CHAPTER NINE

Two days later, Isabel was in the cafe going over the list of things they've run out of stock of in the cafe, when Padma, one of her employers walked up to her with a cream-colored envelope.

"Chauncey from the mayor's office brought this in for you while you were away."

Isabel turned to the seventeen-year-old teenager, gesturing her to keep the envelope on the counter.

"Padma," she called the girl's attention just as she was about to leave, and she asked her,

"Have the repairman fixed the faulty Expresso machine?"

"Not yet. Ginny called him while you were out of town, but he gave some excuse about his son being at the hospital."

"So, the machine is still not functional."

"Yes."

Isabel let out a frustrated sigh,

"Is there anyone else who can fix it for us? I mean, we can't be out of expresso for our customers."

"I can help you if you want." A deep voice cut through their conversation, and both Padma and Isabel turned to see who it was.

It was Austin, her neighbor.

Isabel's stomach chur