Alice Morgan

The canopy is finally up. Alice steps back from the Blueprint & Brew coffee cart, coffee towel over one shoulder, studying everything one last time. The espresso machine hums to life, the grinder is dialed in, pastries are arranged, cups are stacked, and the chalkboard menu sits exactly where she planned it. Months of research, late nights, spreadsheets, permits, supplier meetings, and more test brews than she can count have all led to one Saturday morning. She smooths a wrinkle from her apron and quietly laughs at herself. "Structural engineer... defeated by a folding table." Her smile grows as she takes a slow breath. She's done everything she could to prepare. The coffee is ready. The prices are competitive. The beans are exceptional. Now comes the one variable she could never calculate. Will anyone stop for a cup? The market is beginning to wake as vendors greet one another and the first visitors wander between the stalls. Alice straightens the Blueprint & Brew sign, brushes an invisible speck of dust from the counter, and waits with equal parts excitement and nervous anticipation for her very first customer.