Page 118 of It Couldn't Be You
“Katie, are you okay?” I asked when I saw her.
She shook her head. “No.”
I ran over to her. “What’s wrong? What happened?”
“Rose is closing the shop!” she said, her voice raw. I gasped. “I know, I know,” she said, breaking into a sob.
She walked quickly over to the shop door and locked it from the inside, then turned to me and explained everything.
“Rose says she’s ready to retire. She wants to move to Florida or something, I don’t know. But the shop is closing.” She led me to one of the cozier sofas.
“I’m in shock right now,” I said, locking my arms around a fluffy pillow.
“I was getting kind of worried this was going to happen. I just thought I had a little more time.” She sniffled.
“How are you feeling?” I asked softly.
“Heartbroken, which maybe is silly. But you know how much I love this place. It’s the dream.” She took in a deep breath. “I mean, I even had ole Canada Man move here because I love this job, this town. Now what?”
Everything’s going to change anyway,my mom’s voice flitted across my memory.
“It’s not silly at all,” I reassured her.
“I don’t want a new job. I want to open and closethisplace. I want to see my favorite customers. I don’t want to forget their ‘regulars.’” She buried her face in her hands.
“Well, why don’t you just open your own coffee shop then? You are marrying a man who loves investing in new business ventures.”
She nodded. “You know, I’ve been toying with that idea. I’m just torn about it.”
“What are you torn about?”
“Can I do ithere?” She gestured at the shop around us. “I lovethisplace.”
“I know,” I said, sighing a sad sigh. It donning on me that I was now out of a job, too.
“I think Ishoulddo it here,” Katie said suddenly, jumping up on the couch. “I should call up Rose and ask if I can buy Coffee & Commas from her. Keep it going.”
Katie and I had a joke that we were taking over Coffee & Commas, but I guess I had never realized she meant it.
But then, as if clues were finally coming together, I thought of Rose’s mentorship for Katie, Katie’s relationship with the customers, and her heartfelt plans for the shop’s future. Of course, Katie should own Coffee & Commas next.
She looked at me expectantly, and I said, “Honestly, I think Rose would go for it.”
“Me too,” she said conspiratorially.
Katie began spinning out a plan. It was obvious she’d been ruminating on this for a while, preparing in the back of her mind. We talked it out until the city was black around us. Downtown was dark, except our little coffee shop lights blinking. Our shadows faced each other planning for the future—business ventures and wedding days.
I thought how on the outside, Katie might look liked she played it safe, but as she talked about the future of this business she loved so much, I knew she went always wentall in. She gave itallto her dreams, to her love story, to the things she wanted. When she felt the spark with Terrence, hadn’t she spent the rest of the day with him? She gambled all those hours, gambled all those feelings, pushing them to the center of the table, trusting her gut that this was it.
How often would I hold my cards close to my chest, waiting for the next time—the perfect time—until everyone left the table.
Now Katie was going to take the risk to own her own business—but not just any business, a beloved one. She and I knew that the town would be watching. Rose and her coffee shop had a reputation.
We were finally walking out the door, as she slid her keys into the lock, she said to me, “I’m gonna give it a future.”
She was also giving herself a future.
That night Katie FaceTimed to tell me everything that had conspired in the last twenty-four hours. She had talked late that night with Terrence about her plan, then she woke up early that morning and called Rose.
