"4 years."
"You like it?"
Long pause. Her hands kept moving, wiping, sorting. She didn't look at him.
"I like the coffee."
That pause told Harold more than any customer review.
Day one, afternoon. At 10:00 a.m., the shift changed. Tiffany and Jenna walked in. The air in the store tightened like someone turned a dial.
Emma went quiet, moved to the back without being told, started restocking shelves that didn't need it.
Tiffany didn't greet her, just "Did you pre-stock the oat milk? I'm not doing it again."
"It's done."
"It better be." Then, like flipping a switch, Tiffany became a different person.
A young white couple walked in. She lit up. "Hey guys, have you tried the autumn maple cortado? Literally the best thing we've ever made."
Harold blinked. The autumn maple cortado, Iron Brew's number three seller last quarter.
He didn't know who created it. A middle-aged woman in a cleaning uniform approached next. Tiffany's smile vanished. Flat voice.
What do you want? Made the drink without a word, set it down. No name, no have a nice day.
Harold opened the register drawer to get change. Inside, wedged between the receipt paper in the bill tray, a folded index card. Two columns, one with hearts, one with X's. Day two. The index card.
Harold waited until Tiffany went on break, pulled the card out. Hearts.
Tech guy Jake, always tips $5.
Instagram girl at Molly Brew, tags us, free extra shot. Blond couple, good vibe. X's.
Old guy Walter, just sits, nurses one drink.
Lady with three kids, messy, don't encourage. Flannel man, doesn't fit. Flannel man. That was him.
The day he walked in as a customer.
They'd written him down, put an X next to his existence. On the back, in Tiffany's handwriting,
if they're not brand fit, slow service. They'll leave on their own. Don't make a scene, just make it clear they're not welcome.
Harold put the card back exactly where he found it. Hands steady, jaw not.
This wasn't two young women having a bad day, this was a system.
Day two, break room. Harold sat with Emma during the afternoon break. She pulled out a small notebook and started flipping through it.
Pages of recipes, seasonal drinks, pastry twists, flavor notes in the margins.