The car slowed to a halt, its tires whispering against the damp street.
"See? We're here."
Maya exhaled, a sigh that carried both relief and dread.
Through the window, she saw the modest brick building that housed her new beginning—or her latest disaster.
The upper floor bore the sign of a small photography studio, its windows framed in ivy. Beneath it, resting under a neat black awning, was a sleek café front with gold lettering that spelled HAVEN BREW.
Her café.
Her pride.
Her most beautiful, expensive mistake.
Out of all the reckless financial decisions she had ever made, this one sat comfortably at the top.
She leaned back for a moment, closing her eyes.
It didn't help knowing that Noir & Oak, the most popular café in the district, was barely a block away—buzzing with customers, reputation, and everything she lacked.
A soft whimper from the back seat pulled her from her thoughts.
Maya turned to her daughter. "We're coming out now, love."
She unbuckled the toddler gently, scooping her up with one arm while grabbing her leather handbag with the other. Aria's little hand instinctively clutched her blouse as the driver stepped out and hurried around the car, an umbrella snapping open against the drizzle.
"Thank you, Marco," Maya said, lifting the hem of her skirt to keep it from brushing the wet ground.
She stepped out, the chill biting lightly at her cheeks.
Aria blinked in her arms, her curls dampening with mist.
The street outside smelled of coffee and rain—two scents that always made Maya think of both beginnings and endings.
Marco loaded the last of the bags onto the sidewalk before bowing his head politely.
She smiled faintly as he drove off, leaving her alone with her daughter and her dream.
Maya turned toward the building again. The café's golden sign gleamed faintly beneath the gray sky.
She inhaled deeply and whispered, "Alright, Haven Brew. Don't you dare ruin me faster than the others did."
Pushing the glass door open, she stepped inside.
The smell hit her immediately—coffee beans, fresh paint, and a faint sweetness of baked scones.
The interior was lovely, almost too lovely for what her bank account could handle: clean marble countertops, soft beige walls, dark wood accents, and warm pendant lights that gave off a gentle glow.
Everything looked ready for business and deceptively stable.
Except for the people.
Clustered like a mismatched family portrait.
Three of them wore the same beige aprons, and one older man wore a pair of brown overalls that matched.... nothing at all.
The elderly woman, round and cheerful with grey-streaked curls, was tugging playfully at the cheek of a younger girl who looked barely twenty. The tall man beside them, clearly in his mid-twenties, leaned against the counter with both hands in his pockets, the embodiment of quiet resignation.
He looked done with everything when he hadn't even started yet.
The older man was the first to notice her. "Oh!" He lifted his gloved hand, his voice warm but gravelly. "It's the boss lady."
Maya froze mid-step, lips pressed together.
These were her staffs. The only ones she could afford after blowing most of her savings into this café.
For now.
She summoned the fakest smile she could manage. "Hello there, Mr. Jerome."
"Is that baby Aria?" the chubby woman clapped delightedly, hurrying toward them. "Oh, look at her! Such a darling little thing."
Aria giggled shyly and buried her face in Maya's shoulder.
"Hello, Mrs. Daniels," Maya said politely.
"Sweetheart, call me Rosa," the woman said with a wink.
Right—Rosa. The head baker, assistant, and miracle hire.
Maya still didn't know how she'd convinced Rosa Daniels, with her decades of experience in baking, to work for her at all. Maybe it was pity. Or maybe Rosa just loved starting over as much as Maya did.
Rosa gestured toward the others. "Right then! These are the ones I told you about."
She pointed to the young man first. "This is Miles Jobes, our part-time barista. He'll be working alongside you."
Miles gave a small bow. "Pleasure, ma'am."
Rosa then turned to the younger girl. "And this is Nora Collins, waitress and attendant. She'll be serving our customers"
Nora, cheerful and bright-eyed, waved enthusiastically. "Hi! I've been following your café page since you announced it online! It's sooo cute here!"
Maya blinked. "Thank you, Nora."
"And of course, you already know Mr. Jerome," Rosa added. "Our handyman, gardener, electrician, plumber—basically, everything that keeps this place from crumbling."
Mr. Jerome chuckled and scratched his balding head. "That's right. I fix everything except a broken heart"
Maya let out a small laugh despite herself.
Rosa looked at her expectantly, hands on her hips, proud as though she'd assembled an army. "What do you think?"
Maya adjusted Aria on her hip and forced another smile. "It's… wonderful. I'm happy to finally meet everyone. I hope we can all work together to drive Haven Brew forward."
"Woo, yes. Team!" Nora cheered, clapping eagerly.
Miles sighed through his nose, half-amused, half-tired. Rosa rolled her eyes, muttering something about "youthful enthusiasm," and the brief energy fizzled into an awkward silence.
Finally, Rosa clapped her hands once. "Alright, people. Introduction's over. Let's get to work!"
Everyone scattered like startled pigeons.
Nora looked around, puzzled. "Wait, what are we doing? There's no customers—"
Rosa pulled her away toward the back kitchen "Then we pretend there are! Get those tables wiped, dear."
Maya stood in the middle of her café, holding Aria, watching her tiny staff scatter. She exhaled slowly.
Aria followed their movements with curious eyes, then pointed toward the now-empty counter.
"Mama?"
"Yes, love?"
"Ti!" she said.
Maya smiled. "Oh yes, I see it, love. The big empty space."
Aria giggled softly.
"You know what else we should see?" Maya said, balancing her daughter on one hip. "My office!"