𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙚 | 𝘾𝙤𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙚 𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙥 𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 | Balancing motherhood and adulthood is difficult, but Kay embraces the new challenge with love and care. When Noah James barrels into Brian's life, that challenge shifts, and the happy couple...
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**Brian**
As soon as I walked through the shop's entrance, I saw Shawn wave at me from the front counter. I pulled my headphones off of my ears as I peered at him, confused. "Mornin'," I said. "I thought Rianne would open."
"Oh, she's here, too," he said, leaning beside the register. Just as he said it, Rianne appeared from the back, tying her apron around her waist.
She glanced up, customer service smile on full effect, but as soon as she released it was me, it shrank a bit; not sad or bad, just more personal. We grew up together. "Well, good morning, boss man," she said before turning around to sort through the cups, pressing the buttons on the coffee machines as she did. "Nice to see you here thirty minutes late."
I snorted, brows lifted. This was my shop, and I was getting scolded by my employees. Wasn't that something? Manager badges or not, I heard the sass. Had to admit, it had me smirking.
Pulling my crossbody bag up over my head, I approached them. "First, I had to be home for a bit this morning."
"Oh?" Rianne turned slightly, her elbow balanced against the back counter. "Why's that?"
I cocked a brow, putting my bag down in front of Shawn. "You know why."
It took a minute, but that was all she needed. Her face fell, mouth dropped, lips forming a small 'o.' Her eyes slid over to Shawn, who glanced back at her with a 'yeah, he knows,' kind of face. Then she looked back at me. An array of emotions came over her. First guilty because she was caught in her gossip circle, then apologetic. She cupped her hands under her chin as she moved, standing next to Shawn.
"Okay, I didn't think it would explode, you know," she said. "We love Kay and we've been worried. She looked so sad sometimes, and with the babies and you always here, we were—"
I lifted my hand. "Stop, it's okay," I said. "You guys are good friends."
Rianne's brows raised and pinched. She chewed on her bottom lip. Rianne, the woman who hadn't aged a day past twenty-five, didn't look good like this. So concerned, her cheeks turned red. I had to laugh to ease the space, then moved around the counter, gently patting her shoulder. "I am not mad," I said.
I opened the back door and hung my bag and headphones on a hook. I reached for my red apron.
"You're not," she whispered.
"No." Tying my apron over my sweater, I smiled at her. Then I glanced at Shawn so that he knew that I was addressing him, too. "You guys are good friends. Weird, but good—"
"Brian!" Rianne slapped my arm.
I snickered, gently patting her away, making my rounds around the sweets, the cups, and the display of cookies—Kay's newest idea. Everything looked fresh, smelled great. This only meant Rianne and Shawn had a busy morning.
