Love Is Us

Chapter 1

"Megan!"

"Megan get up!", a voice yelled over me.

I slowly opened my eyes to find my mom standing over me.

"What...what time is it?", I asked groggily.

"It's time for you to open the cafe. Your father is down stairs waiting for you", she replied.

I looked over at my clock. It was 7:45. Fifteen minutes until my dads cafe opened.

I moaned.

"Megan!"

"I'm up mom, I'm up."

I got up and lazily went to my bathroom to get ready.

"It's not fair", I thought to myself.

"Why do I have to run the cafe with my dad? It's not my dream. It's his."

I got dressed and brushed my teeth and combed my hair.

"Sweetheart, you almost ready? Cafe opens up in less than 10 minutes", my dad shouted from downstairs.

"Just a sec!"

I grabbed my coat and ran downstairs.

My dad was right there waiting with his keys and jacket impatiently tapping his foot and looking at his watch.

When he saw me he sighed.

"Now Megan, you know how important this family business is to me. We can't be rushing every morning to open up the cafe", he said.

"I know dad, I'm sorry."

He motioned for me to come with him to the car. One the way out I grabbed a bagel from the kitchen table.

The ride to the cafe was very quiet. Neither me or my dad said a word to each other. I could tell he was upset with me. But I didn't really care because I'm not able to do what typical young adults do. I just turned 19 last month, and I couldn't have been happier to go to college. That is, until my parents told me that I would have to stay home and help my dad run the cafe. I remember being so angry because all of my friends got to go to college and I'm stuck here fixing coffee for old people. I even tried to convince my mother that I would commute and drive to the college campus everyday. Nothing worked. On top of that, I have to wake up every morning at 7:30 to help my dad open the cafe. And one of the main reasons he's mad at me is because I have been oversleeping and not waking up in time. But what can I say. We're open from 8:00-10:00 Monday through Saturday and 8:00-9:00 on Sundays. I hardly get a break. My little brother Jaden was still in elementary school so he definitely couldn't help with running the cafe. After all he has a lot to worry about with his upcoming soccer practices. I just wished someone could see things from my point of view. I'm pretty sure Weston Lake University would have loved to have me attend their campus. Not only as a freshman but as a representative.

We pulled into the cafe driveway. The Millers car was parked right where it always is. They are always the first people to enter the cafe once I flip the sign from closed to open.

"Sooo", I said finally breaking the silence.

"Yes?", my father replied a little less upset.

"Weston Lake sent me another enrollment letter", I said obviously speaking what was on my mind.

"That's great honey, but you know you have a job down here to fulfill", he said turning the engine off.

"I know, but it wouldn't hurt to give them a call to let them know I still have them in mind right?"

My father looked at me and shook his head.

"Megan, I understand. I really do. But your grandfather built this cafe years ago and I promised him that I would continue what he started. And that included you helping me run it. You know that."

I sighed and unbuckled my seatbelt. I was so fed up with this whole cafe stuff. Why couldn't I do what I wanted? If my grandfather really wanted us to keep his legacy, he would want us to do what makes us happy.

We entered the cafe. It still looked the same from when my grandfather handed it down to my father. The floors needed to be redone and the walls repainted, but besides that it has really come a long way.

I sat my stuff down on one of the tables. There really wasn't much to be done but to place the menus on every table and the little things like cream, sugar, and utensils. We also had to do a little sweeping and wipe the front counter down before opening.

After cleaning up I went over and switched the sign to open.

"Welp, here we go again", I thought to myself.

The Millers quickly got out their car and entered the cafe. I put my hat on and got my pen and pad ready to copy down their order even though they ordered the same thing everyday.

"Hi Megan", Mrs. Miller said.

"Hi Mr. And Mrs. Miller, what can I get for y'all today?

"Yes, we would like two small coffees, decaf please, with two bacon, egg, and cheese omelettes well done", Mr. Miller said.

"Ok got it. Your total is $10.52."

I've said this number so many times, that I don't even enter in the food anymore because I've remembered the total.

"Thank you I said after swiping his credit card."

"Yes no problem."

The sat at their usual table. Far in the back near the window.

As I got their coffees ready I saw my dad in the back talking on the phone with a concerned look.

"Dad?", I asked quietly.

He looked over at me and put one finger up.

It seemed like a serious conversation so I went over to the Millers and brought them their coffee.

"I'll be right back with your omelettes", I said quickly.

When I got back to the kitchen my dad was punching buttons on a calculator.

"Dad?"

He looked up and shook his head in disappointment.

"This can't be happening", he said.

"What's wrong?", I asked nervously.

"It's the car dealership down the road from us."

"Reliable Cars?", I asked.

"Yeah, the owner just called me and said he told the COS that he needed some more space to hold his cars and since we're the lowest budget business right now, that we would have to either shut down or move."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. We're getting put out of business? My grandfathers cafe for over 20 years is getting shut down?

"They can't do that, can they?"

"As much as their company is making, I'm afraid they can sweetie", my dad replied upset.

I never wanted this to happen. Sure I didn't want to work here, but I knew how much this cafe meant to my dad, and I knew if my grandfather were here it would crush him.

Before I could say anything else, my dad left and went to the front. I didn't want to admit it, but I knew we would have to embrace ourselves for what was next.