2. Cole

TWO

Cole

3:41 pm

I sit on the bench, my hands still trembling. Maddie looks up at me with her big, curious eyes. How do I explain this to my four-year-old?

"Mommy, why'd we have to leave the rides?" Maddie's lower lip quivers.

I take a deep breath. "Something happened, sweetie. Someone got hurt."

"Like when I fell and scraped my knee?"

"Sort of, but a bit more serious." I brush a curl from her forehead. "The grown-ups needed space to help them, so we had to move away."

Maddie nods, her little brow furrowed in concentration. "Is that why you changed your shirt?"

I glance down at the park souvenir tee I bought to replace my stained one. "Yes, honey. I got a little messy. Remember when your hurt knee made your dress and my shorts all messy? Kinda like that."

"You always help people, Mommy. Like when you gave that old lady your umbrella." A tinge of guilt washes over me. I did nothing to help that poor man just now. My only goal was to distance myself from him and that scene and Buster Hankel as quickly as possible. I should have tried to see if I could do anything.

Still, I'm touched by her simple view of the world. "That's right. We always try to help when we can."

"Can we go back to the rides now?"

I shake my head. "Not today, sweetie. I think we've had enough excitement."

Maddie's face falls. "But we just got here!"

"I know, I'm sorry. How about we go get ice cream instead? You can pick any flavor you want."

Her eyes light up. "Even bubblegum?"

"Even bubblegum," I laugh, relieved to see her smile again.

As we stand to leave, I can't shake the image of that man dead on the cement or the shock of seeing Buster after all this time. I push those thoughts away, focusing on Maddie's excited chatter about ice cream flavors.

Park Place Condominiums

300 18th Street South, Unit 2005

8:21 pm

I pour another glass of wine and settle back into my chair on the balcony. The night air is cool against my skin, a welcome relief after the scorching day.

"God, Coles, that sounds awful," Star, my ride-or-die best friend, says, her eyes wide with concern. "I can't believe you had to see that."

I take a long sip, trying to steady my nerves. "It was... I don't even know how to describe it. One minute, everything was fine, and then..." I trail off, the image of the man's broken body flashing in my mind.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Star reaches out, squeezing my hand.

I shake my head. "I've been putting on a brave face all day for Maddie, but honestly? I'm not okay. I can't stop seeing it, Star. The way that man just... fell. The sound when he hit the ground." I shudder, downing the rest of my wine.

"That's completely normal, Cole. You witnessed something traumatic."

"It's not just that," I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. "Buster was there."

Star's eyebrows shoot up. "Buster? As in, hot Buster from Pantheon a million years ago? That ridiculous fuck that you've been aspiring to get ever since?"

"You have such a way with words, Star."

"Well, how could I forget that guy? He is hot as shit, and you seriously have said multiple times how good he was in bed. He's been the subject of many of my late-night inspirations, too."

"You're disgusting."

"So, it was him?"

I nod, refilling my glass. "He came over, asking if I was okay. I just... I couldn't deal with it. Not then. Not with everything else happening."

"Oh, honey," Star murmurs, pulling me into a hug. "You really were scarred if you didn't take that opportunity."

I feel the tears I've been holding back all day finally spill over. "I've been trying so hard to keep it together, but I'm scared, Star. What if Maddie had seen it? What if we'd been standing a few feet closer?"

"But you weren't," Star says firmly, pulling back to look me in the eye. "You're both safe. That's what matters."

I wipe my eyes, taking a shaky breath. "I know. I know that logically. But I can't shake this feeling. It's like the world suddenly seems so much more dangerous."

I take another sip of wine, letting the cool night air wash over me. Star's presence is comforting, but my mind keeps drifting back to the scene, back to Buster.

"You know, I haven't seen him in four years," I say, breaking the silence and bringing it back to him. I guess I can't let it go…As much as I want to.

Star raises an eyebrow. "Really? Four years. Not even at the cafe?"

I shake my head. "Nope. After that night at Pantheon, he just... vanished."

The memory of that night floods back. The pulsing music, the electric tension between us. We'd been dancing around each other for weeks at Brewed Awakening, his flirty comments over his morning double espresso, and my coy smiles as I handed him his change.

"God, we were so stupid," I mutter. "Both of us insisting we weren't looking for anything serious."

"But you were into him," Star prompts.

I nod, feeling a familiar ache in my chest. "Yeah, I was. I mean, have you seen him? Those eyes, that jawline..." I trail off, remembering the feel of his hands on my skin. "And his goofy sense of humor, the subtle flirts, I guess I thought we were into each other."

"So what exactly happened that night? You've never gone into detail except to say he could be an Olympic fucker if it were a sport."

I shrug, staring into my wine glass. "We hooked up. It was intense. Amazing, actually. But then…" I sigh. Nothing. He never called, never came back to the cafe. He just disappeared."

"What an asshole," Star says, her voice sharp with indignation.

"That's the thing, though. I told him I wasn't looking for anything serious. We both did. So why did it hurt so much when he took me at my word?"

I remember the weeks after, watching the door every time it opened, hoping to see his face. I was disappointed each time it wasn't him. The confusion turned to hurt, then anger.

"I guess I thought... I don't know. That we could still have our flirty banter at the cafe. I didn't know fucking him would wreck that. I missed seeing him, even if I did mean it that I wasn't looking for anything serious."

Star reaches out, squeezing my hand. "Men are assholes."

"Understatement."

"You were still off and on with Steele, too, during that time, right? If I remember correctly, y'all were on a break, and Buster was your rebound or revenge or something?"

"Yeah, it was all around that time. I probably got back with that dickhead right around then. Maybe if Buster had come around, I would have ended up with him and not gotten back together with Steele. What a shitty time in my life."

"Yes, but you know we always say, Steele was worse than the dogshit on the bottom of my Doc Martens, but the one good thing he did was to give you Maddie."

"Good point. I have to remind myself of that. Then I know I would never change any of it. Thanks, friend, I needed that."

"Still, it's shitty that Buster disappeared after that. You don't deserve anyone to treat you like that, Coles."

I give her a weak smile. "Thanks. Seeing him today, after all this time. It brought it all back, you know? It's probably just the circumstances that made it all feel so raw and emotional."

Sunday, August 4

I hold Maddie's hand as we walk down the path to the mailboxes. The morning air is crisp, a welcome change from yesterday's oppressive heat.

"Mommy, can we get ice cream later?" Maddie chirps, skipping along beside me. "Now I want to get the other flavor since I got bubblegum yesterday."

"Sounds ambitious. We'll see, sweetie. Let's check the mail first."

I fumble with my keys, my mind still foggy from last night's wine and conversation. The mailbox creaks open, and I reach inside.

"Bills, bills, junk..." I mutter, flipping through the stack. My hand freezes on an official-looking envelope. "Health Department?"

My stomach drops. I tear it open, scanning the contents.

"Mommy, what's wrong?" Maddie tugs at my shirt.

I force a smile. "Nothing, honey. Just boring grown-up stuff."

But inside, I'm reeling. Violations? How? I've always been so careful.

We head back to the apartment, my mind racing. I settle Maddie with her coloring books and retreat to the kitchen, spreading the letter on the counter.

Health Inspection Report for Brewed Awakening

Inspection Date: July 15, 2024

Inspector: John Early

Location: Brewed Awakening Cafe, 22076 Main Street, Birmingham, AL

Owner/Operator: Cole Johnson

Findings:

Improper Food Storage Temperatures:

Several items in the refrigerator were stored at temperatures above 41°F.

Cooked and raw foods were stored together without proper separation, increasing the risk of cross-contamination.

Certain perishable items were found past their expiration dates.

Inadequate Food Labeling:

Items in the walk-in cooler and freezer lacked proper labeling and date marking.

There is no clear separation between allergens and non-allergens, posing a risk to customers with food allergies.

Poor Sanitation Practices:

The refrigerator was not cleaned properly, and there was visible mold and food residue.

Cleaning supplies were stored near food storage areas, increasing contamination risk.

Insufficient Pest Control:

Evidence of pest activity (rodent droppings) was found in the storage area.

No documented pest control measures are in place.

Penalties:

Immediate Fine: A fine of $1,000 for multiple critical violations.

Probationary Status: The cafe is placed on probation for six months, requiring frequent follow-up inspections.

Mandatory Training: Staff must complete a food safety and handling course within 30 days.

Re-inspection Fees: $200 per re-inspection to verify compliance.

Corrective Actions Required:

Temperature Control:

Repair or replace refrigeration units to ensure they maintain temperatures at or below 41°F.

Implement a system to monitor and log refrigerator temperatures regularly.

Discard all perishable items stored at unsafe temperatures and expired products.

Food Labeling and Storage:

Develop and enforce a strict labeling system with clear date markings.

Ensure proper separation of raw and cooked foods, as well as allergens and non-allergens.

Implement regular checks to ensure compliance with labeling and storage protocols.

Sanitation:

Conduct a thorough cleaning of all refrigeration and storage units, removing mold and food residue.

Establish and maintain a cleaning schedule for all equipment and storage areas.

Store cleaning supplies away from food storage areas to prevent contamination.

Pest Control:

Hire a professional pest control service to address and eliminate current pest issues.

Implement ongoing pest control measures and maintain documentation of all pest control activities.

Please use the contact information below to set up a meeting as soon as possible. We can discuss the implications, re-inspection process, and fines.

Sincerely,

John Early

205.456.9872 | 800.205.9009

[email protected]

"This can't be happening," I whisper, reading through the list of infractions. Improper food storage, inadequate handwashing facilities, pest control issues. Each violation feels like a personal attack.

"Fuck."

"You said a bad word, Mommy."

"You're right. I'm sorry, Honey." Fucking A. I'm suffocating right now, trying to make sense of this letter and keep it together in front of Maddie. This keeps happening… And I feel like I am going to break.

I grab my phone, hands shaking as I dial my manager, Nelson.

"Hey, Coles. What's up?"

"We've got a problem," I say, my voice tight. "Big problem. Health Department violation."

There's a pause on the other end. "How bad?"

"Bad enough to shut us down if we don't fix it fast. And it's a weekend. I'm sure we won't be able to reach John Early before Monday. Oh, my God. Why is this happening?" When I have something hanging over me, I want to fix it immediately. I feel powerless to do anything about this. My mind is firing on all cylinders with everything swirling around me.

I hear him curse under his breath. "Okay, don't panic. We'll figure this out."

But I'm already panicking. Brewed Awakening is my life, my dream, the way I support my daughter and me. The thought of losing it and income almost makes it hard to breathe for a moment.

"Mommy?" Maddie's voice breaks through my spiraling thoughts. "Can you help me with this picture?"

I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "Coming, sweetie."

"Look, I need to think about this. I'll scan the letter and email it to you shortly. We need to get on this like yesterday."

"I'll see what I can find out today. But we will take care of this. Try not to worry."

My mind is whirling as I join Maddie at the coffee table. How am I going to fix this? What if I can't? The cafe is everything to me: my livelihood, my passion. And now, because of some stupid oversight, it's all hanging by a thread.

Thursday, August 8

7:59 am

I'm rushing down the sidewalk, my mind racing with all the points I need to make in this meeting. Maddie's drop-off took forever this morning, and now I'm cutting it way too close for comfort. My phone buzzes with another email, probably from Nelson with last-minute advice. I swipe it open, trying to read and walk at the same time.

"Whoa, careful there!"

A pair of hands steadies me as I nearly collide with someone. I look up, ready to mutter a quick apology, when I freeze. It's Buster, of all people.

"Cole! Fancy bumping into you here," he grins, clearly trying for a joke. Can't he see that I'm in a rush? His light, cheerful demeanor makes me want to punch him.

I blink, my brain struggling to shift gears. "Oh. Hi."

"You look like you're in a hurry. Everything okay?"

I glance at my phone. Shit. Five minutes until the meeting starts. "Yeah, fine. Just late for something important."

"Listen, about the other day at the park?—"

"Sorry, I really can't talk right now," I cut him off, already stepping around him. "I've got to run."

"Oh, sure. Maybe we could grab coffee sometime and catch up?"

I'm barely listening, already moving past him. "Yeah, maybe. Gotta go. Bye!"

I don't wait for his response, picking up my pace again. I can feel his eyes on my back as I hurry away, but I push the encounter out of my mind. I've got bigger problems right now than awkward run-ins with one-night stands from years ago.

The health department building looms ahead. I take a deep breath, straightening my jacket and trying to calm my racing heart. This meeting could make or break Brewed Awakening. I can't afford to be distracted.

As I reach for the door handle, I steel myself—time to fight for my cafe's future.