Page 11 of The Good Luck Cafe
“Well, I best be going,” she said. “Say what they will, but you’re still a hero in my eyes,” she added before walking away.
Moira watched the older woman leave the bakeshop. She felt a lot of things right now, but heroic wasn’t one of them.
Chapter Four
Moira eyed the space behind the counter where her mom should be standing. It wasn’t like Darla to leave the counter unattended for long. Moira walked to the front and eyed the little bell that readRING ME. Everyone knew that workers didn’t enjoy being summoned by the bell on the counter, especially when it was a child doing the ringing.
Moira stood there a moment, and as she was about to tap the little bell, her mom appeared from the back room.
“Oh. Moira.” Darla’s smile was hesitant and forced. Her eyes looked red, which caught Moira off guard. Her mom was rarely ever upset.
“Mom, are you okay?”
“Oh, yes, of course.” Darla waved a dismissive hand in Moira’s direction. “It’s just hot in the kitchen, you know that.”
Moira did know that. She’d worked here during the summers and on weekends when she was growing up. She knew what her mom’s hot face looked like though, and this wasn’t it. She was about to press her mother on what was bothering her, when Darla turned and began preparing a coffee for her.
“Are you getting this to go?” Darla asked. “I’m assuming you’re on shift today.”
“I’m actually meeting Tess for coffee. At least that was the plan.” Moira glanced behind her in case she’d somehow missed her friend sitting at one of the tables when she’d walked in.
“She hasn’t come in yet,” Darla said. “So…” She trailed off until Moira turned back to her. “I hear yesterday was an interesting day for you.”
Moira groaned. She leaned over the counter, propping herself up on her elbows. “I wish Reva would stop broadcasting everyone’s business.”
Darla slid Moira’s cup of coffee across the counter. Steam wafted up from the rim as Darla pressed a top over it. “You know that gossip is like an addiction. A person can’t just kick the habit.”
“An addiction is a disease, Mom. Gossip is a behavior.” Moira grabbed the coffee and took a grateful sip. Sweetie’s coffee was smooth on her tongue. “Mm. Best brew in Somerset Lake.” She assessed her mother over the rim of her cup. There was something off in her green eyes. “Mom?”
Darla raised her brows in response. “Hmm?”
Moira was about to ask what was going on, when a voice interrupted behind her.
“Fancy meeting you here.”
Moira turned toward her friend’s voice. “Hey, Tess. There you are.”
Tess broke into a tired yawn. “Sorry, I’m running a bit late. I overslept, and I’m in desperate need of coffee.”
“I’m on it.” Darla turned to prepare another cup.
“Late night?” Moira waggled her brows, making Tess roll her eyes.
“Mind out of the gutter, please. I stayed up reading our selection for book club, thank you very much.”
“If you say so.”
Tess sighed and looked at Moira. “Are we still having coffee together?”
Moira checked the time. “I can if you can.”
“The bookstore doesn’t open until nine, and Lara is with me today, so I’m in no rush.”
Darla handed Tess her beverage and rung her up.
“I’ll talk to you later, Mom.” Moira made a mental note to do exactly that. There was something wrong—she could tell—and she needed to know what it was.
“Enjoy your coffees, girls,” Darla called after them.
