“Not yet. We’re not rushing it.”
We’re spending time together, as much as we can, building a new framework for our relationship. Trusting each other with our vulnerabilities and insecurities. Feeling safe with each other.
“And… I’m working on, um, myself. I’ve decided I’m going to go back to college. I got accepted to Montclair State.”
His thick, gray eyebrows pull down. “Oh. That’s great, honey.”
“I’m excited.” I catch my bottom lip between my teeth briefly. “It means I won’t be able to work here as much. Or maybe… at all.”
He gazes at me. “Well.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Well.” He rubs his jaw and looks around.
“We’ll find someone who can take over for me. I’ve been thinking about it. I know I’ve been handling a lot of business things, but I think Ashley would be willing to take on more?—”
“I’m the manager here. I own this place.”
“Yes, I know.”Um…“You haven’t… You’ve been…”Ack.How do I phrase this? “It seems like you want to scale back how much you’re here.”
“I love this place.”
“I know you do! But Grandpa, you’re seventy-five.”
“You’re saying I’m old.”
“I didn’t say that. I said you’re seventy-five. Is that wrong?”
“No.”
“I thought you were easing into retirement… maybe.”
“I can’t retire. Who will run this place? Your father’s not interested.”
“No,” I agree. Dad’s a dentist; he’s not going to give that up to run a restaurant. I can’t see my mom stepping in either; she loves her job at the flower shop. The rest of the family are all pretty well established in their own careers.
“I can’t hire some stranger off the street,” he gripes.
“Why not?”
He throws up his hands. “That’s crazy talk!”
My stomach is starting to hurt.
“This is a family business!”
“Well…” Grandma used to work here sometimes, but she’s seventy-five, too. She hasn’t worked at the restaurant for probably a decade. The other family members who’ve worked here over the years only did it as a part-time job. Which was how I started, and somehow ended up practically running the place.
I feel bad. Grandpa clearly wants the business to stay in the family.
Am I being a selfish little bitch?
My stomach hurts more.
“We can talk more about it,” I say gently. “I won’t start college until September, so there’s lots of time to figure it out.”
“Hmmm. Yes. And lots of time for you to change your mind!”
