An article in theMilwaukee Timespopped up on my phone this morning about the first round of proposals that were submitted to the city for redeveloping a vacant warehouse. There was still time to submit additional proposals, especially because the council member quoted made it sound like the common council wasn’t all that intrigued by the ideas. It was more of the same, including a mixed-use development with luxury apartments from Nelson Group.
She took the cup from me, giving me aduhlook. “Obviously,I want you to own the building. You’d be amazing at it, and you know this town better than anyone. Just saying your competition isn’t too bad to look at.” Layla brought the cup toher lips. She hummed in delight. I also prided myself on making drinks that were the right temperature to take a sip of right away. “Delicious as always. Thanks, Lily. I’ll see ya next week, if not sooner.”
On her way out, Layla greeted Marnie and introduced herself to Gabe. He gave her a polite smile before nodding for Marnie to follow him over to the counter.
“Why don’t I put these back in the kitchen for you?” Gabe offered. “It’ll be better than setting the bags on the floor.”
“Why thank you, Gabe. I’d really appreciate that. Once you’re done, make sure to come right back. I’d like to get to know you better.” Marnie pulled out a stool and made herself comfortable.
“You got it. I’ll be right back.”
Once Gabe was gone and out of earshot, I crossed my arms over my chest and gave Marnie a pointed look. “Marnie, you know I love you, but what do you think you’re doing?”
“What do you mean?” she asked innocently, taking off her coat and setting it over her lap. While her tweed coat was a dark gray, the clothes Marnie wore underneath were loud and bright. She had on a flowery blouse with embroidered jeans and a pair of suede winter boots. Her nails were painted blue with tiny snowflakes to match her earrings of the day—also snowflakes.
“You’re fraternizing with the enemy!” I whispered with wide eyes. “That whole grocery bags thing was a test.”
“It sure was,” she confirmed matter-of-factly, her attention quickly going to the pink bakery box with her name on it that I’d set aside. “And he passed.”
I picked up the box and handed it to her, along with a small plate. “What do you mean?”
“As soon as he saw me, he got up. No hesitation.”
I twisted my lips to the side as I realized Marnie was right. I turned around to fill a mug with hot water and grabbed three different types of tea for her to choose from. “Okay, yeah,” I said,confused, “but that doesn’t mean anything. Anyone would have helped you.”
Marnie reached over for the mug and tea, thanking me. Her ring-clad fingers picked up the peppermint tea bag and tore the wrapping. “Because they know me. He doesn’t, and he helped without expecting anything in return. That doesn’t come out of nowhere. Your enemy might not be as bad as you think.”
My stomach flipped, that same inkling of guilt I felt when I was talking to my mom gnawing at me. Was I being unfair to Gabe? I was trying to be confident and stand my ground—this was my café—especially after our brief interaction yesterday. He didn’t want to be friendly. That much was obvious.
When it came to Gabe, I was in an impossible position. My first instinct was to be nice. To avoid conflict. To be agreeable.
But I didn’t want to do any of that, and it was clear he didn’t want that from me either.
I had worked my ass off to prove to Hal that I could handle owning the building. So, the fact that Gabe was here for the first time in his life as a contender for the building frustrated me. But it also felt wrong not to hear him out and to automatically have all these assumptions about him.
My grumpy older brother had acted similarly when Jules first came to town over the summer, and I’d scolded him for it.
Marnie dipped the tea bag into the hot water, a patient smile on her face as she waited for me to come out of my thoughts. “I know it’s an unfair situation you’re in, but maybe some good will come out of it.”
I looked toward the kitchen as Gabe came back into the main room and started striking up a conversation with Marnie.
I wanted to believe Marnie. I trusted her.
But I didn’t trust Gabe, and I didn’t think I ever would.
Sunday
After the third heavy exhale from the other room, I peeked my head around the corner to see if the person was okay. When I saw Gabe pinching the bridge of his nose, my pulse picked up and my chest tightened. My first thought was that something was wrong, either with him or Hal.
“What’s wrong?” The question came out quickly, and his shoulders jumped from surprise.
He looked at me, puzzled. “Should something be wrong?”
I exhaled in half-relief. If somethingwaswrong, then that wouldn’t have been his response. But the response he gave me didn’t give me insight into what was going through his mind.
Reluctantly, I approached the table he was at, pulling out a chair and sitting. “I don’t know,” I said with a gentle laugh. “You tell me. You’re the one sitting here sighing every couple seconds.”
We didn’t do this—we didn’t talk or ask how the other was doing. We said ourgood mornings, oursee you tomorrows, and the usual comments about the weather.Oh, it wouldn’t be so bad out there if it wasn’t for the wind.
