. Sadie is giving me a knowing look, and Margie has a wide smile on her face.

“Donut?” I ask, holding up the box, trying to avoid the comments I know are coming.

“Only if that donut comes with a confession that you like my brother, too.”

“Too?”

Sadie’s wide eyes shoot to Margie, who remains neutral.

“He told you?” I squeak out, my cheeks burning red.

Way to play it cool, Cassie.

Margie turns to me, her kind smile as warm as the cinnamon-spiced air.

“Honey, he didn’t need to. It’s written all over his face when he looks at you.”

“It is?”

“Definitely! It’s like the way Luke looks at Lorelai,” Sadie sighs.

I don’t believe that.

“He’s just seemed a little distant lately.”

She reaches for my hand. “It’s not my place to tell his story, but I will tell you this…just give him a little more time. He’ll come around.”

I nod, bottling up my emotions.

“If Ryan knew we were talking about him, he’d flip.” Sadie chuckles, reaching for a donut.

“It’s his own fault that he isn’t here to stop us.” Margie laughs.

18

Ryan

It’s been a few days since I last saw Cassie. I’ve been mulling over the conversation my mom and I had while she was here. I needed time to process it for myself and then figure out how to tell her everything. It’s a lot, and I don’t want to scare her off or ruin our chance of moving forward together.

After Cassie left and Sadie had gone to bed, Mom made some tea, and we sat in the living room. I tried to avoid her questioning gaze, but she looked at me with an unwavering stare, her voice soft and steady.

“Ryan, losing your dad was hard on all of us. You and Sadie were still young and needed him in your life. And this job takes pieces of you too. But you’re still here, you’re still breathing, and you have a life to live.

I understand being afraid of losing someone you love again. It can make you step back, pull away. But you can’t let fear stop you from living and loving. You can’t let it make decisions for you.

Your dad knew the risks that came with his job, and every day, he put on that uniform. Do you remember how he lived? He embraced life fully. He never let fear take hold and control him.

I saw the way you looked at that girl today. But keeping her at arm’s length isn’t helping either of you. It is only robbing you of memories, connection, and possibly even love.

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