Healing Her Heart {Trilogy}

Chapter 2

Garrett grimaced as he looked up at the old café standing before him. It was an old brick building with vines curling up the sides, an old white wood door. The white paint had been chipped away by the elements, giving it an old look and texture to it.

The windows higher above the shop itself looked to be those of an apartment. They were less clean and white than the big widow below it. They looked worn, as though the owner had not tried to take care of them nearly as much as the one below.

Garrett bit his tongue to keep himself from groaning in frustration. He chided himself, knowing it was his decision and his decision alone to come to Washington. It was thousands of miles away from his old home in New York, where he would miss the sounds of the never ending traffic of New York City.

He wasn't working at this shop, only looking for a place to get some coffee and somewhere to work on his college work. This was not the only café in this town of Washington, but it was the closest to his rented apartment.

He sighed and told himself to get inside before he changed his mind and moved back to New York all together.

He pulled open the old chipped door and stepped inside. Immediately he was hit with the smell of newly baked cookies, bread, and fresh brewed coffee. His stomach roared with demand. Garrett took in the appearance of the café, already liking it more than his apartment and knowing right away this is where he would spend most of his time.

The place had a very classical appearance to it. Sunlight shown through the windows, lighting the café with brightness. Small booths and tables were scattered around the café and over in the middle was a fireplace with a rug and a fireplace sat, vibrating with welcome. He loved how the wood floors creaked beneath him as he walked further in, smiling at the place.

"Hello." A perky looking girl stood at the counter, tapping her pen cap on the wood counter.

"Hi," Garrett replied, still having his keen interest mainly on the café. He quickly turned his gaze to the girl, promising himself he would take a look more at the store later.

"Is there anything I can get you?" she asked, putting the cap back on the pen. "Do you want to sit yourself or be sat at a booth?"

Garrett didn't answer her for a moment, his eyes scanned the menu above the counter. Everything on the menu looked delicious. Crescents, rolls, muffins, cookies, caramel apples. His mouth watered.

"What's your favorite?" he asked, not able to choose.

The girl smiles brightly. "New here huh?" Before he could continue, she said, "A popular favorite, aka my favorite, is the chocolate filled crescent with a nice mocha frappe."

He could tell she was a perky girl with a sense of humor. He assumed that even she could make the grumpiest of people be in a better mood.

"Okay." Garrett smiled. "That's what I'll take, then."

"Sounds good." She typed a few things on a cash register computer. "Three dollars and seventy cents."

He pulled out his wallet and took out a four, handing it to her. "Keep the change."

Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Oohkay," she said in a still bright voice, putting the four dollars in.

Garrett chuckled in amusement. "How was that shocking?"

She smiled at him innocently. "What was shocking?"

Garrett leans forward, staring intently at her. She didn't look at all stunned, which surprised him. "That I let you keep the change."