Page 11 of Loving Violet
Can this day get any worse? Really, Violet? Why did you have to go and spill scalding coffee on a man…and it's your first day at a new job? Josy is going to be so mad at me…
“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!” I exclaim, all flustered, as I quickly move to grab napkins. I haven’t even seen his face, but I don’t care. I start patting his chest with the napkins. “I didn’t see you there, I’m really sorry,” I say, my voice dripping with embarrassment.
“It’s okay,” the man annoyingly says to me while I’m still busy trying to clean him with the wad of napkins in my hands.
“I’ll pay for your dry cleaning, I promise,” I reply.
“Really, it’s fine,” he says, trying to sound more reassuring. “Accidents happen.”
I guess that’s true, but with the day I’m having, it’s like accidents have been happening to me all day long. I can’t help but feel like a complete mess.
I finally stop, looking up at the tall guy. “I just started working here today. What a way to make a first impression, huh?” I say with a nervous chuckle.
“Really, it’s fine,” he says again. I can barely look at him. “It’s just coffee. No harm done.”
Yeah, say that to Josy or Edna.
I am definitely doing some harm to my pride today. But if he’s okay with being burned by coffee from a complete stranger, I’m not going to complain. I give him a relieved smile, even though I am utterly embarrassed. “I’ll still pay for your dry cleaning,” I insist.
The stranger waves it off. “No need. Just part of the Monday morning excitement, I guess.”
I laugh at his words—no truer words have ever been spoken. Because my Monday has been full of excitement, and it’s not even nine in the morning.
“Well, I hope the rest of your day is better,” I say to this complete stranger.
He nods, giving me a reassuring smile. “It will be. Thanks for the napkins.”
I nod back and turn as fast as I can toward the back of the shop. I’m going to close myself in Josy’s office and forget that today even happened.
Hopefully, Adrian is having a better first day at his school than I am here at the coffee shop.
After this morning's disaster, my day seemed to get better. I learned how to work the register, and became quite good at it. I also really enjoy talking with the customers, I think I might even be good at it. Cleaning, counting money, and talking; maybe the list will get longer after a few more days of practice.
I glance at the clock and realize it’s almost time for me to pick up Adrian from school.
But, before I go, I need to talk with Josy. I look for her in the kitchen, but she’s not there, so I go to her office. When I enter, I see her sitting at her desk going over paperwork.
“Hi, whatcha doing?” I inquire.
“Lots of stuff. I need to keep track of the sales while maintaining the books. I also need to update my website, my social media, and my email list. I feel like I’m drowning in work.”
Now that I’m really looking at her surrounded by paperwork, I notice that she looks exhausted. “Tell me how I can help. You know that I am good at social media, and I can learn how to work on your website. If you tell me what you want to send in your emails, I can do that too. That way, you just have to focus on the other stuff,” I say, trying to hide my excitement in case she feels like I’m overstepping.
Josy looks up at me, a grateful smile spreading across her tired face. “That would be amazing, Violet. Are you sure you have the time?”
“Absolutely,” I reply. “I’m here to help, remember? Plus, I think I’ll be better at this than making coffee or baking.”
She chuckles, a hint of relief in her eyes. “Okay, you’ve got a deal. Let’s sit down tomorrow and I’ll show you what needs to be done.”
“Sounds perfect. I’m headed out to pick up Adrian from school. I’ll see you at home later. Do you want to have dinner with us?” I ask Josy.
“Sure. What are you in the mood for?” Josy asks me.
“I don’t know. Let me pick up Adrian and see what he wants to eat, and we’ll go from there.” I shrugged.
“Sounds like a plan,” Josy says as she gives me a big smile.
I wave goodbye and head out, feeling excited and hopeful about the days ahead. Helping Josy with the marketing side of things is just what I need—a chance to actually use what I learned in school. It’s been forever, but this could be my way back into the groove. I’m already thinking about the YouTube and TikTok videos I need to binge to catch up on the latest trends. I know I can take Josy’s coffee shop to the next level, make it even more irresistible, and help her attract new customers.
