All You Need

Softy rubbing my eyes I glance again at the clock. Only a few minutes have passed since I last glanced over but today...dragged. I am never this anxious while I work. After putting so much effort, money, and love, I tend to enjoy working and can normally shut off my brain but today...today is somehow different. Sighing again, I turn to get started on cleaning up. We tended to close early due to a few short weeks being our 1st birthday...also Halloween.

The store....my baby, Shaking Bones, was about to turn 1. I have put everything into this coffee shop and on Halloween she will be one. It is insane to think that after a year she is still going strong and better than ever! The business always picks up around fall time due to how we look and how our store front is. But I don’t mind. 

DING

The front bells jingle as someone swings open the door. I glance behind me quick to make sure someone was there since school kids tend to just push the door open. Seeing a silhouette, I quickly put down the pots and rush over.

“Ello, Welcome to Shaking Bones, what can I make for you today?” Glancing up as I say my verse, I see a beautiful human in front of me. “Oh, my goddess.” I whisper under my breath...

“Excuse me?” His husky gravel travels over me, a slow fire burning its way up to my face.

“Hmm?” Shaking my head back to reality. “I apologize, can you repeat your order?” Focusing in and trying to turn off my body.

“I’d like the Black Cauldron please.” His husky laugh caresses my ears as I put in his order.

“Anything else Sir?” Glancing up once again into his wicked emerald eyes.

“Hmm, and one of your pumpkin cakes please.” I glanced over to our chiller.

“It is a pumpkin shaped bagel with pumpkin spice cream cheese inside, is that okay? And would you like it warmed up?” Quickly walking over to get away from this human that is affecting me so. 

“Yes, that is fine. Thank you for the warning.” I nodded as I reached into the case and grabbed the bagel quickly placing it into the microwave oven. “That should be all.”

“Your total is $8.00 even.” I quickly exchange the 20, carefully avoiding his hand, and start to make the coffee, keeping this interesting man in the corner of my eye the entire time. His eyes tracked my movements like a hawk, noticing everything it seemed. Placing his drink and bagel in front of him, I smiled and turned to walk away. 

“Here, by the way.” Turning around I glance down and saw a couple of bills in his gorgeous hand...Did I just think his hand is gorgeous? Girl you might need to bring out the BOB. I smiled and grabbed the bills.

“Thank you, that means a ton.” Scurrying to the back I quickly grab Lillian from the dishes. “Oh, my gods, Lillian go out there and take the front of a minute. I need to calm down.” Her giggles filled my ears as I paced.

“Geez Artie, what got you in a pretzel?” Her golden eyes tracking me.

“There is this human out there and I might faint if I have to be in the front for a minute longer.” Her eyes widen, as she takes in my entire body.

“Ah, finally someone got you hot. I’ll take the front; you chill out here.” Her clicks pick up as she goes towards the man who just made me near drop on the floor. 

Slowing my breathing I carefully take out the bills he had handed me, heading towards our safe. Glancing down to quickly count I see a piece of paper. Confused, I slowly open the piece to see a name and number.

888-555-555 I would love to chat with you sometime. A

Gasping I dropped the scalding paper. He gave me his number...what...

Glancing at the bills I see over $300 as a tip. 

Who the hell is this guy? Stuffing the cash into the safe and glancing at the number once more I picked up and gently placed it in the safe, unfortunately, next to my engagement ring. Sighing, I headed over to finish the dishes until this mystery man finally left.

1 YEAR LATER

Today was the day! Halloween, our two-year anniversary, and the year anniversary of me leaving my cheating ex! I mentally did a happy dance as I glanced in the mirror at the shop. My Wednesday Addams vibe was kind of there. I giggled and went back to prepping for the night rush. Only on Halloween are we open past 5pm. Reason being, was trick or treaters, also, because once a year we sell our alcohol in the coffee and most parents need it after rushing around with their little ones. I giggled once more, and double checked the cases to make sure all our treats and goodies were stocked. 

“Lillian, are you ready to open the doors?” Glancing behind me to see Lillian pale faced. “What’s wrong?” Rushing over quickly grabbing her hands.

“The building was sold.” Those 4 words made the air rush from my lungs. Struggling to regain balance, I focus in on my breathing. 

“It is okay, you never know. We could still have a spot here babes...Let’s...let’s just take it one step at a time, and right now...” As I guide her towards the door. “It is Halloween time!” Faking excitement into my voice as I turn on the spooky lighting. 

“You are right. We will figure it out!” She grabbed my hand and turned the key. “Let’s kick Halloween’s ass.” I laughed and threw open the door. Now was not the time to worry. Seeing the little kids faces filled with wonder as they all pile in. I sighed and felt empty for the first time in a long time. Having kids was a huge dream of mine but when Jackson cheated...I shook my head and tried to focus on something else.

“Mith Artemith.” Feeling a quick tug on my dress, I glanced down and smiled. Kneeling, I soon came face to face with Athena...She got excited when she found out my name because of the stories she was told growing up. She tends to think I’m a second mother to her.

“Why hello little Athena, how are you doing this beautiful spooky night?” Athena was an orphan and loved to come into the shop and sit for hours. She was 7 and recently lost her front teeth.

“I’m good Mith Arthemith, I got adopted.” Her wide gapped tooth smile made me smile back just as big.

“Oh, baby girl!” Grabbing her close for a hug. “I am so happy baby, where is the beautiful family that adopted you?” Glancing around behind her.

“Daddy is grabbing coffee, but he doethn’t have a wife.” She sadly explained, Athena loved the thought of having a mother, but it seems those were not in the cards. “But daddy thaid you could be my mommy thince I don’t have one yet.” I chuckled and hugged her again.

“Baby girl, I love you, but you know you won’t have me as a mommy for long.” I tried to break it to her, but she seems to have the mentality of a 4-year-old. I wonder if she has any mental disabilities... staring at her realizing I never took the time to really speak with her for longer than a few minutes. 

“Ooohhh! Daddy ith coming!” She excitedly waved over to someone, as the man moved through the crowd, I came to realize it was mystery man from over a year ago. Well, fuck me sideways... “Daddy, Mith Arthemith thayth thhe can’t be my mommy because you’ll find thomeone elthe.” Her little lisp getting in the way of her sentence.

“Honey, now you know Miss Artemis is busy with her coffee shop. She loves you just as much as I do if not more. Just because she is not your mommy doesn’t mean she won’t be here for you.” His husky gravel traveled through the noise straight to my body...my poor body, she just can’t get a break...I silently groaned in my head as the burn travels from my head down to my toes. 

“Very much so Athena, you know that baby girl.” I gave her a bear hug and let her travel to her new dad. My mystery mans.

“Let Miss Artemis get to work baby, we can come back before closing, I promise.” Her little curls bobbed up and down as she tugged on his hand to leave. “By the way, Miss Artemis,” I froze and investigated those emerald pools. “We need to talk; I have something important to speak with you on.” His smile grew across his face as he said those words. 

“Um, yes. We will be here for a while, just pop back in towards closing.” He nodded with his smile turning in a smirk as he knew how he was affecting me.

“Will do, see you then Miss Artemis,” I nodded and watched as Athena led him out into the cold spooky night.

“Well fuck me sideways, this is going to be a long night.” Whispering to myself as I hustled back to the front counter.