When We Met at Marco's

Chapter 2: Ella

Sunday,
November 3rd,
2019

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"E, we need two BLT's, a cappuccino and a strawberry infusion," she announces from table 11, close to the window.

"On it, Miss Mullins," I yell over my shoulder as otherwise, my voice would be lost in the busy chatter of the café.

I begin on the cappuccino as I watch over the streaky bacon sizzling on the grill. A quick glance at the clock informs me that it is just gone 10:00am which is probably why we're packed: all tables occupied, extra seats from the store room squished in between, customers queueing for tables. Mornings are usually our busiest.

I look over my shoulder, as the tea bag for the strawberry infusion colours the icy water, to see Miss Mullins squeezing her rather plump figure through the many tables and people, accidentally bumping into a few chairs on her way. I shake my head with a dizzy grin at the chaos I know and love as she apologises to those she knocked.

She joins me behind the counter, drumming on the white marble with her manicured nails, impatient to get the food to the satisfied customer. Her fidgeting makes me hurry up, still keeping each order as it should be to perfection.

She winks at me and mouths a 'thank you' as I hand her the black round tray containing the goods, and she then scurries off to squeeze between the tables again.

I sigh gratefully as the clock reads 10:10am and I'm able to go on my morning break. I take a seat on the bar stool we have, sideways against the wall at the back of the counter, next to the till. I take a soothing sip at the warm latte James, one of my co-workers, made for me previously as his break ended.

There's about 7 of us staff at the café. Miss Mullins luckily arranged our schedules accordingly so that they can fit around us which is very kind of her. There's me, my best friends - Courtney and Amber, James, his mate Ashton, Rachel - who I'm getting closer with - and Danny. To be honest, we're all pretty close and occasionally hang out, however, we have our own kind of groups too.

James and I are the only ones working around the café today. His mate Ashton and Danny are out the back, organising our latest deliveries and the girls are sorting out the stock cupboard.

Miss Mullins technically is a staff member too. Her real name is Daisy but we all just call her Miss Mullins. She doesn't own the café. The café belongs to my Uncle Marco. Well, he's not really my Uncle, just a very close family friend, but, I've known him since I was a toddler and have naturally grown up to know him as Uncle Marco.

Obviously, the place is called Marco's after my so-called Uncle. He's wanted to have his own café ever since he left school as it was his dream. However, the café has only been going for 9, nearly 10 years, as my Uncle had to save up before he could afford to run one. His small office job that he had since the age of 18 didn't provide him with much money, only the essential, so he had to work full time to save up the money. After about 25 years he quit the job once he had enough and opened up this place.

In the beginning, it didn't do much good, but, after much hard work, it started to become a little better. It wasn't until the refurbishment a few years back that really got this place going. Now, the place is always buzzing and it's always great to see the smile of pride plastered on my Uncle's face.

Miss Mullins works alongside with my Uncle as they dating. They've been together for a good 4-5 years now. They're not married or engaged, but, they're definitely totally in love. My Uncle experienced a divorce from his first wife who was an utter cow to him, then, Miss Mullins was luckily able to help him and secure him back on his feet. She was a kind soul to him and was there for him. Her support widened his eyes to how amazing she really was and the next thing, they were an item. He 100% deserves the rosy-cheeked hearty woman he has now.

They're both rather plump figures, my uncle almost bald but still maintaining his moustache whilst Miss Mullins' round face was shaded by a cute bob of her straight brown hair. My uncle had a generous nose, big brown eyes and thin lips that still could show the best of smiles. He was pretty small and my height meant I was much taller than him. He always had a stained shirt or dusty trousers on underneath his apron, which was always its smokey grey colour to match the café's logo. It was his only clean garment.

Miss Mullins had her beautiful green eyes with a cute little nose and ears and always pink lips. She was taller than my  Uncle, a similar height to me. She always wore the same grey apron over the top of her clothes too, but, unlike Uncle Marco, both were kept in good quality - her apron and her clothes. Miss Mullins normally wore a sweet dress or skirt with a blouse to the café.

I must admit, although they're both in their fifties, they are rather quite cute together. As long as their happy that's all that matters, I guess. And the both of them are generous, caring people who give and give, and have hearts filled with adoration to those that reciprocate it, so they're basically made for each other.

I sigh out of exhaustion and it's only 10:15am. I sip at the still hot latte and feel the intense warmth ridding a shiver.

God, my body is on its last legs.

I watch as Miss Mullins returns from taking the previous order and slides the tray on to the pile of clean ones we have on a shelf. She stands with her hands resting on the marble, overlooking the café. Yes, it may be full, but mostly because people come and spend hours in here talking, so, we're not always needed very second. We're rather quite casual and laidback as a café, especially  more with our regulars, them just asking us loudly to bring a drink from their table, and then we just add it to their bill. We're pretty reasonable with prices too, I must say.

Miss Mullins approaches me and taps the packed notebook slotted behind the till, slightly sticking out. She raises her eyebrows and looks at me typically. "What do we do on our breaks?" She jokes, crossing her arms.

"Oo, I don't know, Miss Mullins," I respond, playing along.

She chuckles. "We check off the receipts and money," we say in unison, me rolling my eyes a little. She barks at my sarcasm that she's used too and I shake my head as I pull the notebook from its snug place to begin checking the receipts. She smiles, and then trots off to a customer.

I open the notebook and click the pen, jotting down a few prices. I stop and become distracted as Miss Mullins returns. I procrastinate by watching her make two peach teas, and then whizz off again. I absentmindedly chew on the tip of the pen and I'm in my own world until she snaps me out of it. She waggles her finger at me for my habit that irritates her and I just smile cheekily.

I start again to work in the notebook, lazily making notes. I hear Miss Mullins begin to talk, probably to a customer that has approached the counter. Most of it is just mumbles because of my distance away from them but I make out a few words like "how can I help, table 14, just this way"

Wait, what?