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“No, not now.” He shook his head. “I’m not sure I’m ready.”
She understood him completely. The café had been part of his life for much longer than it had been for hers. It must have been hard for him seeing the results of the sale he’d made. Of knowing that this little piece of earth and sand now belonged to somebody else.
“I’m gonna go and say hi to Lorne,” he said. “Come find me when you’re done.”
Her dad made his way down the boardwalk, his gait slow as he took everything in. Then he turned and weaved in between the surfboards that led to Lorne’s shop, giving her a wave when he realized she was still looking at him.
When he was gone, she turned back to the line. “I’m not buying anything,” she told the girl nearest the door. “I just need to talk to someone. Can you let me past?”
“Sure.” The girl stood back and held the door open, letting Ally make her way through on her crutches.
She wasn’t sure he was going to be here. He might still be at home with Riley. But when she looked at the counter she could see him behind it, helping the baristas as they struggled to keep up with the long line of customers. He was at the espresso machine, filling two glass cups with dark liquid, his eyes narrowing as he took in the layers to make sure the coffees were good.
“Two lattes for Marc,” he called out when he’d made them, passing the paper cups to the tall man waiting at the end of the counter. “What’s next?” he asked Brad who was at the second register.
“A cappuccino and a iced tea for Sarah,” Brad called back.
Ally shifted on her crutches, trying to get the guts to say what she needed to.
Maybe she’d give herself another minute as she watched him work.
But then he went to grab another glass cup from the stack on the machine, and his eyes lifted and looked around the room. Within a moment they’d locked in on Ally, and she felt her whole body heat up.
His hand was still hovering in front of the cups. Ally swallowed and attempted a smile. “Hi.”
Nate blinked. “Hi. Are you okay?” He licked his lips. “I tried to call you… a few times. I sent some messages, too.”
“I’m fine.” Her voice was as strong as she could make it. “I can see you’re busy but I just wanted to talk to you for a moment.” She looked around at all the people crowding into the room. “This won’t take long.”
Nate glanced at the rest of the baristas, but none of them were paying any attention. They were way too busy for that. “Yeah, we can talk.” There was a warmth to his voice that made her heart skip.
“Is it ready yet?” a woman asked from the end of the counter. “I ordered a latte and an iced tea.”
Sarah, Ally guessed.
“It’ll be with you in a moment.” Then he looked at Ally. “Don’t go anywhere, I just need to make these drinks.”
“I can wait.”
It was a couple of minutes before he lifted the countertop and came out to see her. He looked as awkward as she felt. Ally to
ok a deep breath, feeling the air expand her lungs, and tried to straighten her spine. She needed to get through this. She’d been through worse, after all.
“I need to give you this,” she said, holding out the white envelope.
Nate’s brows pulled together as he looked at it. “What is it?” he asked.
She took a deep breath. “It’s my letter of resignation.”
“What?”
A torrent of emotion washed over her. Exultation at finally taking control, sadness that this was how things ended up. But more than anything she felt strong and brave – and that thought bolstered her when she needed it the most.
She had to push the envelope toward him again before he got the message and took it from her. Still frowning, he slid his thumb beneath the seal and tore it open, pulling out the letter and skimming her words.
“You’re serious?” he asked her.
She nodded.
