Chapter 193

Janelle took the remaining goods and entered the building. A bell above the front door jingled when she opened it. The scent of burnt coffee wafted in the air. The room, small and quaint, had a large but empty glass counter and shelves except for an antique cash register on the end. A double coffeemaker sat on a counter behind. It was a small space but had appeared much bigger from the outside, and she wondered what could be behind the wall. Her heart raced, and her palms were sweaty.

She heard voices coming from her right. And then a young woman, in her late twenties, huge with pregnancy, waddled through the doorway.

"What can I get you?" she asked Janelle.

"Do you have a menu?"

"No, no, only regular and decaf. Which would you like?"

"I'll take a small regular."

The woman turned away and returned with the coffee. "Cream and sugar are on the table over there." She pointed to a table under a window with napkins, packets of sugar and a cream pitcher.

"I see the place is for