It started off just like any other day at the coffee shop. Jaxon pulled up in his hand-me-down Chevy and parked around back. He had made that day’s pastries, lemon-blueberry muffins, chocolate eclairs, and strawberry danishes. While those were in the oven, he had taken down all the chairs and started wiping down the tables when his phone began to buzz. The caller ID said Emma so Jaxon quickly answered. “Hey Jax,” Emma said in a very cracked and strained voice, “I came down with something last night and I feel like shit - can you mind the shop today?” Jaxon could hear her straining for air and as much as he didn’t want to run things solo, he knew Emma needed to sleep. “Sure,” he replied. “Thanks Jax - I knew I could count on you.” With that, Emma hung up and a startling realization hit Jaxon. Emma was always behind the counter, taking orders, asking the customers about their day, making jokes - how was he, Jaxon, a man who rarely spoke even when he was alone, supposed to keep the customers happy when they were used to the sunbeam that was Emma? “Oh boy,” he thought to himself, quickly cleaning and heading over to start the coffee. That was always the last thing they did before opening because Emma wanted the coffee to be as fresh as possible. A few minutes likely wouldn’t make any difference, but Emma liked to think it was made with more love that way and that the customers could definitely tell the difference. Not one to disappoint or change routines, Jaxon did as he had been instructed for the past few months. Just as the coffee was about to finish, Jaxon walked over to the front door, unlocked it, and turned on the open sign before slinking back behind the counter for safety. It didn’t take long for the first regular to come in.

Joseph had been coming to the coffee shop religiously since it opened. Every day, even on the weekends, he was there like clockwork at five past six. He always ordered the same drink, black coffee, and asked what the patry of the day was before choosing breakfast. At this point, Joseph could probably navigate the shop with his eyes closed, since he looked down most of the time anyway. Jaxon never figured out why he did that, but he never thought it was his place to ask so when the quiet-talking early riser made his way to the counter he wasn’t expecting to meet his face. “Mornin’,” Joseph began, “what’s today’s special?” He asked not once looking up and reaching for the large black coffee that Jaxon had ready for him by the register. He noticed Emma did that so he assumed that was just the type of interaction Joseph expected. Jaxon had been steadying himself since he got the call to speak to someone. It’s not that he was scared of people or had some kind of impediment, he just truly didn’t speak. He was fully capable and had quite the extensive vocabulary, but there always seemed to be a disconnect between what he wanted to say and what came out. It was like his throat constricted, not permitting words beyond the bare minimum to escape. It wasn’t panic and it wasn’t anxiety - it was a wall. There were times he had thoughts he truly wanted to let out, especially things he wanted to share with Susan and George, but it was like there was a vice grip on his vocal chords. Even if he tried to generate sound, they wouldn’t vibrate and nothing but air would come out. It had gotten better recently since Emma constantly bombarded him with questions wanting to know all about him and his life, but Jaxon still found it extremely difficult to talk to strangers. Despite seeing Joseph everyday for the past few months, Jaxon could already feel that vice tightening. Joseph still hadn’t looked up, but Jaxon could tell he was waiting for an answer. He took another deep breath and tried again. “Le… lemon…blueberry…muffins.” It took a solid two minutes and several deep breaths between each word, but Jaxon was able to speak! “I did it!” He thought to himself in triumph. Mentally giving himself a pat on the back, Jaxon was now looking at Joseph who slowly raised his head to meet Jaxon’s eyes. In a sense. Joseph never opened his eyes and it only took a moment for Jaxon to understand that he was blind. “Well I’ll be a monkey’s uncle,” Joseph talked to himself in awe, “you must be the new boy Emma hired. She told me you wasn’t much of a talker. I can see why. Takes you forever to get somethin’ out,” he said before suddenly laughing at his own joke. Jaxon said nothing, but was glad the man was laughing and didn’t mind how long it took him to respond. After catching his breath, Joseph sighed and said, “might be easier to put them specials down on a sign, otherwise you’re gonna rot by the time you answer all them questions.” Jaxon nodded shortly after realizing that Joseph would be unable to see. “Yes, thank you,” he muttered quietly. By now Joseph had plucked up his coffee and told Jaxon he wanted two of the muffins before heading to his favorite seat by the window. Now that Jaxon knew Joseph was blind, his choice of seat seemed puzzling, but it was the older man’s routine so who was Jaxon to question it. He brought the muffins over to his table and placed them down gently before turning to walk back to the counter. “Say boy,” Joseph said, “just ‘cause somethin’s different ‘bout ‘cha don’t mean there’s anything wrong.” Jaxon didn’t know what to say, but he understood the man’s sentiment and appreciated his words. “Thanks,” Jaxon whispered quietly, heading behind the bar to make up the signs for the day’s special. 

If Jaxon was hoping for a peaceful day then the devil must have been the one listening. Shortly after he hung up the special signs, the shop was flooded with regulars and new-comers alike. The good news with things being so busy is no one seemed to mind that Jaxon was silent so long as they got their orders on time and correctly. Once or twice Jaxon made the wrong drink, but since he was the only one working the customers understood and said they didn’t mind the mix up. Most of the patrons were familiar with Jaxon and absolutely adored Emma so they didn’t mind a little different taste, especially since the coffee and pastries were always delicious. There was a small lull just before lunch where Jaxon began to clean up the shop and wipe down tables before the afternoon rush started. At this point there were maybe ten people in the shop, casually reading or working on their laptops. Joseph had left around seven and the steady stream of customers had kept Jaxon busy. At one point Jaxon caught the faintest whiff of something mouthwatering, like citrus and some early herb, but he had been so busy he was unable to investigate further. It was a very faint scent, but none of the customer’s smelled like that so it must have been someone that came in without ordering and went right upstairs to the reading nook. Jaxon hadn’t noticed it at first glance, but just above the bar to the right was a small balcony opening up to the floor of the shop where one could people-watch or simply read in peace. There was only one large recliner chair up there and a small coffee table, so unless someone came in the shop alone it wasn’t often used. Jaxon had been up there a few times and the faint citrus scent lingered every now and then, but he had yet to meet the individual it came from. Thinking maybe today would be his chance, he hurried to finish cleaning and was thinking of an excuse to go up stairs when there was a sudden crash as a coffee cup smashed on the floor and shattered to pieces. 

“Shit!” A man yelled as he jumped up avoiding to splash. Jaxon wasn’t sure what happened, but the man had been there for a fews hours now typing vigorously on the laptop while taking incessant smoke-breaks and yelling at the person on the other end of the phone line out front of the shop. A few of the customers had come in complaining about how angry he sounded, but he was generally collected by the time he came back in so Jaxon didn’t think to worry too much about it. Unfortunately, that was the wrong call. “You!” the man yelled at Jaxon, “don’t just stand there clean this mess up! Ugh - and it’s all over my new loafers. If they stain, I’m sending your company the bill. What kind of establishment is this anyway? Just one fucking loaf to do everything. Chop chop meathead, I don’t have all day!” Jaxon looked on in disbelief. What entitlement this man held. Jaxon could tell the man was an alpha by his stature, and yes some assumed that alpha’s got special treatment, but this was ridiculous! Jaxon did not like this man’s attitude, but he was not about to upset Emma’s customers or her business over one asshole. He took a deep breath, before walking over to the man and beginning to pick up the shattered cup. “Jesus,” the man said, “took you long enough.” Jaxon didn’t respond, just continued to clean and wipe up the spilled coffee. “What? Now you don’t even talk?” The man shouted, “What kind of fucked up place is this? Where’s the manager?” The man demanded, now walking towards Jaxon his shoes crushing some of the broken ceramic pieces. Keeping his anger in check, Jaxon calmly said, “she’s sick,” before standing up to throw away the ruined mug. As he turned around the distraught man grabbed his shoulder and tried to pull him back, before the weight of his hand was suddenly gone and the man was on his ass on the floor. Puzzled, Jaxon turned around quickly to see the man with a face of shock as water rolled down his hair and onto his shoulders. Some of the other customers who had watched the scene unfold began to laugh and point to the upper balcony. Jaxon realized it must have been the person up there who poured water all over the belligerent man. Jaxon peeked a glance upwards, but there was no one to be seen and soon the angry man before him monopolized his attention. “What the fuck are you all laughing at?!” He screamed, as he began to stand up, wiping his face with a napkin and rubbing furiously at his suit jacket. “How dare you let some inbreed omega treat me like that!” He fumed pointing up at the balcony above him. “I demand that man be arrested for harassment and attempted assault!” The man was furious now and if he were a cartoon Jaxon would most certainly be able to see the smoke from his ears. Not sure what to do, but knowing how ridiculous an arrest would be Jaxon did his best to appease the man like he had seen Emma do in the past. “My apologies,” he said quickly which luckily caught the man’s attention. “Let me bring you another drink and offer you a free drink on your next visit.” Jaxon repeated it just as Emma had taught him, but this man was undeterred.  If anything, that riled him up further. “Unbelievable! First I’m humiliated and now you hope to buy me off with cheap dollar store coffee! Unacceptable!” The man began gathering his laptop and papers before shoving them aggressively in his briefcase. “I will not be returning to such a lackluster establishment and you can bet my friends on the board of health will hear about this!” The man made his way storming out of the door before finally slamming it behind him with as much strength as he could muster, which, to Jaxon, was about as much as a baby penguin. The rest of the customers cheered quickly and clapped as the man left before slowly returning to their own matters, while Jaxon continued to clean up the mess. Once he placed the wet floor sign down, he dashed up the stairs in hopes of meeting the man whose well-timed water saved the day. Unfortunately, when he reached the loft, the chair was empty and there was no sign of the individual. The only thing there was an empty glass, a novel, and the gentle smell of sage and grapefruit. It was intoxicating. Jaxon laughed to himself. Hopefully one day soon he would meet this mystery individual, but until then he could wait. He walked over to pick up the glass and see what the man had been reading before he took off. The title The World According to Garp looked back at him and Jaxon couldn’t help but smile. How could it be that one of his favorite books was sitting out here by coincidence. This mystery man must have been reading it since the upper section held nothing but reference books. He knew he had to meet this man now. Hopefully next time he came to visit, Jaxon could take a few minutes to get to know him. When Jaxon did finally meet the man who smelled of grapefruit and sage, it would be under very different and much more dire circumstances one late night in the woods.