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Clara
“Charlie, I just don’t know what I’m going to do about John. We’ve been divorced for six months, and he still thinks that he owns me. You know last weekend was his weekend with our son, Zeke, which was why you and I decided to go out to the club. A friend of his saw us there and told him. I got a phone call an hour ago from him. He was going off on me about how I had no business going out. Then he called me the usual gambit of names,” Clara said.
She ran her fingers through her hair and gritted her teeth, her frustration clearly showing on her face.
Charlene, who went by Charlie, was Clara’s best friend. They had known each other since they were children and had been inseparable since. It was Charlie who had helped Clara get through her seven-year marriage with the emotionally abusive John. Charlie was the one person who John couldn’t alienate her from. He tried, but Charlie just wouldn’t disappear. It was only with Charlie’s support that Clara got the courage to file for divorce.
“I’m sorry that you have to deal with that,” Charlie said, as she sat back in the chair. “I could punch him in the nose for you.”
Clara laughed, inhaling some of her soda. “Somehow, I don’t think that it would solve anything.”
“It might not, but it would make both of us feel a lot better,” Charlie said.
“Yes, it would,” Clara said.
They were both quiet for a minute and then Clara said, “You know I got that inheritance from Grandma last month. It was quite a bit of money.”
“What are you thinking?” Charlie asked.
“I’m thinking that maybe I should use that money to get away from here. It would be far enough away that I’m out of John’s immediate reach but not too far that I would violate our custody agreement,” Clara said.
“Do you think that would work?” Charlie asked.
“I don’t know whether it would or not, but I really don’t know what else to do,” Clara said.
“Well, whatever you decide, you know that I’m behind you a hundred percent.”
“I know and I love you for it.”
Clara called a realtor the next day and discussed her situation.
“What exactly are you looking for?” the realtor asked.
“I’m not sure. Some kind of investment that would get me within a hundred miles or so of Colorado Springs,” Clara said.
“I think that I might know just the deal for you. There is a café that is for sale in the resort town of Ivy Springs. It is about a hundred and twenty miles away. The owners are looking to sell the property so that they can retire,” the realtor said.
“A café? Hmm, that sounds interesting. When can I see it?”
“How about tomorrow afternoon? The owners are open to potential buyers coming to see the place at any time.”
“That sounds terrific,” Clara said.
After she hung up the phone, she called Charlie.
“Are you busy tomorrow afternoon? I have an appointment to see a café that is for sale in Ivy Springs. I would love for you to go with me and give your opinion on the place.”
“I’m in.”
Clara fell in love with the town as soon as they drove into it. All of the buildings on main street had the old fashion facades, so that the town resembled an old western town. The main street was cobblestoned. She half expected to see someone ride down the road on horseback or see a horse drawn carriage. The cars parked on the side of the street just didn’t seem to belong.
Clara, Charlie, and Zeke walked into the café. Clara was amazed as she looked around. It had all the modern comforts that were in strict contrast to the outside of the building. There was even a small section with computers and a couple of counters where customers could bring their own computers in and connect to the internet or charge their devices.
An older couple introduced themselves.
“My name is Frank, and this is Greta,” the older man said.
