All That Matters

03 | A Gift and a Curse

Mila glanced at the clock as she showed the new hire the proper way to steam milk for the lattes. It was an unusual Saturday morning for her, typically reserved for quality time with Dylan, but the demands of training a new employee took up the first half of her day.

As the espresso machine hissed, Mila caught a familiar silhouette through the cafe's large front windows. Shock ran through her veins and her heart skipped a beat as she figured she was hallucinating until she recognized the elegant stride of Angelle Lavigne. She was a formidable, opinionated woman with a disapproving gaze that could cut through steel.

"I'm going to the bathroom. Sydney over there can help with whatever you need." Mila said, backing into the kitchen and nearly colliding with one of the bakers bringing out fresh treats.

In her jog through the employee quarters, scents of cinnamon and lemon enveloped her. She leaned against the wall near the bathroom, drifting and confused on what her mom was doing here, and what made Angelle show up to the area where she resided.

"Mila, is everything alright?" Saija's sugar sweet voice diverted her attention and a small smile appeared on her face. "You ran back here like that freshman from Georgia State who's crushing on you came in."

"No, it's my mom. She just walked in and I haven't seen or talked to her since I left New Orleans. I don't even know why she's here." Mila ran her fingers over her eyebrows, "She's probably giving the poor new girl a hard time, too."

They both leaned to distantly peek out of the servery window, Mila grimacing when she saw that it was indeed her mother's mug ridden face.

Saija read Mila's facial expression, the soft spot in her heart thumping as she subtly pouted. From her personal experiences, Saija knew all too well what it was like to get away from toxic relationships, and how draining and difficult it could be.

They connected on a deeper level once Mila unfolded herself to her, and Saija helped out wherever she could to make Mila's life a little easier, as someone once did for her.

"I'll go handle her, wait for me in my office? Maybe I won't fuss at you for working on your off day when I get back." Mila nodded, both of them turning to opposite directions. She sat in the guest chair in her boss' luxe office, not waiting long at all for her return.

"How's everything going, Mila? The property and the school?" Saija asked, standing in front of her gold bar cart and pouring Mila a cup of tea with her electric kettle that was already filled with steaming water.

"The house is perfect! Dylan cries to get on the swing set every day. And she really loves school too, the girl completely forgets I exist when I drop her off in the morning. Thank you again for everything! I don't know how I would've survived out here without you and Mr. Meechie's help."

"Please, Mila! We're like family now. I got you like you got me. I'll be so sad when the day comes and you elevate from here because I know that I won't be able to find another you and A Bite of Blue won't be the same. I'm just happy that I have you now and happy to be there for you, inside and outside of work."

Saija brought over the cozy and calming drink with lemons, sugar, and honey so Mila could perfect it to her liking.

"I really appreciate that so much." Mila didn't know what came over her as she felt tears pricking her eyes. She'd spent the whole year before this one crying her eyes out, and she vowed to leave it in the past. Though, those tears left a sour mark on her and these were surprisingly sweet.

She abruptly moved to Atlanta two years ago, and Yasmine had her back tremendously. With Saija's added support, she received familial feelings that she'd missed out on her whole life.