Back at the café, Ellie looked up from wiping down tables as I entered.
"How’d it go?" she asked, her eyes full of hope.
I forced a smile and set the basket down on the counter. "Not great," I admitted. "He wouldn’t take the cookies or come to the tree lighting."
"Sounds like Kane's long-lost brother." Ellie frowned but quickly masked her disappointment with a reassuring smile. "Don’t worry about it, Beth. Some people just need more time."
I nodded, though doubt gnawed at me. Maybe Daryl needed more time than I could give him.
"Let's focus on getting ready for tonight," Ellie suggested brightly.
I agreed and joined her in preparing for what would undoubtedly be a bustling evening at the café.
Ellie’s reassurances didn’t explain why my chest felt tight and my smile felt forced. I kept busy, preparing for the evening rush, but my thoughts kept drifting back to Daryl. I couldn’t shake the image of his cold eyes and the way he’d dismissed my efforts so easily.
The door chimed as customers began trickling in, and soon the café was buzzing with chatter and laughter. I forced myself to engage with each person who came through the door, putting on my best smile even though it felt strained.
“Hey, Beth!” one of our regulars called out. “Can’t wait for tonight’s tree lighting! You coming?”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world!” I replied with more enthusiasm than I felt.
The evening wore on, and despite the festive atmosphere around me, I couldn’t shake the heaviness in my chest. Ellie noticed, of course—she always did—but she didn’t push. She just gave me small smiles and gentle nudges when she thought I needed them.
As the last few customers trickled out and we started cleaning up for the night, Ellie finally spoke up again.
“You know,” she said thoughtfully, “sometimes people need someone to believe in them before they can believe in themselves.”
I looked at her, puzzled. “What do you mean?”
“I mean Daryl,” she clarified. “Maybe he just needs someone like you to keep trying. To show him that not everyone’s going to give up on him.”
Her words struck a chord deep within me. Maybe she was right—maybe all Daryl needed was someone willing to break through his walls.
“Thanks, Ellie,” I said softly.
She smiled warmly at me. “Anytime.”
As we finished tidying up and turned off the lights in the café, I couldn’t help but feel a renewed sense of determination. Maybe cracking Daryl’s shell wouldn’t be easy, but if anyone could do it, maybe it was me.
Chapter4
Daryl
Iignored the guilt pooling in my stomach and focused my attention on fixing Beth's car. The shop was silent except for the occasional clank of metal and the hum of the overhead lights. I pulled the hood open and examined the engine, my fingers tracing over the parts that needed attention. The smell of oil and grease was familiar.
I reached for a wrench and began loosening a bolt that had rusted over time. My hands worked on autopilot, every movement precise and practiced. I wiped sweat from my forehead with the back of my hand, smudging grease across my brow.
Beth’s car had a problem with the alternator. It wasn’t generating enough power, causing her battery to drain. I removed the old alternator, placing it on my workbench with a satisfying thud. Grabbing a new one from the shelf, I checked it for any defects before installing it.
The engine groaned as I fit the new alternator in place. Tightening bolts, adjusting belts, ensuring everything aligned just right—it kept my mind occupied. I could almost forget her bright eyes and hopeful smile when she’d handed me that basket of cookies.
Almost.
With the alternator secured, I moved on to check the battery connections. Corrosion had built up around the terminals. I scrubbed them clean with a wire brush until they gleamed like new. The tangy scent of metal filled my nose.
The engine needed fresh oil too. I drained the old, blackened fluid into a pan, watching it flow like ink. Replacing it with clean oil felt like breathing life back into something tired and worn out.
Finally, I ran diagnostics on the onboard computer, making sure there were no hidden issues lurking beneath the surface. Everything checked out fine.
