Page 49 of Christmas Coffee

I smile up at him. “By limiting your product, you’ll decrease your expenses and increase your profits. Besides, most people that want decaf will happily buy something else, the water, or a cookie, or regular coffee. It’ll save you a chunk of change because you won’t need that third machine.”

Celyn stares at the papers for a moment and then nods. “It’d still be possible, even if we have a few slow days because of snow.”

“Right, and even if it does snow with the three feet they’re saying, you’re still going to have a mass of people shopping on Christmas Eve, which will probably spill into early Christmas Day. There are restaurants on the other side of the parking lot. Get their customer’s attention and they’ll grab a cup of coffee while they wait. Come on, Celyn. Don’t give up. If you’re going to lose, do it with style, but don’t quit.”

He looks over the papers at me, his eyes searching mine. After a moment, he asks, “You don’t quit, do you?”

“Hell no, and neither should you. That’s the major difference between a business owner with an MBA and one with only street smarts—we don’t know when to quit because we can’t. There are no do-overs, no back-up coming to save us. If we don’t bring home the bacon, no one else will. If you do this, it’ll be by the skin of your teeth and that’s a really stressful spot to be in, but it also will tell you exactly what you’re made of, what you can do, and what you can’t do. There will be no more wondering about what kind of man you are, you’ll know. Most people don’t want to live with the risk. They’re so paralyzed by the fear of failing that they don’t even try.”

He considers me and then says, “I could pay you for the next few weeks and you wouldn’t have to work. I’m not leaving you high and dry, Nova.”

My shoulders stiffen and I spit out the stupidest, idealistic crap. Shaking my head, I tell him, “I won’t take it if you do that.”

“Why not?”

“I didn’t earn it.” I watch him and wonder how I didn’t see this side to him. Why is he giving up? What else is going on here? “I’ll work for you, but I’m not taking a handout.”

“I didn’t mean it like that.”

“I know, but that’s what it would be. I’ll work, but I’m not taking a going out of business bonus. It’s not right.” I’m so stupid. The girl who froze her ass off in my car last night is screaming at me inside my skull to take the money and run. I tell her my fuzzy blanket and socks are enough.

Celyn nods after a moment and then clears his throat. “Well, you better call the rental place and see what they say.”

I smirk and jab my thumb at the coffee beans. “Right, you better start a batch of coffee before the morning crowd gets here.”

I pull my phone out and head toward my car so I can do this in private. I cross the parking lot, letting out little puffs of white air as I slip inside. Celyn watches me as I pull the door closed and pull up the number. Here goes nothing.