14. Last Promise
1504 Words
The next morning, I'm so excited. I wake up super early, so I open the place at 6. I fill the tank of coffee and put out the muffins. I even made chocolate muffins.
Mike and Chris get there at the same time. "This is kind of early to open."
"I don't care. I was awake."
"Did you eat?"
"No. Did you?"
"Not yet."
Chris smiles. "I made yogurt fruit cups." He puts them in the cooler. "Go eat. I'll watch the place. Nobody is out there anyway."
Mike and I go up to my apartment. He makes us some eggs and toast. "I didn't know you could cook. This is good."
"I can cook the basics. I won't die of starvation or anything. But don't ask me to cook for your shop."
"I hope people like it. I love this food."
"They'll love it. You're doing amazing. We do have to do a little shopping though. Conner is coming over to keep the place open."
"I'm going to have to pay them and I don't know how."
"It's alright. I'll get you started. Once you understand how much you're spending, you'll know what you can afford."
"I could always pay them from my uncle's credit card too."
He cracks up laughing. "Maybe. We'll see."
We go downstairs and the shop is packed full. Chris and Conner are pouring coffee and calculating stuff in their heads. My eyebrows shoot up and Mike puts his arm around me. "I'm sure it's fine. We're going shopping. Be back soon."
They nod and don't say anything. Mike makes a coffee and brings it with us.
"That was a lot before 7 in the morning."
"Yea, that was the shop owners and workers. Nobody realized they would be in so early. But we're going to have to get you a real cash register while we're out. That glorified calculator isn't going to work."
"Ok."
3 hours later, we're back and I have a car. I jump all over the place and drag Conner and Chris out. I make them sit in it with me.
"After your hours driving, you'll be able to drive for real."
"I have a car. A car for me."
"It's nice."
Chris looks around the backseat. "It's brand new."
"It's a car." I start sobbing. "I have a car."
Conner nods. "I think he could have picked out a 30 year old hunk of junk and she would have been happy."
I nod and wipe my tears away. "It's mine."
They both smile.
Chris opens the door. "I'm glad you have a car. I'm not sitting in it all day though. We can visit it later."
I smile and get out. "I'll be back later, Bertha."
Conner rubs his face. "Did you just name the car Bertha?"
"Yes."
"No."
Chris nearly falls over laughing. "Of all the names. Pick something else. It's got leather seats. Call it leathers."
"Fine. Bertha Leathers."
They laugh and drag me in. Then Conner leaves to go do spy stuff.
Mike is standing behind the counter talking to another alpha. I don't know that one.
Chris pours a coffee. "We can only hope her mate names the children."
"What?" Mike puts an eyebrow up.
"The car's name is Bertha Leathers."
Mike and the alpha lose it.
"It's a nice name."
"If she breaks, it's going to be because you named it Bertha." Chris rolls his eyes. "She's going to retaliate."
I roll my eyes and take over the counter. I have no idea how to use the register though. Mike and the other alpha sit at a table and talk. A lady hands me $2 for her coffee and I push some buttons. Glad she didn't need change. This thing will not open. I keep pushing buttons.
"THAT'S NOT PROGRAMMED. USE THE OTHER BOX FOR NOW."
"WHAT OTHER BOX?" I jump up and down.
Mike runs back and points it out. Then he whispers, "I'll get it programmed. I want to talk to this guy first." He kisses my head and goes back.
I use my old box. Glad it's there.
Chris nods. "Let's close and go to the mall."
"Ok." I lock the door and turn the sign. Then I smile at Mike and the alpha. "We're going to the mall. I'll be back by 1."
"Bring a pizza when you come back." Mike gives me some money.
Chris smiles. "We should make pizza."
I nod. "Tell Conner. He'll get us a pizza oven."
Mike yells, "NO HOT FOOD." As we run out the back.
I give them their pizza and then I do my tutoring. I also get to drive the driving instructor's car. Not mine. I'm sad about that. But it's ok. Then I go back to the shop.
Mike. 4 alpha's. The king. Conner and a couple of guys I don't know are all sitting around the tables talking.
I unlock the door and a lady comes in. Almost like I opened the door for her. "Don't mind me."
The smoke turns red in the balls. She picks out 2 and hands me $200 as I hold the door for her. "Have a nice day."
"You too, sweetie."
I shut the door and lock it. "I'm going to make some more sandwiches before I open. I'm running low."
The king smiles. "I guess that explains the increase in the number of magicians in the market district today."
"I don't know if they're magicians."
The door opens and another lady comes in. I tilt my head. I swear I locked that.
"Here's the sour cream and receipt. I took it off the $100."
"Ok."
"Dice up tomatoes and cucumbers. Then mix them with sour cream and salt. Stir stir stir. You'll love it."
We all ignore the crystal ball that floats over the boys.
"Thank you."
The ball follows her out. It floats about 5 feet behind her.
Mike smiles. "I think they're magicians."
"Yea, you're probably right."
Conner tosses me his keys. "The tomatoes and cucumbers are in the trunk of my car."
Alpha Rhett rubs his face. "The tomato and cucumber plants are still going crazy. Even the cooks can't keep up with canning it all. They're running out of jars. It's almost like the witches are doing it."
The king nods. "Yea, they shouldn't be producing in December."
I check the door and it's still locked. "What a weird day." Then I get stuff out of the trunk and make sandwiches and sour cream salad.
By the time I get it all packaged, Conner and Mike have the store open again.
Mike is trying to talk to any alpha or beta that will talk to him. Conner is trying to ease drop on everyone. It's entertaining working with them but the rest of the night goes smoothly.
The next day, Mike takes me shopping in the Gold Moon District. The boys love to get new suits here. I help him pick a few and some new shoes. Then he helps me pick out everything. I love everything about shopping here. When I get my hair done, the king and queen come in again.
The queen smiles at me. "I should have known who the girl is with the woodland alpha. I don't know why the guards don't understand what a delta is."
The king laughs. "Their delta is stronger than most alpha's around here. It confuses them." He shakes Mike's hand. "They'll figure it out eventually." Then he starts talking quieter. I don't know what they're saying.
The queen comes over to me. She smiles and puts her hand on my shoulder. It feels warm and tingly. "Such bright blue eyes. Try the chocolate here. It's amazing."
"It sure is." The lady doing my hair hands me a piece.
I shove it in my mouth and smile. "It is good."
She smiles. Then says something to the boys before she leaves. I enjoy my chocolate.
Mike and I leave after an hour. I'm pretty and fancy like always.
"She put the Gold Moon mark on you."
"What?" I try to spin around in the seat. "Why?" It's huge. It takes up most of my shoulder blade.
"They can keep you safe. They're powerful and always close."
"But why?"
"They want to keep you safe. You'll be fine. Just ignore it and live like normal. They'll be able to keep an eye on you for me. They're closer."
"Why do you care? I'm not your problem."
He thinks for a long time. "I do care and I made a promise to your mother."
My heart breaks a little. But I understand a lot more now. I thought he cared about me. He always treated me well. Like a little sister in ways. Or maybe his mom wanted to make sure I was safe. But no. He's only keeping his last promise to a dying woman.
I smile. "It's nice of you to keep your promise. I'm sure that would have made my mom happy."
- Writer
