Widow Hires New Employee and Learns the Secret Her Late Husband Hid for 20 Years — Story of the Day

Following her husband’s untimely death, Margaret resolved to fulfill their shared dream of opening a coffee shop, a dream they had always cherished but never realized together.

Margaret invested all her savings to open this coffee shop, and today was finally the opening day. The sun was shining, and the smell of freshly baked pastries filled the air. She felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness as she unlocked the doors for the first time.

A neighbor had advised her to hire someone to help her, but Margaret was adamantly against it. She was sure she could handle everything.

“I’ve managed bigger challenges in life,” she thought, recalling her husband’s illness and how she had cared for him. She wanted to prove to herself and to his memory that she could do this.

However, more people came to the opening than Margaret expected. The bell above the door jingled constantly as customers streamed in, eager to try the new coffee shop in town.

Margaret quickly found herself overwhelmed. She rushed from the counter to the tables, trying to keep up with orders. In her hurry, she forgot to take orders and always mixed them up. A cappuccino ended up as a latte, and a blueberry muffin went to someone who had ordered a chocolate croissant.

Customers left the cafe unhappy, their comments echoing in her mind, “She can’t do it alone,” and “This place won’t last a week.”

The next day, with a heavy heart but determined spirit, Margaret decided to find an assistant. She posted a job ad and spent the morning conducting several interviews.

One candidate talked too much, another seemed uninterested, and a third didn’t even show up. Margaret turned away each candidate, feeling more discouraged by the minute.

In the evening, just before closing time, a young man came in. He had a friendly face and a calm demeanor. “Hi, I’m Andrew,” he introduced himself, smiling warmly. “I saw your ad and wondered if you’re still looking for help.”

Margaret sighed, feeling tired and unsure. “I am, but I’ve had a long day. I’m not sure…”

Just then, a customer walked in, looking unsure about what to order. Andrew stepped up and began chatting with him, suggesting drinks and pastries.

The customer smiled and nodded, finally choosing a caramel latte and a slice of carrot cake. Margaret watched, impressed by how easily Andrew handled the interaction.

“Well,” Margaret said slowly, “I suppose I could give you a chance. Come in tomorrow, and we’ll see how it goes.”

Andrew’s eyes lit up. “Thank you. You won’t regret it.”

Margaret was very picky about Andrew and his work. Even after Andrew had been working with her for several weeks and hadn’t made a single mistake, Margaret still didn’t trust him.

She often thought she would be better off doing everything herself. She watched his every move, correcting him even on small things.

But there was something about Andrew that she couldn’t ignore, and that’s probably why she let him keep working.

He reminded her of her late husband, John, in so many ways. Andrew had the same calm demeanor and the same thoughtful habits, and sometimes, she even thought they spoke the same way.

One day, while cleaning the coffee shop, Margaret climbed a ladder to reach a high shelf. Suddenly, she lost her balance and fell. Pain shot through her leg, and she couldn’t stand up. Andrew rushed over and found her on the floor, wincing in pain.

“Margaret, are you okay?” Andrew asked, his voice full of concern.

“I think I’ve hurt my leg,” Margaret replied, trying to stay calm despite the pain.

Andrew carefully helped her up and took her to the hospital. The doctor confirmed that her leg was broken.

Andrew stayed by her side, offering support and helping her with everything she needed. He brought her home that day and helped her inside, ensuring she was comfortable.

As they sat in the cozy living room, Andrew said, “I can watch the coffee shop while you recover.”

“That’s not necessary,” Margaret replied. “I’ll be at work tomorrow.”

“But your leg is broken,” Andrew insisted.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine,” Margaret said firmly.

“Let me at least give you a ride,” Andrew offered.

“No,” Margaret said, shaking her head.

“Margaret, you need to rest,” Andrew said gently.

“I can manage,” Margaret replied. “I don’t need help.”

Andrew sighed heavily. “Okay, if you say so.” He gave her a long look before leaving her house.

The next day, Margaret had a very difficult time getting to the coffee shop. As she was coming down the stairs from her bedroom, she missed a step and fell.

Pain shot through her leg, and she struggled to get back up. She realized she couldn’t drive in this condition and had to call a taxi.

When the taxi arrived, the driver was new and unfamiliar with the area. He took a wrong turn, and Margaret found herself far from the coffee shop.

Frustrated, she had to walk several blocks on crutches. Each step was a struggle, and she worried she wouldn’t make it before the coffee shop opened.

Finally, out of breath and in pain, she reached the coffee shop. To her surprise, the shop was already open. The familiar bell above the door jingled as she entered, and she saw people sitting inside, enjoying their drinks and pastries. Margaret looked around in disbelief.

Andrew was behind the counter, calmly serving customers. He moved with ease, smiling and chatting as if he had been doing this for years. Margaret hobbled over to him, her face a mix of relief and gratitude.

“Did you do all this by yourself?” Margaret asked.

“Yes, I did,” Andrew replied with a smile. “It wasn’t hard.”

Margaret looked around, taking in the sight of the busy coffee shop. She nodded slowly, feeling a mix of emotions. After a few moments, she spoke again.

“Andrew,” she said, “don’t plan anything after work. You’ll drive me home.”

“Okay, boss,” Andrew said, giving her a reassuring nod. “I’ll be here.”

Margaret watched as Andrew went to clear the tables. She felt a sense of relief knowing she had someone she could count on.

In the evening, Andrew gave Margaret a ride home. He noticed how tired she looked and offered to help her clean the house.

Margaret hesitated but eventually agreed, feeling grateful for his kindness. Andrew swept the floors and washed the dishes while Margaret rested her leg.

“Thank you, Andrew,” Margaret said, watching him work. “You’re very helpful.”

After the cleaning was done, Andrew decided to cook lasagna for dinner. The kitchen was filled with the rich aroma of tomatoes, cheese, and herbs. When Andrew served the lasagna, Margaret took a bite and paused, surprised.

“This tastes exactly like my husband’s lasagna,” she said, her eyes filling with tears.

Andrew smiled gently. “My father taught me how to cook lasagna. He got the recipe from an old magazine.”

Margaret nodded, feeling a pang of nostalgia. “It’s so similar. It’s like he’s here with me.”

Andrew sat down across from her, his expression thoughtful. “It’s just a coincidence, I guess.”

As they ate, Margaret couldn’t help but feel a connection between her past and the present.

During the next few weeks, Andrew helped Margaret a lot, and they began to grow closer. Margaret saw Andrew as a loyal employee and a good guy. He was always there, ready to lend a hand.

Andrew taught Margaret how to handle different equipment, showing her the best ways to use the coffee machines and other tools.

One day, Margaret noticed that Andrew seemed to like one of their regular guests. He smiled more and seemed nervous when she was around.

As soon as Andrew finished taking her order, Margaret approached him with a knowing smile.

“You like her, don’t you?” Margaret asked, raising an eyebrow.

Andrew blushed, looking down at his feet. “What? No… How did you know?”

Margaret chuckled softly. “It’s pretty obvious. You should ask her out.”

“She won’t accept,” Andrew said, shaking his head.

“Go on,” Margaret said, giving him a gentle push towards the girl.

Margaret watched as Andrew nervously approached the girl. They talked for a few moments, and then Andrew came back behind the bar, looking upset.

“What happened? She didn’t say yes?” Margaret asked.