Dinner at Hannah and Jake’s was just what I needed. Oliver and I had a wonderful evening of laughter and good food. I was able to avoid my worries about the coffee shop, and as we walked home I realized that what’s most important is friends and family. My business may die, and while I’ll certainly do everything in my power to keep it from happening, sometimes things are out of your control. No matter what’s in store for me, I’ll have the love and support of those I’m close to, and I’ll be okay.

Since we got home late last night I decided to sleep in this morning. I often like to be the first one in my shop, but Debbie has a key and it’s not unusual for her to open without me. My muscles protest when I stretch my arms over my head and walk to the kitchen. The stress of the last few days is taking its toll on my body, and I wonder if Oliver’s energy powder can help. It certainly can’t hurt, and I look forward to the way it makes me feel. When I get to the kitchen I notice Oliver isn’t there, and I suspect he’s out for a run.

The blender thuds on the counter when I pull it down from a cabinet, and I gather the ingredients for a smoothie. When I find the zip lock bag Oliver keeps his powder in, I see a sticky note attached. It reads, ‘A quarter cup is all you need. Love, Oliver.’ I smile as I think about how he told me he had a secret last night, and I imagine what my engagement ring might look like. My heart soars as I picture a white farmhouse in the country with a red barn near it. I see two children running in the field and giggling as Oliver stands by my side with his arm around my shoulders. I chuckle at myself for daydreaming while I crash back to earth to finish making my breakfast.

I take my shake with me as I walk over to stare out the window at the street below. I’m only a couple of floors up, and I have a good view of people bustling toward their destinations. Heads are down, and I suspect quite a few of them are tired and unhappy with something in their life, and it makes me think about how Oliver said his energy powder fast-tracks nutrients to your body. I sip on my creamy drink and recall how the little aches and pains I had yesterday morning disappeared within minutes of drinking the shake Oliver made me, and my daily stress headache never came. I imagine how the people rushing to work might look if they felt as great as I do with Oliver’s magic elixir in my body. They might have smiles, greet each other warmly, and lift their faces to the sun, because I felt so amazing I didn’t even drink all the coffee I usually need to get through my day.

Oh my god! That’s it! Who needs coffee when you can drink something even better? Something that nourishes your body and lets it work at full potential. I take a big gulp to finish off my smoothie as my excitement grows. I know how I’m going to reinvent myself.

I grab my laptop and begin research on energy drinks and supplements, and I peruse the kinds of shops that sell them. My challenge will be to integrate the new health-conscious products with coffee and baked goods, because I don’t want lose my current customer base as I court a new one. When I read an article on the dangers of sugar, I recall Oliver’s comments about cigarettes. I don’t think sugar is as harmful, but I do believe offering healthier choices enables moderation.

When my stomach growls, I realize I was so intent on gathering information and creating a transition plan that I didn’t notice the time. It’s almost noon, and still no Oliver. I double check my phone for a message as I wonder where he could be. I text him. Hey. Where are you? I have an exciting idea I’d like to share.

As I walk to the bathroom for a shower my cell dings with his reply. I’m on my way to the coffee shop with something exciting of my own.

My insides tingle with my joy because I think he’s waiting there for me with a ring. I can barely contain my emotions, and as hot water rushes from the shower to rain down on me I belt out an off-key version of Bruno Mars’ Marry Me loud enough for it to echo off the tile walls. Shampoo squirts from the bottle as I squeeze, and I’m sure if any of my neighbors are home they can hear me, but I don’t care. I want to shout out to the world how happy I am. Everything I’ve ever wanted is falling into place. I’m going to marry an amazing man, my business is about to take off, and I’ll be able to settle down in a farmhouse in the country soon to start my family.

My excitement practically oozes out of my pores as I walk to work. I surprise the aliens and people I pass when I smile and say hello, and the chuckles I hear might be about the skip I have in my step. All without coffee in my system too. When my phone dings I notice a text from Oliver. Hurry up and get here! We’re all waiting.

We? I don’t bother to reply because I’m around the corner from the shop, so I quicken my step. When I turn onto the block where my shop is located, I notice a news van, and Ian’s wife is on the sidewalk talking to a camera in front of my door. Oh no. My heart stops. Did we have another incident or is this bad press over what happened yesterday? I frown when I remember Ian was going to see if Cathy would do a special interest piece on our drink contest, but surely I’d have known about her coming.

When I get closer, Cathy finishes speaking and the camera shuts off. She gives me her attention. “Morgan. This is so exciting and such a fascinating solution. Viewers are going to love it.”

I frown as I wonder why Debbie didn’t call me to say Cathy was coming this morning to do a piece on our drink contest. And then it hits me that it could be because of Oliver. Did he take over for me? Anger builds in me and I force my voice to remain calm as I say, “Thanks. Can you excuse me? I need to speak to Debbie.”

“Sure. We’ll set up inside while you do.”

I yank on the door hard as I enter my shop, and Debbie notices me first as I see she’s with Oliver and Ian. “Morgan! Oliver is amazing,” says Debbie. She approaches me with a clear insulated coffee mug in her hand. “This is life changing.” She hands the empty cup to me.

“What?” I glance over at Oliver to see he’s grinning, and then I look at the mug in my hand. “I don’t—”

He says, “Let me show you how it works,” and takes the mug from my hand.

I’m in no mood to check out a new travel container no matter how great it might be, and I wonder if he’s trying to divert me. “Someone please tell me why I wasn’t told about Cathy coming today.”

Debbie says, “We thought you’d be here by now, and Oliver wanted to tell you the news in person.”

“What news?”

“He’s going to show you.”

I scowl at her as Oliver goes over to the coffee urns. Hot liquid squirts from the decaf container into the cup as he pushes the lever. The mug immediately begins to glow. Holding it up to me Oliver says, “See how this is like a beacon shining? You wouldn’t miss it, right?”

“Yeah. But—”

He holds up a finger. “Watch what happens now.” He puts the mug under a canister of regular coffee, and as soon as some hits the decaf, the glow disappears. “With these mugs there is no way an Eroscian can accidentally or purposely get caffeine. So as long as aliens are only allowed to drink from our special cups, everyone is safe.”

I cross my arms as I fight to keep my temper from flaring. “This is your big secret?”

“Yes.” Oliver glances at Ian. “A few years ago Ian and I noticed the curious glowing side effect to one of our nutrient indicators. The genetic makeup of the Eroscian plant that could dim it is similar to coffee. With a few tweaks, we figured out how to use the technology.”

“And you kept it from me?” So that’s where he was yesterday and this morning, I suppose. And then he—took over. “I—I.” I let out a noise of frustration as I struggle to keep from screaming at him in a public place. “How could you?” I wave my arm around the room as my blood boils. “You brought it here and showed my staff how it works. You got the news to come do a story, but it didn’t occur to you that I might want a say in this?”

“I wanted to surprise you.”

I squint my eyes at him and his lame excuse. “Oh you did all right. But I should have seen this coming.” I wish I could shoot laser beams at him from my fingers. “You’ve been invading my life and my business since the day you arrived, and I was too infatuated to put a stop to it. But I’m not anymore.” I point toward the door. “Get out! Go back to the planet you came from and ruin someone else’s life.”

“Morgan,” pleads Oliver as if I’m crazy. “Calm down.”

His condescending tone makes me snap, and I grab the mug of coffee out of his hand. “Calm down?” I throw the cup as hard as I can against the wall, and it hits with a loud crack as hot liquid splatters on the surrounding surfaces. My chest heaves with my breathing as I lower my voice and spit out, “Go. Now. Before I do something we’ll both regret.”

Oliver’s expression turns hard and he leaves without a word. And when the door shuts a sharp pain slices through my heart, because I realize he took my dreams with him.