The smell of fresh pastries and roasted coffee filled the air, drifting out the front door of the newly opened Whitmore Café. The sign—simple, elegant, and hand-painted by Sarah herself—swayed gently in the breeze as the morning sun cast a golden glow over Rosehill's quiet main street. Inside, the soft hum of conversation had already begun.
Ryan stood behind the counter next to Sarah, sleeves rolled up, doing his best to keep up with orders. He wasn't smiling exactly, but there was something calmer in his eyes. Maybe it was the pride of seeing how many people had shown up, or maybe it was the way Sarah's face lit up each time she served someone.
"Good morning, Whitmore Café!" Mr. James bellowed as he walked in. He looked around with a wide grin. "Now this feels like something this town's been missing."
"You're the first customer, Mr. James," Sarah said, handing him a cup of coffee.
He tipped an imaginary hat. "And it's the best coffee I've had in years."
Mrs. Harper followed close behind, carrying a bouquet of wildflowers from her garden. "It's beautiful, Sarah. You've really made something special here."
"Thank you," Sarah said warmly, her voice catching for a second.
The bell above the door jingled again. In walked Evelyn Morgan, arm looped through Anna's. They both looked effortlessly graceful—Anna in a casual sundress, Evelyn in a chic blazer. Ryan, carrying a tray of cups, froze for half a second before moving again.
"Sarah," Evelyn said, stepping forward. "This place is charming. Truly."
Sarah nodded, her smile polite. "Thank you. I'm glad you could come."
Anna made eye contact with Ryan and offered him a small wave. He nodded back, keeping it cool, but Savannah—already seated at a corner table—noticed and raised her eyebrows at Anna when she sat beside her.
Ben and Jack entered next, laughing about something. Jack looked around, clearly impressed.
"Place looks amazing," he said. "Feels… like home."
Ben immediately headed toward Ryan, giving him a fist bump. "This is legit, man. Proud of you two."
More townspeople trickled in—Coach Daniels stopped by briefly, waving at Ryan and promising he'd be back for lunch. Some students showed up out of curiosity, and the room slowly filled with warm chatter and laughter.
Then the door opened again. A tall man in a dark coat stepped in.
Richard Morgan.
He scanned the café slowly, eyes landing first on Evelyn, then Anna, and finally Sarah. She stood behind the counter, drying her hands on a towel, still for a moment.
"Richard," she said, steady but quiet.
He gave a nod. "It's been a long time."
"It has," she replied.
Before more words could pass between them, Jack walked over, placing a comforting hand on Sarah's shoulder.
"Everything okay?" he asked, glancing between the two.
Richard smiled politely. "Just came to support a new local business."
"Appreciate it," Sarah said, tone unreadable. "Coffee's fresh. Help yourself."
As Richard stepped aside, Jack leaned in and whispered, "If you want to talk, I'll be nearby."
Ryan, observing it all from behind the counter, furrowed his brow slightly. He didn't know the full story between Sarah and Richard—just that they had history. But the way she looked afterward, like someone holding her breath, told him it mattered more than she let on.
As the day went on, the café buzzed with life. Savannah and Anna took turns helping serve, chatting with guests. Ben handled the register like a pro, cracking jokes and keeping everyone smiling. Even Mr. James took a moment to read aloud from a book in the corner, drawing a small crowd.
By late afternoon, as the sun dipped lower in the sky, Sarah stood in the center of her café, looking around at the people who filled it—friends, strangers, family.
She glanced at Ryan. He was wiping down tables, sleeves still rolled up, but now with a slight smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"I think we did good," she said softly.
He looked up. "Yeah. We did."