Is It Power Or Love

1

A new day, a new day. This is what runs through my head when the sound of the alarm goes off next to me. The only thing I do is smake the living hell out of the alarm to shut it up. The mornings were never my favorite as the night owl within me hates the sound of an alarm going off at 6:30 in the morning. However, this is the routine in which has been apart of my life since I have moved.
After grabbing everything and throwing on a sweatshirt, grab my house keys, bag, and kiss my dog Zero bye. I walk to Emma's unless it rains then I would just drive. Emma owns the only coffee good coffee shop in town, more of like the only coffee shop. Emma's it down the road and off toward the right from my house. It is my five-minute walk of peace and has time to listen to the birds. This is the time where I go over my mental to-do list of what I need to get done with work today. I have the opportunity to work from home; which I can't stay in one spot for to long. I am an editor for a publishing company, I proffer read, write reviews on books and some other things here and there.
The cracks from the porch off of Emma is the only sound I can hear as I make my way up toward the door, the same old people coming and going from the shop right on schedule as these people are following their own routine. As I open the door right on schedule Emma hands me my cup of coffee as soon as I step inside the doors. Emma is my childhood friend, we meet in kindergarten at the bus stop. We a completely different and simply perfect together, my dad would say that we were truly two peas in a pod. The morning hug is given and I have to comment on the coffee stain on the Emmas shirt.
"Girl you have to switch to wearing a black shirt, you can never keep whit clean." I look her up and down with a head shake to follow.
"Last time I checked I owned this place. But I think the stains build character."
    We head over towards my seat, the seat I sit in every day toward the window bar type seating, Emma really remodels from last year for sure, this coffee shop is very modern with the rustic feel with an edge just like Emma. Besides the inside, the view on the outside is why I sit in the seat that I sit in because this is the best view of the lake, and I enjoy watching the sunrise come over the mountain and reflect on the lake. This lake is the center of this small town it is the best thing for the town that everyone knows everyone.
        "So, how are you today?" Emma asks every day
"Same as yesterday, fine. You know is am fine you don't have to keep asking me if I am okay. Because I am." I try and say in a nices way possible.
My dad passed away almost three months ago, that is when I moved back, he left me everything. That is why I now own his house, Zero, and everything in the middle beside the auto shop. Dad was really into cars and he tries to teach me everything he knows but all I did was keep my face in the books. However, dad did leave it to Max but I still get some income from the shop as that was what was in his will.
        "You know I only ask you because I love you like a sister Cora."
        " I know," I say as I lean in toward her to give her a hug.
        "Okay, I have to get to work, have fun on your computer girly," Emma says as he jumps behind the counter as I jump on my computer. After the 8 a.m. rush, I head over to the coffee bar to get my 8:30 cookie. These are the best cookies, I have one almost every day as my 3breakfast
"You have to cut back on the cookie a day girl," Emma says with honest disappointment that makes me laugh. Emma has actually stopped giving me the cookie herself self so I have to go behind the counter to get it myself. I grab two bucks from my bag and head over to the cookie plate and throw my money in the drawer and grab my cookie. I can feel the eyes burn into my head and Emma watch my every move.
"Take a picture it might last longer," I say as I take a big slow bite and enjoy this amazing sweet cookie.
"A cookie a day doesn't keep the doctor away, it does the exact opposite you know." with a voice that sounds like an old woman that keeps old peppermints in her purse.
"Thanks, grandma," I say and throw a new by a towel which brings us into a laughing fit. This eight o'clock window is where no one comes in until about nine when Mr. William comes in for his coffee and bagel. Emma takes her so-called brake until he comes in. So, I am in control of the radio for my playlist with a range from the '70s to now, rock to pop, and everything else in-between. So I turn it up and head over to put out some more edits. A couple of songs go by and bad singing later the door opens around 8:45. And I jump up and run behind the counter to shut off the song called All of Us by the labyrinth. Then when I loom up to see Max walk-in with what looks like his work outfit as or maybe he was working all night in a car. Then if normal when he comes in for the morning pick-up. My body is filled with relief knowing it is just Max. Max gives a brief smile and heads over towards me.
"Good morning," he says in that manly morning voice as if he just rolled out of bed.
"Good morning, how was your night?" with an innocent smile peaking from my face.
           "Just working on another car. Helping restore that old 1969 Mustang."
               "Mr. Bills right, dad would let me hand him the tools," I say with the thought of the memory, I could see his face change and feel mine too. Dad tough Max everything. Max is only a year older than me. We first met at the bus stop, but he never said hello to me until my dad opens the shop right across the street from Max's house when he was ten and I was nine. Then he finally said hello to me. Max and I are close friends just not as close as Emma and I. Max are tall, dirty blonde hair and bright blue eyes, and very built. But you can't forget he is very sweet, toward Emma and I, we could be the three musketeers. But Max has his Pea in a pod as well as I, is pea is Jack.
           "Hey. I didn't hear you come in because of her trouble music choices," Emma says as she steps in from the back to join us in the front.                
           "Hey, it's a pretty good song."  I try and defend myself in the process of watching Emmas face change toward Max.
See Emma and Max had this thing for each other in middle school and everyone thought they should go out. They are both edgy, in a cool way with a great number of tattoos to follow. I think Emma has more then he does. But the moral of the story is that they always seem to have something stuck in there throat to say to each other but simply don't. I love Emma as a sister and Max have aged like fine wine. For sure.
    "So, what you would you like today sir," Emma says as she swings her little towel over her shoulder.
    "Surprise me." Is the normal phrase that leaves Max's month as that is what he said today.
    "Make that two please," I add on for today.
    We walk over to the counter to watch Emma work her coffee magic and sit down on the stools by the coffee bar area. See Emma is the owner and the only employee during the morning she has Greg come in three hours before she closes to closes up shop and restock everything. Emma is so in the zone as she is moving at a fast type of past with grace, she does little tricks withe her tools. Things such as flipping things into the air and fancy tricks with her cups to put on a show for us.
    Less then a few moments later Emma has the two beautiful cups of latte in which she put an artist design on top, Max had a small car and I had a flower.
        "So, what are you working on today kid," Max says as he takes a sip the amazing coffee Emma has made for us.
        "Just a couple of articles so far, just typos. Next is a small book." I say as I hold the warm cup of coffee within both of my hands and tastes the amazing drink my friend has made for me.
        "Thank you, Emma. Best on yet." I say
        "Yes thank you Emma this is just what I needed," Max says.
    He heads over to get a to-go cup as the shop opens at 9:30.
        "Cora, do you want me to stop by your house to talk about the shop today?' Max asks as he starts to pour his coffee into the to-go cup.
        "Yea six good? We can do dinner if you want." and interrupted by a cough from Emma.
        "If you let me finish I was going to say we could all have dinner at my house if Emma wants to come to and listen to car things," I say to my dear friend.
        "Oh my goodness I thought you never ask, of course, I would love that," Emmas says as she holds he clasped a hand over her heart and blinking way too fast. I love her sarcasm.
         "Max sounds good?" I ask
        "Perfect, I will bring the books. Do you want me to get anything?" Max asks as he heads over to the door.
        "No, it is okay. Just bring all the books and anything else we need to talk about."
        " Okay see you later girls," Max says as he opens the door Mr. Williams as he is right on time for the coffee and bagel. Emma goes to serve him and I head back to my chair to finish the last bite of my articles and starting on the small book. By the time it is finished it is 12:30. I love my job because I don't have to work for so long.
        I pack up and go to give Emma the I will see you in two hours' side hug.
        "Okay so I am going to go home and shower, change, and head to the store do you want anything?" Emma ask.
        " Honestly, if you want to get so something to drink because all I have is water," I say to Emma as I slowly walk backward toward the door.
        " I got you, see you later." She says.
        " You too, have a good day," I say back and head on home.

                                                              ***
As I walk up the driveway Zero is peeking his head through the window and getting excited to have me home again. By the time I get up the porch and through the door, Zero has already made a run any nearby stick. While he is on the hunt I throw my bag on the chair and grab my coal and paper and take a seat on the porch swing. Zero likes to play outside for a while so it is drawing time. The pile of drawings of Zero running around in the front yard is crazy. But not even five minutes later Zero spots a duck in the lake. An apart of the lake is right in front of my house as there is no house across the street because of the lake. It is beautiful don't get me wrong, until a golden retriever named Zero thinks it I a good idea to go swimming to chase the duck that flys away as soon as he jumps.  Its funny don't get me wrong that is zeros personality and I love it. I just don't like the wet dog smell. After my now lake water smelling dog got hosed off before heading inside. I check the clock and it is only one so cleaning up is the only thing left to do besides cooking the lasagna.
    I go upstairs to shower of course Zero follows me to my room. Once you get up the stairs my dad's old room is the first door to the right. I haven't gone into his room since he died. So, the quick glance at his door and wondering what is on the other side still as I have gone in his room since I moved out. I left this small town and moved to the city with my mom so I can go to college. My parnet divorce in middle school and my mother moved to the city, we were never close. She was to busy with work and dad was to busy with me. But mom had free housing.  I tried to visit when I can but it was so hard trying to balance school and work as well as coming to see dad. I missed him so much and wished I would've came more. Dad pasts so fast, the doctors still can't tell us what had happen to my father.
    Once I get to my room I shower because the scent of wet dog still follows me. 
                                         ***