Book Three in The Coffee Stop series

Dedication

To my fabulous Lindsey Graham, the very best youngest child in the word. I’m so very proud of all you’re accomplishing. I’m forever grateful to have you in my life.

Acknowledments

For this book, I researched using non-AI internet searches, as well as through Claude Sonnet and ChatGPT. I began this series with an exploratory attitude in terms of using AI as a tool with my writing. I used both platforms for brainstorming, in addition to research.

I also asked ChatGPT for its interpretation on tarot readings I did on my characters. After developing the characters, I brainstormed the plot, which I do using the hero’s journey. Once I had an understanding of the characters and plot, I asked both programs to help me break out a timeline into chapters and scenes. Honestly, I wasn’t happy with the way either did this, though I used the one from Claude and heavily edited it. As I worked through the chapters, I used mostly Claude for research questions.

Content Warning

This story includes references to dyslexia, depression, and suicide. Please read at your own discretion.

Dear Reader

Along with Gabriella Brooks, who is reluctant to use AI in Late Night Lattes, I questioned my own use of generative AI while writing and researching this book. As a conservationist, I found myself concerned over generative AI’s impact on the environment.

Does AI have the potential to help clean up the environment? Absolutely, and steps are already being taken in that direction. I understand that each individual’s use has a minimal impact and I respect the freedom to choose if and how to use AI. For me, however, I have to do what feels right in my gut. Until AI is doing more to help the environment than it is hurting it, I will limit my use and take steps to mitigate any impact when I do.

I hope you enjoy this third book in The Coffee Stop series. Please check out Espresso in the Morning and Americano Afternoons, if you haven’t yet read those. I’m also planning the Uptown Creations series as a spinoff and possibly another spinoff around the Nature View Veterinary Clinic. Would love any feedback on those. Please sign up for my blog via my website for future updates, or follow me on social media.

I’m always happy to hear your feedback. Please feel free to reach out to me via dorenegraham.com.

Wishing you joy, love and abundance.

Take care,

Dorene Graham

Chapter One

Apprehension filled Gabriella Brooks as she finished her interior design presentation and silence filled the room. Was her work good enough?

Was she good enough?

Early July sunlight streamed through the floor to ceiling windows as she scanned the faces of the people seated around the white oak conference table. The husband-and-wife client team, Pete Conrad with his curly red hair and Stella Conrad, all blond waves, owners of a new bistro opening in five months, exchanged a long look.

Gabby studied her tanned ivory fingers. Had she missed something? Her mind raced over the initial query the couple had completed, where they’d specified their preferences for their new bistro’s interior design. She’d painstakingly gone through their requirements, addressing each one.   

Stella stroked one of the numerous fabric swatches Gabby provided for the presentation, while Pete picked up one of Gabby’s mood boards and bit his lip as he reviewed it.

Anthony Basco, project manager and Gabby’s boss, spread his hands. His trim beard and mustache complimented his close-cropped hair against his tawny skin, as quiet power exuded from him. “If you need time to think it over, we can reconvene. Gabby will be happy to answer any questions, or make any changes for you.”

Pete whispered in his wife’s ear and she nodded. She turned her gaze to Gabby. “We see and appreciate all the hard work you put into this. The other firms we consulted gave us video tours of the designs, just as they’d be in our shop, but no one else took us to a showroom, or gave us these wonderful swatches and sketches. We like that you went the extra mile and the design is actually better than we anticipated. We love the minimalist and eco-friendly approach. How soon can we start?”

Relief poured through Gabby. “I can start as early as Wednesday of next week, as long as we can get the contract signed today.”

“Let’s do it.” Pete draped his arm around Stella’s shoulders. “We’re ready to roll.”

“Excellent.” Anthony rose to shake the couple’s hands. “I have another meeting, but I’ll send in Elaine, our interior design assistant, with the contracts. She’s a notary, so we can get this done right now.”

He touched Gabby’s shoulder. “Could I see you in my office for a minute?”

“Of course.”

She let the couple know she’d return momentarily in case they had questions about the contract, then followed Anthony to his office. He had challenged her use of what he called her “old school” design tools, but she’d stuck to her guns and it had paid off.

At least for now. Her gut tightened. Pete and Stella appreciated her traditional presentation, but what would the next client say?

“Good job on closing another deal.” He leaned against his desk.

“It was my pleasure. This should be a fun project.”

He nodded, but was silent a moment, as though gathering his thoughts. “I really appreciate all you do around here, Gabby.”

“Thank you. I do my best.”

“You are the best when it comes to traditional interior design techniques. I can only guess that once you adopt tools like AI design and the use of virtual reality and 3-D imaging, you’ll be unstoppable.”

She inhaled slowly and pressed her lips together, as unease crept through her. “You know AI isn’t currently eco-friendly. It uses a substantial amount of energy and water—”

“It can also accelerate the development of greener tech—”

“But the electronic waste and—”

“I appreciate your environmental concerns. Honestly, I do, but AI isn’t going anywhere. In fact, per Sandra’s direction, we’ll be rolling out a new AI design program soon, so we all need to get used to the idea of using it.” He cocked his head. “I’m hoping this won’t be a problem?”

Again, she inhaled slowly, reining in the dread blooming inside her. Sandra Casey was their CEO. If she was pushing it, nothing Gabby said would sway Anthony. From what she’d seen, all the AI programs were text heavy. She would have to find a way of dealing with that. “No, it won’t be a problem.”

“Glad to hear it. I think this will be a good thing for the office.”

Quelling the headache that threatened, she straightened. “I’m sure everyone will love it. I’m going to check on the Conrads.”

He nodded, already turning to his desk as she exited.

More and more, Gabby felt the pinch of new technologies moving into the industry. She had hoped to hold onto her traditional methods, but that time looked like it was coming to an end. Would she be able to function in this new way of doing things?

~ ~ ~

Louisa Platt, Gabby’s best friend, flopped on her green and yellow double bed in her childhood home, her porcelain skin rosy against her light brown hair. She’d recently fallen on hard times and had ended up back with her parents.

Gabby pointed to the Twilight poster on the wall. “I had that same poster.”  

“We bought them together, didn’t we?” Louisa propped up on her elbows.

“I can’t remember, but most likely.” 

Louisa checked her phone and smiled.

“A love message from your man?” Gabby asked. Danny Brenner, whom Louisa had known since high school, had finally made his successful bid for her friend’s heart.

“No, we already spoke earlier and I’ll see him tonight. That was from Claire Murphy. We’re supposed to join them for a picnic this weekend.”

A sigh escaped Gabby as she sank onto the mattress. Louisa had become fast friends with the woman Lucas Williams, a longtime friend of theirs, had fallen for. “You and Danny seem to be spending a good amount of time with Lucas and Claire—”

“And Grey. Lucas has himself a happy family now.”

“Good for him. What I really want to talk about, though, is how, after all my harping, you finally gave Danny boy a real chance.”

A small smile curved Louisa’s lips. “This is old news, but I valued your opinion, of course. And…it was time to make things official, though we’re taking our relationship slowly.” Pink bloomed in her cheeks.

Something that felt uncomfortably like envy had Gabby grabbing a pillow and playfully hitting Louisa with it. “You’re actually blushing, just at the thought of him. How cheesy.”

Laughter filled the room as Louisa countered Gabby with her own pillow. “I can’t help it. I really like the guy. It’s totally scary, but he makes me so happy.”

Gabby sighed. She was happy—happily single. True, she’d recently slowed down on her active dating life, but with her recent promotion and the threat of AI design programs looming, she had no choice but to focus on work.

She preferred fun no-strings relationships. She’d tried a serious relationship once and had lived to regret it. So why was this awful…longing swelling through her?

Tucking the pillow behind her head, Gabby stretched out beside Louisa. “By the way, how is it living here with Carrie and Walter?”

Covering her face, Louisa groaned. “My parents are so lovey-dovey. At first, I kept…hearing things I didn’t want to hear.”

“Oh, my. Well, good for them. My parents don’t even speak to each other.”

“I’m glad they’re happy, though, and I think I’m okay with my decision to stay with them for a while longer.”

“My offer to convert my sunroom stands, but now that you and Danny boy are dating—”

“Boyfriend and girlfriend—”

“Why not live with him? I know how madly in love with you he’s been forever, so don’t pretend he wouldn’t jump at the chance.”

Louisa turned to her. “It’s too soon.”

“But you’ve known him since high school. He’s your other best friend, though I was your best friend first and I know you like me better.”

“Moving in together is such a big step, though. We aren’t there yet.”

“Yet means you do see it happening in the future, though.”

“I do. We just don’t want to rush it. He’s working his steps and I want to do everything I can to support his recovery efforts. But it does make me think I should stay here until that day comes. This way I can save up enough for a down payment on something permanent.”

Gabby refrained from mentioning that Louisa’s boyfriend could well afford to buy them any house. It was good for her friend to maintain her independence.

“If you’re going to stick it out here, I have some great noise cancelling headphones you can have,” she said.

Grinning, Louisa rolled over and pulled a set of headphones from the side of the bed. “I’m way ahead of you, sister. These are a game changer.” 

Gabby nodded. Were Carrie and Walter, Louisa’s parents, an example of true love? Were Louisa and Danny? What about Lucas and Claire? All these happy couples had her head pounding. 

A wave of regret hit her as she realized Friday was the fourth of July and her only plans were to watch fireworks from her apartment’s sunroom. Alone. She thought she was happy with her holiday plan. So, what was this feeling of disappointment?

Her own mother’s cheating, while her father looked the other way had convinced Gabby at a young age that true love was a farce. Her own experience had corroborated this theory.

Was it possible she was wrong? She sighed. Either way, romance wasn’t in the cards for her. People like her weren’t meant for such nonsense.

~ ~ ~

“Mom?” Ramsey Carter knocked for a second time on his mother’s bedroom door. Frowning, he placed his hand on the doorknob as exhaustion pulled at him. White ringed his ivory knuckles. He thought he’d heard her moving around earlier.  

The knob turned under his hand and the door opened. His mother peered up at him, dark rings under her brown eyes, her porcelain skin paler than normal and her dark blonde hair a tangle of waves around her shoulders. “Are you getting ready to head out?”

“I need to meet with my study group and then I have work. I shouldn’t be too late tonight. Maybe we could have dinner together?”

She touched her tangled hair. “You’ll be home early enough for dinner? You don’t have class?”

“No class today, Mom.”

“Oh, good.” Sighing, she straightened her pajamas. “I should get dressed. You should be having dinner with a pretty girl.”

“You are a pretty girl.”

The ghost of a smile touched her lips. “You know what I mean.”

“I’ll grill some salmon.”

She nodded, her gaze drifting to the floor. “I’m sorry I’m not more help around here. You shouldn’t have to cook after studying and working.” Her gaze found his again. Doubt glimmered in her eyes. “Maybe…maybe I can try…”

Squeezing her shoulder, he gave her an encouraging smile. Last year her depression had escalated to the point she’d been hospitalized. She’d lost her job and hadn’t been well enough to work since. “If you’re up to it, but no worries if not.”

“I’ll…try, though. I should at least try.”

“Okay. I made you breakfast. Please eat it before it gets cold and don’t forget to take your meds after.”

Her gaze softened and moisture gathered in her eyes. “You’re too good to me, Ramsey.”

“You’d do it for me.” He kissed her cheek. “It’s going to be a nice day. A walk might be good.”

“Oh…” Her gaze drifted to the window.

He swallowed as the heaviness filled him. She hadn’t been outside in days. “Mom, maybe I should skip the study group today.”

Her eyes widened. “You will not. I’ll…try a walk…later.”

He held her gaze until she looked away. As far back as he could remember, he’d been looking after her. Even when his father left them, it hadn’t mattered, because the man had never helped in any way.

“Okay, if you don’t make it out while I’m gone, we can walk to the park after dinner.”

She smiled, but her brow remained creased. “I’d like that.” She stepped into the hall enough to give him a quick hug. “Now, off with you. I’ll go eat my breakfast.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

“Thank you, Ramsey.”

His heart heavy, he turned toward the door.

Click here FMI on THE COFFEE STOP series.

Click here to read an excerpt from ESPRESSO IN THE MORNING, book one in THE COFFEE STOP series.

Click here to read an excerpt from AMERICANO AFTERNOONS, book one in THE COFFEE STOP series.

Click here to see more Dorene Graham books.