Adam shuffled blearily through the door that joined the Brewer’s Cafe to the rest of the building above it. He keyed off the alarm system and turned on a dim set of lights. As exhausted as he was, he couldn’t sleep and decided to get a head start on the morning prep for his family’s business.
He tied on an apron, then started the commercial-sized ovens to preheat them for baking some muffins. He started brewing coffee, then went to the walk-in cold storage for the batter prepared in individual cups the night before. He topped some of them with a streusel while waiting for the oven, moving down the line to ready other items.
“Three hours? Maybe a little more?” Adam calculated in his thoughts.
“Between late-night patrols and the weight of it all, that's all I can manage? Sleep just isn't enough anymore it seems…”
His thoughts had almost clouded his perception while arranging pastries to the point that he would have missed the sound of quiet footsteps entering the kitchen. His training with Lance kicked in just in time to notice before she came into view and he relaxed.
It was his mother.
Lindsey Chase was dressed casually yet radiated the energy of someone who had been running and working the business for many years.
“You're up early,” she said with a small grin.
“And here I thought I'd have the kitchen to myself for a bit.”
“Couldn't sleep, so I figured to get a head start before the morning rush happens,” Adam said with a forced smile.
His mother looked over him carefully, noticing his tired demeanor but didn't comment. She nodded gratefully, grabbed an apron, and got busy with the preparations next to her son.
They worked together in companionable silence, each taking on separate tasks. While she kneaded dough for rolls Adam worked on slicing fruit for parfaits and garnishes. The quiet was broken by his mother as she began softly humming to herself – a tune that Adam quickly recognized.
“Haven’t heard that one in a while,” he said.
“You used to love that song,” his mother noted.
“Back when you were much younger and needed a stool to reach the countertop to help with the prep work. Now just look at you.”
She turned to look at him again, pausing in her work.
“Almost halfway to practically running the place,” she said proudly.
“I guess some things just stick,” Adam said with a faint smirk.
There was a brief pause, then his mother spoke up again, this time in a more serious tone.
“You’ve been burning the candle at both ends lately, Adam. I know you’ve been juggling a lot lately, but it’s okay to talk about it.”
Adam hesitated.
“It’s... complicated... I don’t want to worry you.”
“I’m your mother. Worrying about you is part of the job description,” Lindsey replied with a chuckle.
Adam exhaled slowly, setting down the knife he was using. He leaned against the counter, clearly torn.
“It’s just... recently I feel like I’m trying to be two different people at once. One part of me is doing everything I can to help, to make a difference. But the other part... is scared I’m going to let everyone down, or worse, hurt someone I care about in the process.”
His mother wiped her hands on her apron and moved closer to her son.
“You know, we started in the cafe business with little more than a dream and a whole lot of uncertainty,” she began.
“We had plenty of days where we fell flat on our faces, but we had each other and eventually we had your brother and you and your sister in turn. We kept going and got back up every time we stumbled.”
“What happens if something happens and you can’t back up?” Adam asked, looking up at the ceiling.
“Or a mistake is made that can’t be fixed?”
His mother squared off before him, her hands on his shoulders.
“You are human, Adam. Mistakes are part of the deal, unfortunately,” she said.
“The best part of that though is that you don’t have to be some mythological hero and carry it all on your shoulders alone.”
She placed a hand on his cheek and directed his gaze to her own.
“Share the load with the people who care about you. Lean on them when you need to. Be the support yourself when you can, but don’t forget to give yourself a little grace too.”
Adam closed his eyes in thought.
“I think the thing I am struggling with the most is finding the balance, you know?” he said.
“Between what I want to do and what I need to do.”
“Balance isn’t just about making everything equal on all sides,” his mother said.
“Sometimes it’s about knowing when to push and when to rest.”
She handed him a mug.
“You can’t pour from an empty cup,” she said as she gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Whatever you’re facing, I trust that you can handle it. And if you can’t, I trust you to ask for help. You are much stronger than you give yourself credit for, but even the strongest people need support from others.”
Adam set the mug down and wrapped his mother in an embrace.
“I’ll try….” he said quietly.
“Thanks, Mom.”
“I love you, son,” she responded as she hugged him back.
“We are all here for you.”
Adam took a long, deep breath and exhaled, still tired but feeling a little lighter. He glanced at the clock on the wall and noted the time.
“When was Charlie coming down?” he asked.
“She typically fights me over who should unlock the doors.”
Lindsey’s expression shifted slightly.
“She stayed out last night with one of her friends,” she replied.
“I thought it odd as she usually doesn’t make last-minute plans like that, but she had sent me a text last night so I didn’t think anything more of it.”
Adam raised an eyebrow.
“No, she typically lets me know too and this is the first I’m hearing of it…”
He shook his head.
“I’ll try to check in with her if she doesn’t show up soon,” he said.
He moved toward the front of the cafe.
“Maybe she is knowing when to rest right now,” he added with a smirk.
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