Tragic and Wonder: An Un-Fairytale [On Hold]

Chapter 11- The Doctor Is In Part 2

I quickly exited the lecture room and head to my car. I am picturing the worst possible thing happening to the café. I half expect to see billowing smoke coming from the direction of the coffee shop. I need to send an email to Dr. Loren when everything is settled to apologize to the guest lecturer and Dr. Loren for arriving late and leaving early. It felt very disrespectful of me towards the guest to leave before the class was over. I know he saw me leave because his smile dimmed a little as I looked back when I got to the door.

I arrived to the coffee shop to find it still standing and let out a huge sigh in relief. As I pulled around to the parking lot though, I noticed a few firetrucks. The firemen were not in a big rush, so it did not look like an emergency situation. I quickly scanned the area to find Jessie and James standing with a fireman who looked like he was the chief. Making my way over, Jessie spotted me and ran up to give me a hug.

"Jessie! Are you alright?" I asked.

"Yes. I'm just a little shaken up." She replied.

"What happened?" I asked as we walked back towards the chief.

"I don't know. James was grinding more beans to have ready for the evening crowd while I was at the counter prepping, when suddenly there was a loud pop, almost like a bang, and we started seeing smoke coming from the machine."

"Oh, my goodness! Jessie! I am so sorry!"

"It's not your fault Jade. You don't need to apologize for something that you didn't do."

"I know. But I am sorry that you had to experience that." I said giving her another hug.

"It looks like it was a machine malfunction from what we can tell." The chief tells us. "We will send the Fire Investigator over later to make sure there wasn't some sort of other cause. For now, you will have to close until the investigation is complete. I hope that you can understand."

"Yes, we understand." James said to him. "We will stay closed until you have given us the all clear."

"Thanks James." The chief replied. "Ladies, James. I hope that the rest of your day goes better. I will be in touch with you soon."

"Thanks Chief." James said and the chief left to give his final orders to the firemen who were remaining.

"Jessie," I said. "I thought you said today was going to be a great day." I laughed a little while saying it.

"Oh, my. That was this morning? Well, it started off good." She said laughing back at me.

James looked at us like we were crazy and then smiled. He said that he needed to call the owner to fill him in on what the chief said and left to make the call. Jessie and I then walked to the bench that was in the lawn area and sat down.

"I guess this means a mini-vacation, at least until it is cleared up and restored." I said to Jessie.

"I suppose so." She replied. "What are you going to do with your free time?"

"I don't know. I may catch up on some reading or look into taking more classes. I still don't have my degree completed, so I should look into what all I still need to complete it."

"That sounds like a good plan. I think, if it is alright with you, I am going to take you up on the offer of the managerial position." Jessie said surprising me.

"Jessie, are you serious? After all this craziness, you are still interested in it?"

"Yes, ma'am!" She replied in her best southern drawl.