The emotion on her face, in her words, and deep exhale signaled she didn’t want me here. Well, Lily, join the club. Apparently, most of Golden Falls didn’t want me here. It wasn’t much of a deterrent, if I was being honest. I’d spent most of my life on the outside looking in. This was more of the same.
Lily keeping her distance from me was better than the alternative. Because her bright smile in the photo I saw could bring men to their knees.
Just not me.
I wasn’t here for pretty blonde women with soft smiles. I was here to get my hands on that building, prove to my father what I was capable of, and get the hell out of Golden Falls.
I shook my head to get out of my thoughts and followed to where Hal was waiting for us.
Calling the room an office was…generous. It was a small room with one window, a desk, and two chairs set up across from it. Hal had a few toolboxes and supplies stacked along the wall. And…
I froze in the doorway as I saw various photos lining the walls. Like at his home, Hal had photos from over the years, including some of me. He had some photos of my father when he was younger, and, of course, photos of Vera.
I swallowed the lump in my throat, not realizing how long I’d been staring until Hal gestured to the empty chair. “Have a seat, Gabe.”
I felt Lily’s eyes on me, but I avoided her gaze as I sat.
Hal, who was sitting at his desk across from us, folded his hands on the surface. His eyes softened as he looked between us. “I’m so happy to have you both here and for entertaining all this. I know it’s been…confusing, and I apologize for that. Admittedly, it’s been confusing for me, too. You see, I’m torn on what to do with the building and its ownership.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lily fiddling with her scarf, which was now on her lap, along with her coat. She anxiously plucked at a few stray threads.
“Lily, I am so proud of you and the direction you’ve taken your business. I’m incredibly impressed, and I need you to know that. We’ve talked about you taking ownership of the building, so I know this must be surprising to you. It’s just that—well, I’m worried you’re working too hard and not prioritizing other parts of your life. I’m worried that selling to you will saddle youwith more work and prevent you from exploring what else is out there.”
“Hal, you have nothing to worry about,” Lily said quickly, leaning forward in her seat. Her voice was strained, and there was panic in her eyes. “I can handle this. YouknowI can.”
“I know you’d be able to handle it.” Hal’s voice softened, and I saw his eyes getting watery. “But if this prevented you from exploring other dreams…I don’t know if I’d be able to forgive myself. You’ve talked about hiring help at Purrfect Blend. Have you had a chance to do that yet?”
“Well, no, not yet,” Lily stammered. “I’ve had a lot on my plate, but I’ll get to it. I will! That’ll make it even easier for me to take over managing the building.”
“We’ll get to that in a moment.” Hal cleared his throat then turned to me. “Gabe, you’re very smart, and I know what you’re capable of. I’ve been following your various projects at Nelson Group, and they don’t reflect what you prioritized in school: sustainability, affordable housing, or community development. I’m worried your father is preventing you from reaching your full potential. I fear he is molding you into someone he wants you to be and is holding you back.”
Hal’s words shouldn’t have been surprising to hear. It was things I’d been thinking for months now, years even. But hearing it out loud? It was a sucker punch to the gut.
“I—I am my own person,” I said, my throat dry, closing in. But it was hard even for me to believe my words. “I maybe haven’t been able to turn my ideas into reality, but they’re there. I…I just need more time.”
Hal hummed. “I think it’s more than that, Gabe. For both of you, really. Iamplanning on selling the building, and I’d like to sell it to one of you.”
Lily’s spine straightened as she sat up.
“But I need to see that taking over this responsibility will better your life and not add unnecessary stress.”
Lily and I both parted our lips to speak, but Hal continued.
“Lily, you mentioned being busy and needing help in the café. And Gabe, you mentioned needing more time. I also think you need to slow down, think about why you got into this work in the first place. Which is why I came up with my own little plan for the two of you.”
I didn’t like the sparkle in Hal’s eye.
Hal opened his desk drawer and reached in, pulling out a piece of pink stationary.
Lily sat up, her eyes going wide. “My list,” she whispered. “How did you?—”
Hal set down the paper, smoothing out the corners. “You dropped it in the shop during one of your visits. When I didn’t hear you were looking for it, I assumed you didn’t realize it was gone.”
Lily twisted her lips to the side, not saying anything and slouching in her seat.
I craned my neck to make out the glittery words in swoopy cursive.Lily’s Winter Wish List. Following the heading, there were items numbered one through ten.
1. Hire help at the café
