The Barista

Coffee Please

"No, Ryan! I am your wife, and I will not allow this! Who is this little homewrecker? And if you think I am not divorcing you, you have another thing coming!"

The blonde lady stands at the counter, yelling at her husband on the phone. I listen in as I make her caramel latte. It's quick and simple. Caramel syrup, expresso, and steamed milk. I love these easy orders when the shop is quiet. I can make it take longer while I listen in on her conversation.

I quickly glance over my shoulder to see if she looks impatient or if she's still looking down while yelling at the cheater on the other side of that phone.

She's still looking down.

"No, Ryan!" She yells, stops, looks around the shop, and returns her eyes to the floor. "I am the reason you are who you are. I made sure to stand by your side in the darkest times. Remember last year when you had that yeast infection? Yeah! Who was there to take care of it? It smelled so damn bad!"

"Okay!" Abby sighs and rolls her eyes while rushing past me with a bus tub filled with plates and bowls from this morning's rush of people.

She looks at me with that look she gives. It's a look of 'I hate my job but love working with you'. And I know that's what the look means because she's told me many times when I asked her what the look was for.

She sets the tub on the counter. "Thank God it's quiet time."

"What is quiet time?" I joke and finish making the latte. "Even in our downtime, it seems to be busy."

She gestures her head toward the lady. "She's waiting."

I spin around, quickly sealing her drink with a lid, and grab two napkins. "Sorry for the wait, ma'am. Here is your drink."

As I analyze the blonde lady, I notice she is beautiful. If her husband is cheating on her, it must be for a younger woman who is just as beautiful as she is. This woman has blowing blonde hair, and beautiful hazel eyes, her tight leggings and crop top reveal she may work out.

With the phone against her shoulder and ear, she pulls a ten-dollar bill out. This is weird because I usually charge them before making it, but I was so intrigued by her conversation, knowing I'd get free ideas for writing that I must have forgotten to charge her. And I'm glad I didn't charge her.

I hold up my hand, stopping her as she purposefully ends the call and tries to hand me the ten. "No need, ma'am," I say with a warm smile. "It's on the house today."

She pauses, looking like she could cry. She swallows and the look on her face seems to grow stronger. "Thank you, sweetheart. But, even with whatever you heard right there, your kindness matters, but money is not an issue for me."

I nod. "I understand. I just felt like I was there with you, and I've been through that, and I felt like you deserved something free today."

Her eyes wave with relief and her lips curl into a small smile. "I'm happy to know there are still amazing people on this planet. I'm only twenty-five and am in the process of getting rid of this dick of a husband. She's eighteen! He's twenty-six. The age difference isn't a huge deal! But considering they've been sleeping together for two years is."

I fight to hold back my gasp. "That's illegal," I interject.

She nods while looking at her phone. "It is. But he doesn't care. No one would ever arrest him. And I'm almost grateful for this happening now and not ten years from now. At least my feelings for him weren't that strong."