Page 44 of Loving Violet
"Morning, John. The usual?" I ask.
"Yes, please. A large black coffee and a blueberry muffin," he replies with a grin.
As I prepare his order, Mrs. Henrietta and Mrs. Mirtha, the town gossips, walk in together, chattering away.
"Good morning, ladies," I greet them. "What can I get for you today?"
"Morning, dear," Mrs. Henrietta says. "I'll have chamomile tea please."
"And I'll have an herbal tea with one sugar packet," Mrs. Mirtha adds. "So, Violet, any news we should know about?"
I smile, knowing they love their gossip. "Nothing too exciting, just the usual busy day."
As I hand them their teas, Mr. Hasting walks in. He's been coming in more often since his wife passed away, and I make a point to chat with him whenever I can.
"Good morning, Mr. Hasting," I say gently. "How are you today?"
"I'm doing alright, Violet. Could I get a coffee with two-percent, and a slice of that apple pie?" he asks, his voice tinged with sadness.
"Of course. Why don't you sit down, and I'll bring it over to you?" I suggest.
He nods and takes a seat by the window. I quickly prepare his order and bring it to him.
"Thank you, Violet," he says quietly.
"You're welcome, Mr. Hasting. If you need anything, just let me know," I reply, giving him a reassuring smile.
As the morning progresses, the shop fills with the usual hustle and bustle. John sits by the window, reading his newspaper, while Mrs. Henrietta and Mrs. Mirtha gossip in their corner. Mr. Hasting sips his coffee slowly, lost in his thoughts.
Later, Austin arrives with his usual charm, greeting me with a smile that makes my heart skip a beat.
"Hey, beautiful," he says, leaning on the counter. "How's your morning going?"
"Busy, but good," I reply, trying to steady my voice as I pour his coffee. "How about yours?"
"Can't complain, I've been reviewing some new project designs. It's exciting stuff, but nothing compares to seeing you here."
I feel my cheeks warm at his flirtatious comment. "Smooth talker," I tease, handing him his coffee.
Austin takes a moment to stir his coffee, his gaze lingering on me. "So, do you have any plans this evening?”
I shake my head when I say “No. Why?”
“I just wanted to see if you were going to be busy. I will probably text you again. I want to know more about you. Actually I want to know everything about you. Is that okay, Violet? I don’t want to come on too strong.”
I meet his gaze, feeling a rush of anticipation and nervousness all at once. “Okay. I will wait for your message,” I reply softly.
He winks at me playfully. "I'll see you soon, Violet."
As Austin leaves the coffee shop, Mrs. Mirtha and Mrs. Henrietta approach me with eager expressions.
"Violet, dear," Mrs. Henrietta starts, her tone giddy with excitement. "That young man, Austin, he seems quite taken with you."
"He's never shown interest in anyone before," Mrs. Mirtha adds, nodding in agreement. "You must’ve made quite an impression."
I laugh nervously, feeling both flattered and a little overwhelmed by their scrutiny. "He's just helping with my house plans," I explain, trying to downplay the situation.
Mrs. Henrietta leans closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Oh, my dear, I can see the way he looks at you. It's not just about the house."
