Page 30 of There’s Trouble Brewing

The shop’s background noise faded to a tense murmur as everyone watched the confrontation.

Birdie’s eyes widened in feigned surprise, her face a mask of innocence. “Oh, I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about.”

Emily shook her head, clearly refusing to let it slide. “We both know that isn’t true. You came here hoping to have something to gloat about, but you should know that your little scheme failed. The Brave Badge passed the second inspection you caused, and we’re turning the grand opening into a charity event for the local search and rescue team.”

Mark stayed close, his quiet support as steady as the walls around them. He watched the scene unfold, Emily’s fire igniting the entire room. She had this under control, and everyone knew it.

“Causing a scene like this; I guess I shouldn’t have expected any better from you,” Birdie stated snidely.

Emily stood firm, a formidable force, unwilling to break under the other woman’s biting words. “The only one causing a scene is you. You have every time you’ve come into this shop.” Her words were arrows, each hitting its mark.

“Maybe it’s best if you just stay away if you can’t be happy for us,” Mark added.

“Yeah, we only want positive vibes around here,” Sue chimed in, and then when Birdie gave her a withering look, she ducked behind Bryan.

Birdie tried a new tactic, spreading her hands wide in a show of helplessness. “Now, calm down, everyone. I was just concerned when I made that call. Just trying to look out for?—”

Emily cut her off with a sharp, clear tone and a raise of her hand. “You can just stop. We’re doing fine without any ‘help’ from you.”

Birdie glanced between them, a moment of calculation in her eyes. “Well,” she huffed, her voice suddenly small, “I can see where I’m not wanted. I’ll just be going.” Birdie retreated, her exit a slow dissolve. The door closed behindher, and the whispers she left in her wake filled the shop like the buzzing of bees.

The shop’s atmosphere shifted, a collective exhale as tension transformed into renewed happiness that all was well with the Brave Badge.

Mark turned to Emily, a proud warmth spreading through him. “You handled that admirably,” he said, the words low and full of meaning.

Emily looked back at him, the edges of her resolve softening. “Did you see her face?”

“I did.” Mark nodded with a small laugh. “Everyone did.”

“She knew she was finally bested, and we were the ones to do it,” Emily told him with a big smile.

As the laughter and chatter resumed around them, Mark leaned a bit closer to Emily, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret. “I think we make a pretty great team, don’t you?”

“Yeah, I'd say unbeatable.” Emily’s eyes twinkled with mischief and satisfaction.

Mark’s heart fluttered at her words, a mixture of hope and caution swirling in his chest. He wanted to tell her how he hoped they could have more beyond just the coffee shop. But the words lodged in his throat unspoken.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of plans for the grand opening, but Mark noticed that Emily was becoming more distant as the day wore on. He wasn’t sure what was wrong, and he wanted to ask, but they were never alone long enough for him to broach the subject. But as the sun began to dip low in the sky, the shop was finally quiet after the baristas left for the day.

“I guess I should start thinking about heading back to Hero,” she said as she gathered her things, her voice tinged with something that sounded suspiciously like regret.

Mark’s heart sank. The thought of her leaving twisted uncomfortably in his gut. He leaned against the counter, trying to appear casual. “You know, you don’t have to rush off. You could stay until the grand opening.”

"My work here is complete,” she told him.

Mark felt her statement land like a blow, a solid weight in the pit of his stomach. He searched for the words that might change her mind, knowing they were as elusive as hope. “You don’t have to leave,” he told her, his voice raw with feelings he was unable to name yet.

Emily looked at him, her eyes steady and her expression unreadable. Mark felt an unsettling mixture of admiration and dread as he waited for her response.

“I came to help train your baristas for your opening,” Emily said, her voice gentle but firm. “And now they’re ready. I have to head back and find out what my next job is going to be.”

Mark’s heart dropped at the certainty in her words. Panic rose in him, the realization that she might actually leave hitting him with raw force. “You could stay here,” he offered, the words tumbling out in a rush. “I’ll make you the manager.”

The offer hung in the air between them. It was both a plea and a promise, an attempt on Mark’s part to hold onto whatever was growing between them.

Emily seemed to be considering his offer, a mixture of surprise and something else flickering across her face. Mark held his breath, the suspense twisting in him like a living thing.

“I’ll think about it,” she finally conceded.

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