Page 23 of Unbroken

The bell over the door jingled as we walked in, and I inhaled deeply. “Isn’t that the best smell you’ve ever smelled?” Shannon said and I agreed. The scents of coffee and spices permeated the place as my sister dragged me up to the counter. “Hey, Carly, I didn’t expect to see you here today.”

The woman behind the counter who looked to be our age snapped a set of chopsticks apart, then twisted her hair up into a bun and tuckedthem in. “Cassie normally covers Sundays, but she thought it was a good idea to marry the love of her life, then go on a honeymoon. The nerve of her,” she said with a wink. Carly then looked at me and smiled. “Wow, the Cafferty genes run strong with the curly auburn hair, don’t they? Hey, I’m Carly; you must be Fiona. I think I saw you at the reception yesterday?”

The woman’s smile was infectious and I grinned back. “I am and I was. I heard you have something called a dirty chai latte that I’m dying to try.”

“Two dirties coming up. Oat milk okay or would you prefer cow’s?”

I looked at Shannon to see if one might taste better than the other and she answered for me. “Give us the oat milk, please. Do you have any of those chocolate tahini croissants?”

Our orders placed, we sat down at a table with a view of the street. “Wow, since when has Poplar Springs become all gentrified?” I asked and Shannon nodded.

“I know, right? It’s been happening over the past three-to-four years. It started with the Bite and Brew, when Aurora took it over with her husband. Not sure if you remember her from school; she was a year older than me.” I shook my head—the name didn’t ring a bell. “Anyway, Carly took over the old Wake Me Up coffee shop and renamed it. Other places have been opening too. The town’s really booming. It’s been great for ranch business too.”

Carly dropped off our drinks and croissants and waited while I took that first sip. “Oh my God, how have I not had one of these before? It’s delicious. What’s in it?”

“Barista’s secret,” Carly said solemnly before grinning. “Just kidding. I drop a shot of espresso in; hence, the dirty bit,” she said with a wink. “I actually first tried them when I was waiting for a flight in Atlantaand was in desperate need of caffeine. Good, right?” The bell over the door jingled and she excused herself.

Shannon was already halfway through her croissant and I finally bit into mine closing my eyes at the sheer pleasure of slightly melty chocolate and sesame mixed with the buttery croissant.

“Now, aren’t you glad you got up this morning?” Shannon teased me and I nodded, my mouth too full to speak.

“Caffertys.” We both looked up to see Brian Thorne standing there. We’d been in the same grade at Pop High, as we called our high school. I’d been surprised when I found out he was the current sheriff. Not that I didn’t think he was qualified, but it was weird seeing someone I’d grown up with as the sheriff, especially since I currently couldn’t keep a job.

“Brian. Late congrats on the job,” I said trying to wipe any crumbs—real or imaginary—off my face.

“Thanks. Just wanted to give you both a heads up that the mayor’s office is planning to have an open fundraising meeting to discuss the community center. Hope to see you both there.” Before either of us could respond, there was a voice on his radio. “Excuse me.” I watched him walk over to the counter to grab his drink.

“What’s wrong with the community center?” I asked Shannon who looked at me with surprise.

“Don’t you remember? I know I texted you about it. Bad summer storm with lots of lightning strikes. The elementary school, playground and community center all took a hit. The mayor’s office has been fighting with the insurance company that deemed it an ‘act of God.’” Shannon made air quotes as she spoke. “Can you believe it? I used to poke fun at Josh for being so serious about our insurance coverage and then this happened.”

We finished our drinks and croissants and walked over to the supply store. Old man Martin was behind the counter looking as old as ever and every bit as cantankerous as I remembered him.

“Ladies,” he said by way of greeting. “I got those prenatal supplements you ordered for your mares along with the supplies your brother ordered. If you pull around to the loading dock, the boys will load the truck for you.”

“Thanks, Mr. Martin. I’ve got a few other things to pick up while we’re here.” Shannon grabbed a cart and directed me down the aisle. She began loading it up while I watched. I admired my sister working in a male-dominated profession. I knew she struggled at times, but Shannon always had a good eye for horses and her buyers appreciated the quality of the foals her mares produced.

“Why, Shannon Cafferty, what brings you to town on a Sunday? Clearly not to go to church.” My sister flinched at the voice and I looked at the woman walking toward us. In an instant, I recognized who she was.

“Uh, Becca. Nice to see you,” Shannon said, which was probably one of the biggest lies my sister had ever told. The antagonism that existed between Shannon and Becca Johnson clearly hadn’t mellowed in the years since I’d been gone. Becca was intent on always being more successful than everyone else and she was an outright, conniving bitch about it. Or at least, that’s what Shannon had always said. And looking at the fake blonde wearing far too much makeup for a Sunday, I didn’t think she had exaggerated.

Becca turned to size me up and I did my best to maintain a blank face. “And look at you, Miss Fiona. Home for a visit or did you get fired or something and have to come home with your tail between your legs?”

Oh no, she didn’t.

I furrowed my brows and gave my best confused expression. “I’m sorry, do I know you?” I looked at Shannon who recognized my “about to stir shit up” tone and barely managed to bite back a smirk. I turned back to Becca. “Do you go to our church? I don’t remember ever seeing you there, but as you sussed out, I’m back in town.”

“Uh, you might remember Becca from high school,” Shannon offered and I made sure to have my eyes light up with an “aha” moment.

“Oh, you must have been our teacher. I vaguely remember a Rebecca who taught driver’s ed—was that you? Because if it was, I swear I wasn’t the one who put that scratch in the passenger door.”

The squeal of outrage that came out of Becca’s mouth would have made a hog proud. Without another word, she stormed away. We waited until she was out of earshot before we both started laughing.

“Thanks, sis. I owe you big for that one. The look on her face.” Shannon grinned at me.

I held up my fist for a bump. “Caffertys for life.”

“Caffertys for life,” Shannon replied giving me a fist bump. “Now, come on, let’s go grab the rest of the supplies and get out of here before we run into any more of our favorite people.”

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