The Jump

29 Old Flames

Over at the coffee shop, Lucinda finished up the bookkeeping and moved on to help Jake, the new manager. It was a busier Monday morning, with people getting back into the grind. Especially owners of the businesses in the area since they were gearing up for the busy season. Spring was around the corner, which would mean an increase in customer volume thanks to tourism.

Side by side, Lucinda and Jake worked their way through the morning rush without a hitch. The cafe's usual local customers were there, with a few travelers sprinkled in. By now she knew what their repeat customers liked and would prepare their coffees for them without them even having to ask. Even Jake was getting the hang of things as he served up a bowl of soup for Mr. Ferguson who promptly arrived at eleven each morning and always ordered the soup of the day.

"Here ya go," he said to the man as he slid him the steamy bowl.

"It's still chilly out there, so this ought to warm up my bones," Mr. Ferguson replied as he reached for it. "Say, Lucinda, was that Raif I saw walking with Rachel and her son this morning?"

Looking up from the espresso machine, she could feel her blood vessles shrink back from his question as it froze her like ice. "No clue... I've been here all morning."

"Pretty sure it was him..." Mr. Ferguson stirred his soup in contemplation. "It's weird ya know? Cause had the two of them stayed together, then Rachel's son would be Raif's." He shook his head with a light laugh. "He's better off if you ask me, though, cause you're a sweetheart, Lucinda."

"Thanks..." she replied with a forced smile.

"You know," Mr. Ferguson continued. "He must trust you two a lot. Cause he's been taking a lot of time off lately and it's not like him to leave the cafe in some else's hands."

Right as Lucinda was starting to think to herself about how nosy Mr. Ferguson was, Jake decided to chime in. "Raif works hard, he should take time off." Then he tossed his arm around Lucinda with a friendly squeeze. "Besides, the cafe is in good hands."

"Yeah, you're right." Mr. Ferguson shrugged and proceeded to slurp up his soup.

Jake let go of Lucinda and gave her a sympathetic smile before returning to the sandwich he had begun fixing for a customer. She wiped her forehead and blew out some air. The cafe was feeling awfully stuffy all of a sudden. Figuring that a brief text to Raif to tell him that she missed him would hopefully clear her mind, she pulled out her phone. As she typed out the words her fingers trembled. She trusted Raif, she just didn't trust Rachel and the fact that they had such a rich history that the town's people kept reminding her of, was creating knots in her stomach. Her thumb brushed over the send button and then the message went through. As a bonus, she added that she loved him and sent that message off too. Then at the sound of a hard twack against the lunch counter, Lucinda flinched back, but looked up to see a fluffy grey speckled beard.

"Where's Raif?" Chuck's gruffy voice asked.

"You scared me!" she said with a hand to her chest. "He's spending time with Gavin."

"Uh huh."

"Uh huh, what?" Lucinda asked.

"Nothin... just wondering where that boy's mother is."

"With Raif, I'm assuming, based on what Mr. Ferguson said," Lucinda replied tightly, as she cranked the lever on the espresso machine with angry movements.

"Uh huh."

"What Chuck? Should I be worried or something?"

"I'd say. The apple doesn't fall far from Eaddie's crazy tree, so Rachel is as crazy as they come. Did anyone ever tell you the story 'bout how Eaddie and Raymond Harlow got together?"