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"All right," she said with a nod. "I totally get it and I'll let them know. But if you're seriously considering it, don't take too long, Elara. These big companies move quickly.”
“Got it,” I said quietly.
Jenna photographed the store, getting plenty of pictures of the lovely, tiled floor. “This place is a dream,” she cooed.
After she had left, I locked the door behind her, then I sank down to the newly polished wooden floor. My heart thumped as I opened my palms and pressed them down onto the smooth wood beneath me, listening to the sound of my own breath, punctuated by the mournful cry of gulls on the breeze outside.
"All right, Dad," I whispered to the empty store. "What should I do?"
As my heartbeat slowed, I tuned into the feeling of being in Dad's space. I could almost see him behind the bar in a pale check shirt, smell beer in the air, and hear the echo of laughter.
"Follow your dreams," I whispered, repeating his frequent advice.
That would be easy if I knew what they were.
***
Desperation drove me to Cole's door. I hadn't planned on seeing him tonight, maybe not even tomorrow, but I had to talk to him. I didn't know what I hoped he'd say, but he'd always been honest with me, and that's what I needed right now.
I knocked on his door, bracing myself for whatever reaction he might have.
"Hey," he greeted me. The way he said it, it was almost like a question. Still in his work clothes, his T-shirt was covered in pink dust. “Sorry about my look. Been stripping plaster. It's a nightmare."
"Can we talk?"
Instantly serious, he stepped aside to let me in. "Of course."
Barely past the threshold, I blurted out, "I got an offer for the store."
"Wow! Already?" Cole reached out for my arm. "That's amazing news!"
"It's not even on the market yet."
"You want a drink? Coffee? Wine? Champagne? I don’t have champagne. Shit. Tell me everything."
I shook my head. "No drink, thanks. The offer is from a company that's been interested in buying in Bluehaven Beach for a while."
"Interesting. Who is it?"
I braced myself. "7-Eleven."
His face fell and he leaned against the kitchen counter, arms folded. "Fuck. I'm sorry, El. That sucks."
My eyebrows knotted in confusion. "Why?"
"Well, you told them no, right? Damn. I bet it was a big offer, too."
Anxiety surged through me like acid. "I told them I'd think about it," I admitted, my heart sinking as I saw the disappointment in his eyes.
"But you're not actually thinking about it, right?"
"I-I don't know," I replied, feeling small and foolish under his gaze. "I don't know what to do, Cole. I want to follow my dreams, but I don't want to hurt the town."
"Shit, Elara, do you have any idea what a 7-Eleven would do to this town?" He shook his head. "This isn't a Renys or a Bull Moose we're talking about. This is a huge, international corporation. They'd put people out of business. It would set a precedent. Before long, the main street would be unrecognizable."
"They're offering more than the asking price," I said hesitantly, searching for understanding. "A lot more."
"So, that makes it worth it to you?"
