“Mr. Cullen, what can I get you today?” Renata asks me with a sweet smile.

The bell on the door jingles as another customer enters the shop and waits behind me.

“The Missus and I are out of coffee and she says we need doughnuts, too.”

“The usual?”

“Yes. Two large coffees and four doughnuts.” I hand over a twenty-dollar bill to pay for my order, then jam my change and an extra twenty into the tip jar when Renata isn’t looking.

“I’ll have your order shortly. Please take a seat and I will let you know when it’s ready. We don’t want to keep the Missus waiting.”

I slide my wallet into my pocket then turn around glancing at the customer behind me.

For a moment, I think I’m seeing things and do a double-take, but when she opens her mouth, I know I haven’t stepped into some Twilight Zone.

“Hello, Emmett.”

Or maybe I have.