The Pirate and The Piper (Larry Stylinson)

The Return

The crisp morning bites at Louis' face and fingers as he covers the short distance from the car park to the cafe, boots echoing his footsteps against the stone walls of the surrounding shopfronts. The pinkish-blue skies are dotted with white cotton-wool-ball clouds and hint at a bright spring day ahead, sure to bring a busy, tourist-filled day for their little cafe.

He nods a good morning to Clyde as he passes by, his van parked up on the curb, doors open to reveal piled-high bundles of vibrantly coloured flowers and lush green foliage, newly acquired from the markets and on their way to becoming bouquets for today's customers.

The bell jingles a familiar welcome as he steps over the threshold of the cafe, the aroma of strong coffee and baked goods wafting around and enveloping him in a warmth he's come to know so well over the last five years. He flips the sign on the door to Open as Liam's dulcet tones drift out from the kitchen, singing along to some unidentified tune. Louis smiles to himself as he heads behind the counter and sets down his shoulder bag, shucking off his jacket and hanging it on a hook on the far wall between the fridge and coffee machine. "Morning, Li!"

"Hey, Lou. Be there in a sec. Scones are nearly done."

Louis grabs a fresh apron from the pile under the servery, tying it around his waist and starting his front-of-shop routine. The coffee machine is warmed up as always, Liam needing a good few shots to get him going for his early-bird shift at the ovens. He fills the grinder and turns it on, their special blend of roasted beans churning to a fine consistency as he slides his laptop out of his bag and fires it up.

He loves it here at The Sugar Spot, tucked into a laneway just on the edge of Inverness and along one of the popular walking tours that crisscross the city. They get a good passing trade of tired tourists looking for a decent coffee as well as plenty of patronage from the surrounding businesses. It's a simple existence but one he relishes and has embraced wholeheartedly since his arrival.

He'd met Liam on his first day and he still sends up a silent prayer every now and then for his good fortune. Cold and hungry and a bit overwhelmed, he'd wandered past the cafe and seen the help wanted sign in the window. Louis may have had little to no experience but Liam, bless him, had been in dire need of assistance and had agreed to try him out. The entire day went by in a blur, but by closing time he had a job, a new friend and a small room to stay in above the shop until he got on his feet. A few months later Louis had enough money to rent a flat of his own and three years after that he'd saved enough to buy a share in the business. He'll be forever grateful for Liam's kindness that day and for putting his faith in a complete stranger; his decision changing both of their lives in ways neither of them could have imagined.

The smell of freshly baked goods precedes Liam's appearance in the doorway, the sweet smell of pumpkin and sugar assaulting Louis' senses and making his stomach grumble on cue. He turns to find a beaming Liam with a large tray of mouth-watering treats; glazed doughnuts, strawberry tarts, sugared brandy snaps, and Louis' favourite coffee accompaniment, Liam's delicious pumpkin scones.

"Ahhhhh, my saviour. Reckon my stomach thinks my throat's been cut," Louis says as he pulls open the display cabinet for Liam to slide the tray in.

"Put some extra spice in this batch, just the way you like it."

"I love you very much a lot, Lima Bean," Louis says and reaches for one of the scones in the back row.

Liam slaps his hand away. "Oi! They're for paying customers. Yours are coming."

"Fine," Louis grumps out as he goes back to the machine to warm the milk for his coffee. He fills the stainless steel jug and brings it up under the steamer immersing the nozzle inside. The familiar high-pitched sound of the machine working its magic fills the cafe as he swirls it around with practised ease, bringing it to a stop just before the milk boils and setting it aside to rest. He scoops some of the ground beans into the portafilter and slots it into the coffee machine, lining up his cup and flicking on the switch for the boiling water to do its job.