Holding back tears, I walk her through the process one last time, answering her questions as they come.
Luckily, the peaberry brew isn抰 hard to replicate at this point when I抳e done it dozens of times with other lab techs.
揥hat are you doing for the rest of the day??she asks when we抮e done.
I hesitate. 揑f you don抰 mind, I抎 like to do one more experiment while I still have access to the equipment. Then I need to send Cole an official resignation. Quitting without notice is bad enough. I can抰 just no-show. I also need to mail something I picked up for Destiny before I抦 done…？
揙f course!?She gives me a sad look. 揥hat抯 next? You抮e so talented. I hate to think of you leaving the industry. Is there really no way to work things out??
揑 haven抰 decided. After work tonight, I抦 flying home.?
揝an Diego??
揧ep. I抣l take a small breather and figure out my plan while I抦 there.?
揥ow.?She sucks in a breath and lets it out slowly. 揝o, this is really happening.?
揢nfortunately,?I say.
She retreats to her desk while I stand over the metal countertop, wondering what to brew. Falling in love pulled me away from my own projects for too long.
I decide to try this black-and-white thing, throwing cocoa and vanilla beans together with the peaberry blend.
There抯 another experience I wouldn抰 have had without Cole.
When will I work with peaberry beans again? I might as well go for broke and use them while they抮e here.
The brew gives off a delicate, wonderful aroma from the start. It抯 sweet, almost like a fresh batch of chocolate chip cookies.
I keep inhaling because it actually makes me feel better.
Until my phone pings.
For half a second, I hope it抯 Cole before I remember I shouldn抰。
And it抯 not.
So much for the shrewd businessman who won抰 take no for an answer. It only took him a few days to give up on me.
It抯 actually my father. I open Dad抯 text and smile.
Can抰 wait to have you home. How about I make you all the coffee this time? It抯 only fair.
A tear runs down my cheek and falls on my shaky smile. He hasn抰 forgotten all the years I spent making him coffee after the salt prank.
You know what? This won抰 be so bad.
I抳e always found comfort and healing in good coffee and family. That抯 where happiness lies.
I spent so much time with Cole and this fairy-tale lie that I lost track of that.
Now, it抯 time to reclaim my life.
It抯 after five on a Friday night, so people start straggling out, calling their goodbyes and heading off on their weekend adventures.
My goodbye brew is almost ready, and then it抯 curtain call.
I still have to clean up and send my resignation, too.
Gina hugs me on her way out. 揑t抯 been a good run. I just wish it would抳e been longer. Not to be a pest, but are you sure I can抰 talk you out of this??
I smile at her. 揑抦 sure. Thanks for everything.?
揘o, thank you for everything you抳e done. Stick around as long as you want, but don抰 miss your flight. It抯 supposed to be a stormy night.?
She抯 the last one out.
When I抦 alone, I glance around this amazing lab, trying not to linger and trip any new emotional switches.
Ten minutes later, I kill the burner under the coffee and let it sit while I clear out my desk.
Once that抯 done, I ladle my steaming black liquid into a cup and take a sip.
Oh, mama.
It tastes like one of those old-school 搕wist?ice cream cones. Half chocolate, half vanilla, with a hint of coffee.
But instead of being frozen, it抯 warm and comforting and exactly what my heart needs.
I fill my thermos and dump the rest, clean up, and then prepare for the highlight of my day.
The end of this screwed up chapter of my life.
I plop down in my desk chair for the last time and wake my computer, then log in to my email and type in Cole抯 name and CC the entire world.
Mr. Lancaster,
I have coffee, comfort, and the best family anyone could ask for. That抯 all I抳e decided I need in life. I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to several important regional beverage lines that will hopefully delight your customers for years to come.
My resignation is effective immediately. I have a flight to San Diego tonight, and I抣l no longer be checking my work email or messages after I sign off for today.
Goodbye.
Sincerely,
Eliza Angelo
Done.
I log off and leave my ID badge on the keyboard.
It doesn抰 hit me until I stand up and stretch for the last time.
Leaving this place is harder than I expected.
This lab has all the stuff coffee dreams are made of, and now I抦 saying goodbye.
I cleaned up well after that last batch, but I grab a few towels and wipe down the counters again anyway for good measure.