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“Hey, are you two ever going to let this Talulah thing go?” Leo Spagnoli said, gesturing between the two of them. “Because it’s really starting to get in the way.”
Leo had moved to Coyote Canyon after Talulah left, so he’d never even met her.
“I’m happy to let it go,” Brant said. “But we might have another problem when she comes back.”
“Poor deluded bastard,” Charlie joked. “He doesn’t know she’s not coming back. Why the hell would she move all the way out here when she has a thriving business in Seattle?”
He’d kept his voice down, as if he was talking to the guys standing next to him, but Brant would easily hear. “You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about,” he told him, instantly angry.
But deep down, after Talulah’s conversations about the diner and all the daily details of running it, he was beginning to believe Charlie might be right.
Talulah sat in the diner long after the employees had left. It was late on a Saturday night. She’d turned the open sign facing the busy street to Closed over an hour ago. But she hadn’t been able to make herself leave. She’d wanted to stay in this place she’d created—amid the many tables and chairs she’d chosen, glass cases she’d helped to purchase and confections she’d baked herself. She’d selected the name, the location, the logo and the look she’d wanted for the diner, as well as putting together the menu. Paul had come in to share the risk, join his credit to hers and split the rent. He also helped with the baking each day. But the idea, the entire concept, was hers.
As she sat behind the counter, she navigated to Yelp, where she read the many wonderful reviews posted by customers who’d tried her cakes, pies and ice cream creations. She’d worked so hard. With Paul’s help, she’d made the diner into what she’d hoped it would be. A dream like that rarely became a reality, not for someone as young as she’d been—someone who’d started with nothing.
The business was finally bringing in some good cash, too. If they were careful and managed their money wisely, she and Paul probablycouldopen a second location, as he’d been nagging her to do.
They could serve twice as many people and make twice as much money. Maybe they could even become a chain one day.
But opening a second store would only create another bond to the Seattle area—and to Paul.
What was she going to do?
Her phone buzzed with a text. She glanced down to see that Brant had sent her a message.Miss you.
She missed him, too, but she didn’t know when she’d be able to go back. She’d spoken to Paul several times to assure him that all was well at the diner, but he refused to talk about the future. He said he had the right to take a month off and enjoy himself, just as she’d done, and they’d go over anything business-related once he got home. But she already knew he’d make it as difficult as possible if she wanted out of the partnership.
“It’s so ironic,” she mumbled. She’dfinallyfallen in love—and it had to be with one of the boys from her hometown.
She wished she could call her sister. She knew that both Debbie and Abby were doing great. She checked in often. But if it wasn’t so late she would’ve called again. She needed to talk to someone besides Brant. She didn’t want him to know how much. She didn’t want him to know how much she was struggling with the decisions she had to make.
She glanced at the giant clock on the wall. Although it was nearly midnight on the west coast, it was morning in most of Africa. She hadn’t turned to her mother for advice in years, especially when it came to men, but she found herself eager to hear Carolyn’s voice.
“Hey,” she said when her mother answered.
“Hi, honey. How are you?”
“Good.”
“Everything’s okay at the dessert diner?”
“Yep. Things are going well.”
“Even without Paul?”
Despite all the extra work, which now fell on her, she’d been enjoying the peace and calm—the absence of any animosity or pressure. “Even without Paul.”
“There’s something wrong,” her mother replied. “I can hear it in your voice.”
Talulah slumped over. She was sitting on a stool while leaning her elbows on the counter. “I don’t know what to do,” she admitted.
“About what?”
“About Brant.”
“Do you love him?”
“Absolutely. For once, I’m sure about that.”
