Lulu's Café

by T. I. Lowe

  Just as she was finally building some confidence, fear struck Leah out of the blue one spring night. She had already gone to bed when she was jolted awake by sirens blaring through the hushed town streets. With her heart in her throat, Leah bolted to the living room window and peeped out as the flashing blue lights of three county cop cars zoomed by. She sprinted over to the kitchen window in hopes of seeing them continue on past, which—thankfully—they did.

  “No, no, no,” she whispered into the dark as panic settled in. She grabbed a glass of water and waited for the walls of protection she had been hiding behind for the past five months to come crashing down. Twenty minutes later, a state trooper followed in the path of the other police cars. Leah knew this wasn’t good. Not good at all.

  Knowing that too many officials were crawling all over town, Leah couldn’t just leave. Her only choice was to stay and wait it out. Scared beyond belief, she did the only thing that came to mind. Leah hid in the closet.

  She felt sure someone would be there knocking the door down eventually, so she sat in the cramped space and waited while trying to slow her racing heartbeat. Hours later, Leah unfolded herself from the closet and stood staring at the open door. Months had passed, and she naively thought the remnants of abuse had crept away with time. One night showed her just how wrong she had been in her thinking. Shaking her head, she closed the closet door behind her and got in the shower to try undoing all of the pointless knots.

  By four thirty, Leah was down in the café with the coffee brewing and the ovens heating up for the morning’s muffins. Lulu joined her shortly after, and the two women fell into their daily routine as if they had done it for several years together. They were a very efficient team, and Lulu took pride in that fact.

  Crowley made his way through the door around nine that morning, looking worse for wear. He had on his lawyer getup of a designer suit and silk necktie, though the tie hung loosely around his neck, undone. His hair was still wet from a shower and his eyes were beyond exhausted. He sat on a stool and rested his head on the counter.

  “Wow . . . wild night?” Leah asked as she poured him a cup of coffee.

  “You have no idea,” he mumbled before taking a sip.

  Lulu delivered some plates of breakfast to a table and then headed over to give Crowley an inspection. “What’s ailing you, boy?”

  “Jessup Barns,” he replied before taking another sip of coffee, which Leah immediately refilled. She worried about him appearing in court that tired and figured it would require a large quantity of caffeine for him to pull it off.

  The two women waited for him to elaborate, but he seemed to doze off with his eyes open.

  Lulu banged her knuckles on the counter with several rapid taps. “Wake up and tell us what’s going on.”

  Crowley rubbed his eyes and tried to explain. “That blatant drunk crashed through a couple of Old Man Stevens’s fences and then proceeded to take out about a half a field’s worth of strawberry plants.”

  “With his tricycle?” both women asked at once.

  Crowley propped his elbow on the counter and cupped his face with his hand. “No. A car. Old Man Stevens’s car. And he ended up flipping it.”

  “Oh, mercy!” Surprise registered on Lulu’s face. “Did he get hurt?”

  Crowley shrugged. “Who knows?”

  “What do you mean by that?”

  “Me and half a dozen cops spent all night looking for the punk. We searched every barn and field at the Stevens farm. Then we searched the patch of woods beside where he wrecked. Twice. I guarantee that scoundrel was up in one of the trees watching us the entire time.”

  “When did you call the search off?” Lulu asked.

  Crowley checked his watch. “About three hours ago.”

  Leah hated the ordeal for Crowley’s sake, but she was mighty relieved those blue lights weren’t for her after all. She relaxed and began putting Crowley’s breakfast together. He rarely ordered anything specifically, so Leah took cues from Lulu as to what to fix him. Normally, she would slide him an extra portion without Lulu seeing it.

  Crowley noticed her working away at preparing him some food. “Leah, can I get that to go, please? I’m due in court soon.” His voice was husky from exhaustion.

  “Sure thing,” she said as she cooked a couple of egg whites.

  Crowley placed his head on the counter and immediately began snoring. Ten minutes later, Leah had Crowley’s breakfast sandwiches assembled and was about to slide them into the bag, when she spotted him.

  Jessup pulled his liquor-cycle close to the front door and slowly climbed off it. He limped inside and went straight over to the counter, where he had the audacity to sit right next to Crowley.

  Crowley lifted his head and stared at Jessup with a deadpan expression. “You have got to be kidding me.”

  Lulu made her way back to the counter, where she looked the grungy little man over. “What in Sam Hill happened to you, Jessup?”

  Leah tried to not to breathe in his harsh odor. He was quite dirty with cuts of various depths and lengths all over his exposed skin. One of his wrists looked pretty banged up, and he was sitting in a way that revealed he was starting to feel the hurt of the wreck.

  “I fell off my bike,” Jessup said.

  “More like a car,” Crowley muttered as he shook his head and exchanged a knowing look with Leah.

  “What you doing out this early?” Lulu continued.

  “I just got up early and thought some of your coffee sure would hit the spot.” Jessup’s smile wobbled, and he fisted his trembling hands.

  Leah suspected he was trying to make an appearance, thinking it would prove him innocent in the whole fiasco.

  “You better give Jessup my breakfast, Leah,” Crowley said in a tired voice. “It might be a while before he has something fitting to eat again.”

  “Wh-what y-you mean b-by that, C-Crowley?” Jessup began squirming on his stool.

  Crowley didn’t answer him. He just sat up and started knotting his tie. Leah took this as his cue that he was about to leave, so she poured a tall to-go cup of coffee and placed a freshly baked blueberry muffin in his bag. She then put a stale muffin in another bag and handed it to Jessup. She had been intending to feed it to the ducks at the park later. There was no way she was going to hand Crowley’s breakfast over to that drunk.

  “Thank you, Miss Leah,” Jessup said as he slowly slid off the stool. He looked at Crowley, with the apparent intention of apologizing. He seemed to change his mind when the tall man glared down at him. Instead, Jessup just quietly limped out the front door, climbed back on his man-size tricycle, and pedaled down the side street.

  Crowley walked over to the window to watch Jessup go by. He pulled out his phone and dialed the sheriff. “Hey, Danny. You’re not going to believe who is about to pedal his drunk self right past the police station.” He paused and listened for a moment. “I know. After all that, the idiot is practically turning himself in. Look, do me a favor and get a doctor to look him over before you arrest him.” Crowley nodded as he listened to Danny. “Thanks, man,” Crowley said before ending the call and pocketing his phone. He walked back to the counter to collect his food and then headed out the front door to where his truck was parked at the curb.

  Leah hollered at him right before the café door closed behind him. “Hey, Crow!” He turned back with a disoriented expression as she pointed at his feet. “You might want to change those before going into the courtroom.”

  Crowley glanced down at his feet and found that he had put his flip-flops on instead of dress shoes. “Good call, Lee. Thanks.” He rushed over to place his breakfast in the truck before jogging to his town house. A few moments later, he hurried back to his truck. Spotting Leah through the window, he waved his briefcase, shaking his head about forgetting that too. She laughed and gave him an encouraging wave.

  Lulu came to stand by Leah at the counter. “I saw what you gave Jessup for breakfast.”

  Leah shrugged b
ecause she really didn’t care. “At least I didn’t spit on it.” Leah huffed and headed to the kitchen.

  Lulu chuckled. “We’re a lot alike, you know.”

  “That a good or bad thing?” Leah fired back with a little snark.

  “Definitely good.” Lulu winked at her and started humming as she started a fresh pot of coffee.

  Leah watched the little lady for a few beats, a smile on her face, before getting back to work.

  16

  ANA CAME BY THE CAFÉ a few days later, demanding the full scoop from Lulu and Leah about the Jessup fiasco. Leah filled her in on the dreadful mess. The police had arrested him after a doctor patched him up. Since it was a repeated offense, the court decided it was in Jessup’s best interest to spend some time in prison.

  “Well, ladies, we are about to have all kinds of excitement in this little town,” Ana said as she eyed Leah’s outfit. “We’ve got to get you some new outfits for the big event.”

  Leah felt her cheeks grow warm as she tugged at her bulky top. “What are you carrying on about, Ana?”

  “Spring break!” Ana bounced up and down on her stool like a giddy child.

  “I thought you were telling us news.” Lulu laughed. “Spring break happens every year.” Unimpressed with the subject, Lulu strolled over to catch up with some of her customers.

  “What’s so great about that?” Leah asked as she handed her friend a glass of iced tea.

  Ana took a long sip. “Thank you, honey. Crowley’s herding in his college fraternity brothers for a weeklong spring vacation. I’m talking about prime real estate here. Single, successful guys our age who are ripe for the picking.” She eyed Leah’s attire once more. “Honey, we have to get you some prime picking outfits.”

  An hour later, Ana was still harassing Leah about her wardrobe while Leah continued to prep for the lunch crowd. Leah kept complaining that Ana needed to go do something more productive, but Ana had one of her helpers covering the boutique for the day. She said she had nothing better to do than to advise Leah about her awful wardrobe.

  “What’s wrong with the clothes I already have?” Leah asked.

  “They all look like they are swallowing you whole. I mean, seriously, are you safety-pinning the waistband of your pants to hold them up?” Ana leaned over the counter and tried to yank on Leah’s pants.

  Leah scooted out of the way. “Hey! Cut that out!” Leah was using safety pins to hold her pants up but had no intentions of admitting that to anyone.

  Ana kept trying to grab at her giggling friend. “I’m gonna sneak upstairs and steal all of your clothes and burn them suckers. Then you’ll have no choice but to get new ones that actually fit.”

  Leah kept batting Ana’s hand away. “Really, Ana, I don’t see what’s so appealing about entertaining a bunch of guys with you.”

  “Come on. That has to interest you. Unless . . .” Ana left the question in the air, and when Leah didn’t respond, Ana tried again. “Unless men don’t interest you.”

  Leah raised her hands and laughed. “Ana, you’re really cute and all, but I prefer men.”

  “Well, that makes two of us.” She got up and helped herself to some more tea and returned to her stool. “You know . . . I have noticed how you check out Crowley.”

  “Girl, how can you not appreciate that view!” Leah teased and was relieved when Ana returned her grin.

  Crowley strolled through the door as if on cue, causing the two women to laugh harder. “Why were my ears just burning?” He perched on the stool next to Ana and playfully elbowed her.

  “Oh, Crowley. I do appreciate those sweet ears on that gorgeous head,” Ana said in full Scarlett O’Hara imitation. “Don’t you just appreciate those ears, Leah, darling?”

  Leah, trying to mock Ana’s Southern drawl, replied, “Honey, how can you not appreciate the view of those sweet ears?” Both women burst into a fit of giggles.

  Crowley swiped two of the oatmeal bars that Leah was cutting into rectangles. “I missed the joke, didn’t I?” he asked before cramming half of one in his mouth.

  “Yep.” Leah smiled and handed him an iced tea.

  “I was just telling Leah here that you are bringing in a whole panel of available bachelors for her and me to choose from.” Ana winked at him.

  “I don’t know about all that. Some of them are married. Besides, they’re my company, not a potential dating game for you girls.” He shot them a pointed look.

  “We’ll see about that, won’t we, Leah?” Ana sassed.

  Leah ignored her and asked Crowley while brewing another pot of tea, “What are you guys going to be up to?”

  “We’re gonna hang out at the beach for a couple of days to surf.”

  “No epic skateboarding?” Leah caught his eye and grinned at him.

  “Nope. The skateboard is still in temporary retirement.” Crowley laughed as he drained his glass.

  “I bet they’re going to be doing some of that nasty ole fishing.” Ana wrinkled her nose.

  “We’ve got a few fishing trips planned,” Crowley said, swiping another oatmeal bar.

  “I’ve never been fishing,” Leah commented as she wrapped the bars in parchment paper and placed them in a basket for display.

  “No way.” Crowley shook his head. “We’re just gonna have to correct that injustice after the guys head back home.”

  Ana rolled her eyes and flicked her wrist. “Leah, honey, you are not missing a thing. Trust me.”

  “I wouldn’t mind trying it.” Leah shrugged.

  “Cool. It’s a date. We’ll introduce you to Old Man River sometime soon,” Crowley said as Leah refilled his glass. “Thank you, ma’am.”

  “You’re welcome.” Leah smiled.

  Crowley scanned the café. “Say, where’s Lulu?”

  “She’s already headed out for the rest of the day,” Leah answered.

  “What?” Crowley didn’t sound like he believed her.

  Ana snickered. “Leah practically shoved her out the door earlier.”

  “A bunch of her lady friends came in and begged her to go to some flea market with them, and I insisted she go. That stubborn woman is always turning them down. I told her to quit being so rude to her friends, so she really had no choice but to go,” Leah said.

  Crowley let out a low whistle. “Lulu got told what to do! Man, what I would have given to have seen that!” He gestured around the café. “You got all of this covered, Lee?”

  “Yes, Crow. I can manage just fine. The soup is already done. The salad and sandwich prep is finished. You can go check if you don’t trust me,” Leah challenged, and Crowley shook his head no. “Also Kara and Alice will be here soon to help finish out the day.”

  “Just asking.” He raised his hands in surrender.

  “What’s with this Lee and Crow business?” Ana asked.

  Leah pointed at Crowley with the knife she was about to take to the kitchen sink. “He started it. As a matter of fact, Crow started it the very night of your big New Year’s date,” Leah said as she walked to the kitchen. She hoped it made Ana as uncomfortable as she had made Leah all day.

  It did the trick too. Before Leah could return to the counter, Ana had slid off her stool and headed to the door. “I’ve got something more important to do than to entertain the likes of you two.” She stopped at the door and looked at Leah. “Come see me after work today so we can get started on you with a proper dating wardrobe. I’ve got a few hot dresses with your name written all over them.” Ana did a little finger wave and sashayed next door.

  “Finally,” Leah muttered after Ana was gone. She turned and caught Crowley helping himself to another oatmeal bar. “You keep it up and I’m gonna have to make another batch.” Leah batted at his hand.

  He talked around a mouthful of oatmeal. “Sorry. I missed breakfast.” He washed it down with the last of his tea. “Don’t worry, Lee. You’re free from me the rest of the day, too.” He handed her a ten-dollar bill and headed for the door. “I’ve got
some shopping to do before my company arrives.”

  “I don’t mind your company so much, Crow.” Leah grinned.

  Crowley turned and held Leah’s gaze for a long moment, wearing an odd expression that she couldn’t decipher, before heading to his truck.

  “What was that about?” Leah whispered to the empty café.

  Two days later, Crowley came in with a herd of guys. Each was on the tall side, but none meeting Crowley’s impressive stature. They were all nicely tanned and gave off that outdoorsy vibe. They went straight to rearranging a few tables together to form a large rectangular one in the left corner of the café.

  “Good grief. Did Crowley attend the Tall, Dark, and Handsome University?” Leah quietly asked Lulu as they both stood behind the counter taking in the view.

  From the men’s bulky forms came booming laughter and steady conversation. They all seemed to have limitless issues to catch up on with one another. The group of guys was such an anomaly to Leah. She wondered how it would feel to have such a bond formed from years of friendship.

  Lulu shoved an order pad in Leah’s hand, snapping her out of the staring. “Good luck.”

  “What? I think you should handle them.” Leah tried to give the order pad back to Lulu, but Lulu had already moved to the other end of the counter to take an elderly man’s order.

  Leah gave a haughty huff in Lulu’s direction, but of course it went ignored. She walked over to the boisterous table and stood by Crowley, who was seated at the head of the table. She nudged him on the shoulder to interrupt him in midsentence.

  He looked at her and smiled politely. “Guys, I’d like you to meet Lulu’s number one sidekick, Leah.” Crowley commenced introducing the large group as if Leah would be able to remember their names. “Leah, this is Todd, Josh, Ben, Greg, Brad, Rob, Matt, Than, Jake, and Will.”