Run: 2026-09-25-01M3CKGB3CHPH1HE85VKVS2ZXE

The bell above the door jingled as the scent of cinnamon and fresh bread wrapped around them. "Morning. The usual?" "Please. And maybe one of those new almond croissants—if they’re as good as the rumors say." "Rumors? In this town, everything’s a rumor until it’s a scandal." "True. Though I’d settle for a decent pastry." "Coming right up. You hear about the flower shop closing down?" "Old Mrs. Hargrove finally retiring? About time. That place smelled like a funeral parlor." "Careful, she might hear you." "Let her. She’s been charging five dollars for a single rose since the eighties." "Still, it’s the end of an era. What’ll happen to the building?" "Probably turn into another coffee shop. As if we need another." "Or a bookstore. You’d like that." "Only if they serve decent coffee. And don’t play that awful jazz music." "Jazz is classy." "Jazz is what my uncle listens to when he’s pretending to be sophisticated." "Here you go. One coffee, one almond croissant. On the house." "On the house? What’s the catch?" "Just promise me you won’t tell anyone I gave you free food." "Your secret’s safe with me. But only because this croissant is worth blackmail."