16. Cole

SIXTEEN

Cole

6:22 pm

I unlock the door to my condo and step inside, taking a deep breath as I close it behind me. The silence envelops me, a stark contrast to the constant buzz of the cafe. I kick off my shoes and pad barefoot across the cool tile, relishing the quiet.

My mind is still racing from the day's events. I've reviewed John Early's list so many times I could recite it in my sleep. Nelson and I combed through every nook and cranny of Brewed Awakening, determined not to leave a single stone unturned. I even asked him to stay late and do one final sweep, just to be sure.

Exhaustion settles deep in my bones as I collapse onto the couch. I close my eyes, savoring this rare moment of solitude. Maddie will be back from her playdate with Anna soon, and while I can't wait to hear about her adventures, I need these few precious minutes to decompress.

The weight of tomorrow's inspection presses down on me. I've done everything I can think of, but doubt still gnaws at the edges of my mind. What if I missed something? What if it's not enough?

I force those thoughts away, focusing instead on the stillness around me. The soft hum of the air conditioning, the distant sound of traffic outside—it's all so different from the constant clatter of dishes and chatter of customers.

My fingers absentmindedly trace the pattern on the couch cushion as I let my mind wander. Despite my best efforts, it drifts to Buster and our earlier stolen moments in the cafe. A small smile tugs at my lips, and I sit with that indulgence for a bit.

I glance at the clock, knowing my reprieve is nearly over. Soon, Maddie's excited chatter and endless energy will fill the apartment. As much as I cherish these quiet moments, they feel off when they are this calm.

For now, though, I close my eyes again and breathe deeply, soaking in the peace while it lasts.

A sharp knock on the door jolts me out of my quasi-meditation. My heart races as I blink, disoriented. I must have dozed off without realizing it. For a moment, I'm not sure who could be at the door – I wasn't expecting anyone.

Then I hear it – the familiar sound of little girls giggling. Then I smile to myself as I realize it must be Liesle bringing Maddie home from their park adventure.

I push myself up from the couch, my muscles protesting slightly after being still for so long. As I reach the door, I run my hands over my thighs, hoping I don't look too unkempt.

"Coming!" I call out, my voice still groggy from my impromptu nap.

I reach for the doorknob, plastering on a smile despite my lingering fatigue. As I swing the door open, I'm greeted by the sight of Liesle, her face bright with amusement, and two very excited little girls.

"Mommy!" Maddie exclaims, launching herself at me. I catch her in a hug, her energy infectious.

"Hey, sleepyhead," Liesle teases, a knowing smirk on her face. "Did we wake you?"

I laugh a bit sheepishly. "Just resting my eyes for a minute," I fib, stepping back to let them in.

Maddie and Anna tumble into the apartment, a whirlwind of excitement and chatter. Their voices overlap as they both try to tell me about their adventures at the park.

"We saw ducks!" Maddie exclaims.

"And we went on the big slide!" Anna adds, her eyes wide with enthusiasm.

I nod, trying to keep up with their rapid-fire storytelling. "Sounds like you two had quite the adventure," I say, leading everyone into the living room.

Liesle and I go to the balcony, leaving the girls to their excited chatter in Maddie's room. The sun has shifted to the other side of the building, casting a comfortable shade over us as we settle into the patio chairs. Despite the lingering warmth of the day, a pleasant breeze rustles the potted plants around us.

I hand Liesle a glass of fresh-squeezed lemonade, complete with a sprig of mint from my small herb garden. The ice clinks softly as she takes it, and I can't help but feel a small surge of pride at her appreciative smile.

"Oh, Cole," Liesle says, taking a sip. Her eyes widen with delight. "This is delicious! You're so fancy with your fresh mint and everything. My own personal Martha Stewart."

I laugh, shaking my head. "It's hardly fancy. It's just a little trick I picked up at the cafe. You'd be amazed at how a sprig of herbs can elevate a simple drink."

We sit in comfortable silence for a moment, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere and the tart sweetness of the lemonade. The faint sounds of the girls playing drift out to us, punctuated by occasional bursts of laughter.

"So," Liesle says, leaning forward with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Are we going to talk about the handsome doctor I saw at Brewed earlier?"

I feel a flush creeping up my neck, and I take a long sip of lemonade to buy myself some time. "Buster? He's the guy I told you about. You know, 'love 'em and leave 'em Buster?'"

Liesle raises an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "Uh-huh. Duh, I know who he is, Einstein. But I want the deets. Obviously, Come on, sis. Spill. Last we talked, you were irritated about running into him. You didn't look irritated in the least today."

I sigh, knowing I can't hide anything from my sister. "It's complicated," I admit. "As you know, we have... history. And now he's moved into the building, and things are... evolving."

"Wait. Back up. He moved into Park Place?"

"Yup."

"Evolving, huh?" Liesle grins. "That sounds promising. So I guess that is why you've been running into him lately."

"I don't know, I don't know if all of our encounters could be chalked up to that, but yes, now I can't avoid him."

"Okay, get back to the evolving park. What's the deal?"

"So, we've slept together. A few times."

"Oh, my God! I knew it! I could read it on your face today when I entered the cafe. I felt it!"

"That's not all…"

Liesle slams her glass down on the small side table dramatically and leans in. "What more could there be?"

I take a deep breath, my heart racing as I consider how to broach this subject with Liesle. The words feel heavy on my tongue, but I know I need to share this burden.

"Liesle," I start, my voice barely above a whisper, "there's something else. Something I've been thinking about lately, and it's... it's freaking me out."

She leans in, concern etched on her face. "What is it, Cole?"

I close my eyes for a moment, steeling myself. "I... I think there's a possibility that Maddie might be Buster's daughter."

The words hang in the air between us, and I can see the shock register on Liesle's face. I rush to explain before she can interrupt.

"I know it sounds crazy. I've always assumed Steele was her father. But lately, spending time with Buster, I've started noticing things. Little mannerisms, how he moves his hands when he talks, the shape of his eyes... they're so similar to Maddie's."

My mind races, recalling all the little details I've observed over the past few days: Buster's nose crinkles when he laughs, just like Maddie's; the determined set of his jaw when he's focused, mirroring my daughter's expression when she's coloring.

"And when I did the math," I continue, my voice shaky, "it works. The timing of when Buster and I were together... it lines up perfectly with Maddie's conception."

Liesle's eyes widen, and I can see her processing this information. "But what about Steele? Weren't you with him before and after?"

I nod, running a hand through my hair. "Yes, but that time was so tumultuous. We were breaking up, getting back together, apart, but sleeping together. It's hard to say for sure. It was around that time when Buster and I... well, you know. I never even considered it before because it was just one night, and Steele and I had our last full-on try to make it work after that."

"Oh, God."

"I didn't find out I was pregnant until Steele was living with me, and it had been over a month since I was with Buster. He didn't even enter my mind. And when I told Steele, and he rejected the idea of having her, I was dealing with that and the decisions I had to make about whether or not I wanted to have her by myself."

"Fuck."

"Fuck is right."

The weight of this realization settles on me, and I feel my chest tighten. "God, Liesle, what if it's true? What do I do? How do I even bring this up with Buster? With Steele? With Maddie?"

"I don't have all the answers, but I have one for sure. You do absolutely zero with that loser, Steele. He hasn't even met Maddie. He told you he wanted nothing to do with her, so you owe him nothing."

"A tiny part of me is relieved at the thought that Steele might not be her father. I have always hated the idea of someday having to tell her that he wanted nothing to do with his daughter. I didn't want to break her heart."

"Oh, Cole. This is a lot. All of it."

She stands up and leans down to hug me. Her genuine care for me and my daughter as I navigate this heavy possibility is what I need to know and feel right now.

I've been carrying this mini secret with me for the last several days. I was scared to admit it to myself, much less say it out loud. But her response is exactly what I needed.

My mind is spinning with possibilities and fears. The potential impact on Maddie, my relationship with Buster, and everything I thought I knew about my life is overwhelming. Tears are pricking at the corners of my eyes.

I step out onto the balcony, wine glass in hand, and sink into my favorite chair. The cool evening air caresses my skin, but it does little to soothe the turmoil in my mind. My phone buzzes with a text from Star.

You up for company? I could use a glass of wine and an adult ear.

I quickly type back, hoping to head off a stop-by.

I'm exhausted and heading to bed early. Maybe tomorrow night?

It's not entirely untrue, but I can't face anyone else tonight.

As I take a sip of wine, my thoughts drift back to my conversation with Liesle. Saying the words out loud to her suddenly makes it very real.

The possibility that Buster could be Maddie's father sits heavy on my chest. I close my eyes, trying to make sense of it all.

How could I have been so blind? The signs were there, subtle but unmistakable. Maddie has dark hair, even though I have brown and Steele has blonde. Her infectious laugh is now glaringly obvious, so similar to Buster's. The way she furrows her brow when concentrating is just like him. Even her boundless, silly energy matches his.

I think back to that night with Buster so long ago. It was passionate and intense, but I never imagined it could lead to this. I always assumed Steele was Maddie's father despite his absence from her life. Now, I'm not sure of anything.

The implications of this realization are staggering. If it's true, how do I tell Buster? How will he react?

And what about Maddie? She's too young to understand the complexities of adult relationships, but she deserves to know the truth about her father. At some point, anyway.

We've talked peripherally about Steele, and I've shown her pictures of him when she asks who her daddy is. Now, am I just going to say, "Just kidding, this is your dad?"

I take another sip of wine, feeling the warmth spread through me. Part of me wants to rush to Buster's door right now and confess everything. Another part wants to bury this secret deep and never speak of it again. But I know neither of those options is fair to anyone involved.

I feel utterly lost as I sit here, staring out at the twinkling city lights. The life I've carefully built for Maddie and myself suddenly feels like it's on shifting sands. Everything I thought I knew has been called into question.

Friday, August 16

8:13 am

I rush down the sidewalk, my heels clicking against the pavement. The crisp morning air nips at my cheeks, a welcome change from the usual muggy heat. For once, I'm not sweating through my blouse before I even reach the cafe. Maybe Fall is finally trying to break through, I think, as I savor the coolness.

I know the summer heat isn't gone for good, but the reprieve is nice.

As I round the corner, Brewed Awakening comes into view. My stomach does a somersault. The inspection—it's all I can think about, and the nervousness threatens to overwhelm me. I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart.

I fumble with the door, my hand slipping off the handle initially. The familiar bell jingles as I step inside, and I'm immediately hit with the comforting aroma of freshly brewed coffee. But even that can't soothe my nerves today.

To my surprise, the cafe is already bustling. A line stretches from the counter almost to the door, and every table is occupied. The chatter of customers and the hiss of the espresso machine fill the air.

"Morning, boss," Nelson calls from behind the counter, his hands a blur as he works the machines.

I force a smile, trying to hide my anxiety. "Morning, Nelson. Are we ready for this?" Balding John Early is supposed to be here at eleven, the short lull between morning rush and lunch.

He nods, barely looking up from the latte he's crafting. "We are. I was here until eleven thirty last night, making sure everything was in its place."

"Thank you, Nelson. When this is over, we are both going to celebrate. On me. Have you been slammed like this all morning?"

"Been like this since we opened. It's the cooler weather, I think."

I hang up my bag, grab my apron, and make my way behind the counter, scanning the cafe. Everything looks clean and in order. But will it be enough for the inspector?

As I tie on my apron, I feel pride and fear in equal measure. Seeing it so full and alive this morning reminds me why I pour my heart and soul into this place every day.

I take another deep breath and plunge into the morning rush, praying that when John arrives, he'll see Brewed Awakening as I do—as a thriving, well-loved part of the community. And a safe and clean place to enjoy a snack and a coffee.