I nestled the phone a little closer to my ear so that I couldcould hear Steve over the lunch crowd noise at Mocha Daze. "It'sbusy. You caught me at a bad time."
"Do you want me to call back?"
"I'm training my new kids today..."
"How about if I stop by?"
"Steve, baby. You know I'd love to see your face, but..." I rangup a customer's 'to go' order and handed her the change. "I'mstill thinking about it. I haven't made a decision, yet."
"Why is it such a big deal, Hugo?"
Jenn nudged me over so that she could get to the register, givingme a nasty look when she figured out I was talking to Steve. "You'reasking me to divide up my coffee house," I said. "That's like askingme to cut my child in half."
His response to that was quick and irritated. "Okay already, Sol-omon. I get your drift." Then cool and easy-going, "I'm sorry ifI'm being pushy. I've never done anything like this before andI'm excited."
"Keep the enthusiasm. It's easier to do business with somebodywho loves this place as much as I do."
The twins are a delight to work with.
It's ironic, because looking the way they do, you'd assume thatthey're a couple of hard-ass juvenile delinquents. I hired thembecause I thought their look would bring the place some much-needed attitude.
It did, but not the attitude I had in mine.
When Kevin swept out the front of the store, he held the door openfor every woman who walked up, as well as for a few of theolder men. Every single one of them gave him an initiallysuspicious look, as if he might slam the door on them when theygot half-way through, but gave him a smile when he pulled the dooropen for them on their way out, as well.
Brian, who worked the cash register most of the day, was also the soul of graciousness. He thanked each of the customers individually, asking the receptive ones their names. He let the oldqueens flirt with him and even flirted back.
Would Steve change all of this? I didn't know. I just didn't know.
