A month has gone by and it's almost February, in the next two months I'll be getting ready for my wedding. right now though I'm sitting in my Cafe with a couple of the newer employees, It's been extra cold so today I made a coffee and hot cocoa drink. I gave it out with every coffee or quick meal order, I did that once in a while, making free stuff for people who might need it. like the other day, I made an extra free meal for this homeless guy who came in. He had only enough for a black cup of coffee so when he got that Togo I gave him a couple of sandwiches for him and a cup of my hot soup.
"Sir I didn't order this, I just ordered the coffee." He said trying to give me the food back, James stopped him and said. "If Mr. Hall gives you a little bit extra just take it, he won't take it back." James winked and the homeless guy began to cry for a moment then he hugged me. "thank you, sir, I wasn't sure if I was going to eat today but with these, I can eat for a couple of days." He was about to leave when my eyes caught James's eyes.
"Wait sir," I ran over to the man and he looked scared for a moment then I looked over at James again. "I think we need cleaning help every other day, isn't that right James, do you think we can use him?" I held out an application and the man took it, "I can offer you a job, food a cheap logging till you can afford an apartment or better, Will you join us, mister?" James came up to the man and asked him, "when can you start, the food alone is a good selling point on working here but the pay is a close second."
The man looked confused, then I told him something that made him tear up, "My Grandparents would never forgive me if I didn't help a soul that needs a hand." The man held out his hand and then said he could start right away and that his name was Dan mack. I showed him to the restroom and he cleaned himself up and started working.
That day went by fast and a couple more went like that till the middle of the month when I ran into my hated Aunt Lacy. She was still working at the only bank in town, and with it being the only one it was a matter of time till I ran into her again. I deposited my weekly check from the Cafe and she looked at it, "You don't take more than that I thought you were doing better than this?" I smiled at her and replied, "I have employees and the bills to think of so I put the rest of what we earn back into the Cafe. I only take what I need to live on, I don't need more than that there on the check."
Lacy looked at me and saw I wasn't being nasty to her and when I was about to leave she caught up to me. "Jacob, can I talk to you in private?" She asked me and I shook my head, yes and I was pulled into an office that was empty. She got on her knees and bowed her head and said, "I'm sorry for the ways I've been treating you ever since you were a child. You haven't done anything wrong, it's just been me being jealous of how you've been able to follow your dreams and I've been stuck here. I lost what little I had left and I almost ruined your life with stupidity." She seemed to be almost crying and I picked her up.
"Lacy I don't care about the past, if I did that do you expect me to be doing what I am doing in life. I own a nice Cafe and am about to get married in a month, don't dwell on your mistakes. Own up to them and help people and fix what you have broken, trust me it feels better than sitting on your hands." I brushed her tears from her face and I then invited her over to the Cafe for a cup of tea or coffee. She declined for now but said, "I'll be over there this week but I'm pretty busy with the job and the kids but for sure I'll stop by for a cup or two."
I left the bank with an issue resolved and another to finish, today I was meeting up with Amy to pick out the venue and the ring bands. I got in my truck and I drove to the ring shop, I was singing on the radio when I heard my cell phone ring. It was my brother telling me to come to the Cafe, it was an emergency. I texted Amy after I got off the phone and I headed to the Cafe double time, Amy even came to the Cafe since it was an emergency.
When I got there I saw that Lacy was sitting on a chair by my favorite spot and James wouldn't serve her. I laughed when everyone looked at me then at Lacy like she was crazy, "I thought you were too busy for a cup today?" She looked at me and smiled at me, or she tried but it looked more like she was about to cry. I pulled James aside and I poured her a cup of hot coffee, the classic cup Grandpa made every single day when he was alive. She took a long sip of the coffee then she seemed to get transported into a world far from where she was. I saw a tear roll down her face when she got up and gave me a huge hug. Everyone's mouths were open in amazement then she stood everyone that she had apologized to me earlier and then she apologized to the people in the Cafe.
Later when I saw my cousins walking into the Cafe they went right for Lacy had sat her down for one long conversation about the Cafe. "We never felt that our place was this Cafe, even though it's been the one place we all have spent our summers and childhoods around. We all thought that the one person who could or would be the next one to run this place was Jacob. So when we all heard that he was going to get the Cafe at the Will hearing we all were so happy for him." Jared said to Lacy and then I told her that I was planning to come back home and how I found out after I wanted to take time off that Grandma and Grandpa were gone.
"So you're telling me when you were taking off right as that accident happened? I'm sorry that you had to have that happen to you when you wanted to come home." Lacy said as I had a tear roll down my face and I said right after that. "I wish that I could have seen them or talked to them one last time, I'll never get that chance of speaking to them until I see them in the next life," I said to them and I didn't go anywhere further. After I got that all settled I went home for the day with Amy, I then helped pick out the rings via online.
A month later I was sitting in my living room right before my big day, (the wedding) I could hear Amy freaking out in the next room. She couldn't find her phone and keys, she was starting to get a bit crazy till I walked into the room. I saw the phone on our bed and the keys were where they always went which was on the dresser. I grabbed them both and I handed them to her while I held her shoulder. "Don't freak out so much Amy, today is going to be fine and when the night is over we will be married."
She stopped for a moment when she saw it was time to head to the church, I slowly took my time and then left an hour after she was getting ready. I still had to write my vows and I was having a hard time with that. Then my brother when I arrived at the church told me to speak from the heart with my vows don't worry so much. I smiled then I got dressed for the wedding, the theme was black and green with the bride wearing a white and green dress with me wearing a black suit with a green vest. The bridesmaids and groomsmen wore the opposite, it kind of reminded me of a Saint Patrick's party.
I watched as the wedding started and I found myself standing with the people I trusted and loved. Amy had a couple of friends and Mary stand in as one of her Bridesmaids. Then the music began to play and Amy started to come down the aisle with my father. I could barely see her behind the veil but she was absolutely beautiful. Her green eyes and that jet black hair of hers seemed to blow under the dim lights. The pastor began his part and I just fixed my eyes on her while I was able to take her veil off.
The moment I saw how bright she looked I almost cried but I fought my tears back a bit. She seem to smile a bit then the pastor told us to present our vows. I hadn't come up with one but I spoke freely, making my words my vows. "Amy we've known each other for a better part of a decade, the moment we became friends I thought was it, then as we grew up together and apart I found myself looking back to you. From this day on and to the end of time I will be that person you can always count on, I also ask you to put me in my place if I get under my own skin. I love you Amy and that will never change no matter what we face together."
Amy took a moment then she said her vows, "it's like we wrote down the same things, Jacob, I have loved you since I was a kid but you were distracted with life that I never got a chance to express them, When you came home for the first time last year after two years I thought that this was my time. Then all of what happened it was hard to express me, but you were the one who came to my side and it was you who expressed your love for me. My vow is to be your friend till the end of time and your lover for longer. As for you asking me to keep you in line I ask you to do the same for me, If I start getting sad or upset I ask you to keep your arm around me."
After Amy said that I grabbed her face gently and I kissed her right on the lips before the paster said, "You may kiss your bride.." I did that so fast that the whole crowd smiled then my Father laughed, "That boy couldn't wait to kiss his woman and a good one she is." Then after the wedding part ended, the after party started and everyone ran to the banquet hall next door to the church.
The music began to play and the party took off much like any other, there was cake and dinner then came dancing and more music. When it came to the Dance for me and Amy what plaid was a favorite of ours, (Heaven by Kane Brown) it played so softly that we slow danced till it changed. After that, the night seems to go by so fast. I eventually made it home and woke up in my bed with Amy laying shirtless on my chest. I held up my hand and I looked at the ring on my finger then I looked at her sleeping. I smiled then said, "I am happy with how things turned out since coming back home and getting that Cafe."