Fundamental Flaws

2. Alfie's Cove: The beginning

Sometime Earlier

I looked around the small shop for the last time, hanging up my apron and taming my dark, kinky curls into a bun.

The lights burned golden on the red brick walls.

Earlier tonight, the wooden flooring had protested as chairs had scraped across its panels. The place had groaned its age as the locals chattered away to and from the front counter to order another excuse to stay a little while longer.

At the counter, Albert had bounced up and down animatedly, tapping away at a contraption that might've resembled a cash register in another lifetime.

I'd fallen in love with this place in the past few months. It was a second home now - somewhere that felt safe. We needed more places like that in Lakefield.

Somewhere between the smoky warmth, the smell of freshly baked cookies wafted through. My mouth watered. I'll make sure to grab some when we're done closing up shop.

My stomach rumbled in approval.

"You don't have to resign you know." Al reasoned as he walked out of the kitchen, shaking the excess flour off his dark, burly arms. "I might be willing to re-open negotiation on that raise I offered you once upon a time." He wiggled his thick eyebrows playfully and I laughed.

"You started negotiations by offering extra cookies Albert."

He clutches a hand to his heart, corners quirking up in amusement.

"Kids these days. What I would have with such a generous offer at your age. Besides, that's no way to talk to your boss."

"Ex-boss," I correct, testing it out for the first time. "Besides, you weren't even my boss, your dad was."

"Just for that, I'm cutting my offer in half."

"I'm wounded." I rolled my eyes.

"You should be!" he huffed.

We both laughed again. The conversation was easy. It was always easy with Al. We both knew that the money was never the issue. I loved this place but working here had been my way of hiding from the world. It was time for things to be different.

I swallowed the newly formed lump in my throat, suddenly aware that this was it. I had quit. My eyes smarted and I blinked back tears.

"I'm going to miss you Al." I got out, walking into his open arms for a hug. The air was thick as the mood shifted to a more somber tone. "Don't let this get to your head but you were the best not-boss I've ever had."

He chuckled, "I'll miss you too Lee."

We broke apart reluctantly and I put on a brighter smile.

"I still expect a generous discount every time my friends and I visit." I joked.

"No chance in hell."

"Not even for your best cashier?" I joked.

"You mean Tracy?" He deadpanned.

My jaw dropped and I laughed. The audacity. "You fired her three months ago!"

"Huh...that explains why this place has been such a disaster lately."

"Screw you." I retorted, sticking my tongue out this time.

"Sorry hun, I'm spoken for."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help the grin that spread across my face. I hugged Alfie and said my final goodbyes, declining a lift home for the third time.

I know there was still a lot he wanted to get to before closing and I was kind of looking forward to my last bus ride home from work. It was sort of symbolic; like the journey to the beginning of my new start in life. With this thought, I pocketed my final paycheck and walked out of Alfie's Cove.

"Bye Aleah!" Al yelled after me.

With the echo of the bell still ringing in my head - bun bobbing up and down - I bounced off into the night. Turns out I wasn't all that wrong about things changing.

I guess dad was right when he said be careful what you wish for.

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