Our dad and Ron were best friends growing up, but the two hadn’t spoken since Ron left Golden Falls, as far as we knew.
My dad picked up his cloth napkin, wiping his mouth and meeting my mom’s eyes across the table. “Well,” he said slowly, “Ron always wanted to get out of Golden Falls and head to the city. Any city, really. Nothing wrong with that. We kept in touch here and there while we went to different colleges, and when I got back to Golden Falls and started to think about what I wanted to do, he was the first person I called when the idea of Lake Ridge came to mind. We were going to be business partners, but I pulled back my offer when I started to realize he didn’t have the town’s best interests in mind. I could tell even from the beginning that it was going to be tricky to work with him, and I never had dreams to sell Lake Ridge to make it big. My focus was always to do this for the town—and for myself. Not for the money. Fortunately, it worked out because”—he looked over at Mom, creases forming at the corners of his mouth from his smile—“not long after that did I convince your mom to take a job with me. Turns out, she was the perfect partner—in more ways than one.”
The conversation quickly shifted after that when my mom started to ask Cooper, who was a park ranger, what the winter season looked like for him this year.
My brows knitted together as I thought about what my dad had said. I tapped my fingers against my thigh under the table.
Ron had intentions on setting up business in Golden Falls. Had Gabriel come to town to finish the job?
From: Lily Richards
To: Gabriel Nelson
Date: Sunday, December 5, 8:22 p.m.
Subject: Tomorrow’s plan
Hi Gabriel,
I wanted to get this to you sooner, but the day got away from me. For tomorrow, could you meet me at the café at seven in the morning? I can show you around and what I might need help with—that is, if you still intended on showing up? I would totally understand if you decided not to return to Golden Falls and stayed in Milwaukee.
That would be such a shame. But I bet I would find a way to survive.
- Lily
From: Gabriel Nelson
To: Lily Richards
Date: Sunday, December 5, 8:47 p.m.
Subject: Re: Tomorrow’s plan
Lily,
I appreciate your concern, but luckily for you, I’m already back in town. It’s nice knowing you missed me, though.
I intend on helping you and have no plans on backing out. I’ll be sure to mention if anything changes during one of the many times we’ll be seeing each other over the next few weeks.
- Gabe
From: Lily Richards
To: Gabriel Nelson
Date: Sunday, December 5, 9:03 p.m.
Subject: Re: Tomorrow’s plan
It wasn’t concern, and I didn’t miss you.
And please don’t remind me how many times we’ll be seeing each other. I’d rather not think about you any more than I already am.
From: Gabriel Nelson
To: Lily Richards
Date: Sunday, December 5, 9:21 p.m.
