Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26738 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26738 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Ava and Harlow both winced.
“I am so bad at this.” Abriana frowned.
“You’re not bad, you’re just not well trained.”
Harlow started to choke on her coffee, and Ava glared at her.
Abriana’s cell phone started to ring, and Ava pointed toward her office. Once the other woman was out of sight, she turned to Harlow. “What is the matter with you?”
“The matter is that girl is a disaster. Honestly, she cannot cook anything. Food is frightened of her. I swear, potatoes see her coming and literally shrivel up. I love Abriana, but trust me, she cost me a fortune in dental care.”
“Ugly Beast paid.”
“I still had to go to the dentist. We cannot allow her to cook her own Christmas meal. I’m surprised Ugly Beast isn’t glowing with the shit she’s fed him.”
Ava tried not to laugh. The truth was, Abriana was a terrible cook. The worst kind of cook. The poor woman had the heart and desire, but nothing ever went right for her. Ava wasn’t going to give up on her. “I’ll talk to Smokey. I might prepare all of Abriana’s food in advance.”
“That sounds like a great idea.”
Harlow’s phone began to play a Christmas tune. Ava was used to Harlow’s phone changing with the seasons. At Halloween, it had a spooky tune, Thanksgiving was a classical piece.
“Er, I’ve got to take this,” Harlow said. “I’ll be right back.”
Ava glanced over and saw it said Asshole Prez on the front.
Smokey.
Smokey was calling Harlow? That was strange.
The doorbell rang, so Ava got to her feet and headed toward the main counter. After lunch, it was always a lull. They would get a few customers up until around dinner, and then they’d sell out.
Ava saw it was Larissa. The sweet young girl who worked at the library. Larissa always had a smile on her face. Today, she was wrapped up in a thick winter coat, a hat, a scarf, and her cheeks were bright red.
“Larissa, are you okay?”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. I’m always so cold around this time of year.
Ava didn’t need to see that the young woman was probably in a dress and wearing tights and boots. She couldn’t ever recall seeing Larissa in anything different.
“I was hoping to have some cinnamon rolls to take home to Dad,” Larissa said.
This was a surprise to Ava as Larissa often cooked for her father.
“Sure, sure. How many would you like?”
“Would it be possible to have four?” Larissa asked. “I haven’t had a chance to make them.”
There was a quiver in Larissa’s throat, and Ava frowned. “Is everything okay?” She looked at Larissa and then saw the tears in the woman’s eyes.
Ava couldn’t stand to see such a sweet woman crying. She rushed around the counter and pulled Larissa in for an embrace. “It’s okay, sweetheart. I’ve got you.”
“I’m so sorry. I don’t usually cry so easily. It’s fine. It is so fine.”
It clearly wasn’t fine.
Larissa wrapped her arms around her, and Ava hugged her tightly, not wanting to let her go, to help her feel safe and warm.
“Come on, come around the back,” Ava said.
She guided the other woman toward a seat.
Abriana and Harlow still hadn’t returned. How odd.
Pushing her concerns out of her mind, she focused on Larissa, who pulled her hat off her head.
“I’m sorry. It is so silly, but I absolutely love my job. I love working at the library, and they have to make cuts.” Larissa sniffled. “They let me go. My dad already knows and he says it’s fine, but I don’t know what I’m going to do. I have to work.”
Ava wanted to offer her a job, but between her and Harlow, everything was working out fine, and she didn’t have a place for her.
“You know what, I’m pretty sure we can come up with something,” Ava said. “I promise you, you won’t have to worry for long.”
“No one is hiring, and I don’t want to go to the city.” Larissa’s lip wobbled. “This is home, you know.” She sniffled. “I’m so sorry. You don’t need to hear about my troubles.”
“They’re not troubles. Would you like some coffee or hot chocolate, or tea?”
“A tea would be nice,” Larissa said.
“Right.” Ava moved toward the kettle, and as she did, she looked into the office where Abriana stood with Harlow. They were close to Harlow’s phone, nodding into it.
They looked up, and Ava looked away, focusing on the cup of tea she was making for Larissa.
What were Abriana and Harlow up to?
Chapter Four
“And the library has let her go because of budget cuts, and I don’t know what to do. I suppose I could give her a job at the shop. Is there anything you can do, Smokey?”
Ava looked so damn sad, and the truth was, Larissa was such a sweetheart that he didn’t want to see her struggling. He didn’t understand why Jonah hadn’t come to him already.