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“Thank you again, everyone. Drive safe, and we’ll see you back here tomorrow for your daily caffeine fix!” I quipped, earning a few chuckles as people began to file out of the cozy coffee shop.
As the last customer disappeared into the night, I turned to survey the café, already thinking about the cleanup that awaited us. But my gaze snagged on a cream-colored envelope pinned to the noticeboard. It hadn’t been there earlier. I walked over and plucked it from its perch, reading the front: ‘General of The Save Pebble’s Brew Committee (Zoe)’. The handwriting looked suspiciously like Caleb’s.
“Hey, what’s that?” Jamie asked, coming up behind me.
“An envelope addressed to me,” I said, curiosity getting the better of me as I ripped it open. Inside, I found a signed and dated check from Caleb, but the amount had been left blank.
My eyes widened in shock, and I could feel Jamie peering over my shoulder. “What do you think he means by this? Is it some joke?”
“Knowing Caleb,” Jamie said with a chuckle, “it’s probably his way of saying he’ll support us—no matter the cost.”
My mind raced, trying to reconcile Caleb’s actions with my earlier suspicions about him being at the fundraiser. Did he leave the check as a sign that he had been there? Did he hear my speech, or was this simply an act of goodwill? Whatever his intentions, I couldn’t deny that his gesture left me feeling hopeful and strangely touched.
“Let’s not worry about that right now,” Jamie suggested, sensing my confusion. “We’ve got a lot of cleaning up to do, and then we can figure out what all this means tomorrow.”
“Right,” I agreed, tucking the envelope into my apron pocket. As we began to tackle the remnants of the evening, I couldn’t help but feel thoroughly confused. Why would Caleb fund a legal fight against his own company?
Chapter 26
Thebellclangoverthe shop door jolted me from my daydream. I blinked, looking up from the espresso machine to see Sam barreling inside, cheeks flushed and eyes bright behind his glasses.
“Zoe! You’ll never believe what I found down by the cove this morning,” he panted, bracing his hands on the counter.
I frowned, setting down the portafilter. “Don’t tell me those developers started clearing trees already.”
“No, no.” He shook his head, catching his breath. “I was on my usual walk along the trail and spotted a nesting pair of Coastal Blue Tips in the scrub oaks! And they are almost extinct. Look at these photos – they are nesting right here in Pebble Point.”
My heart sank as I looked at the photos of the beautiful birds on the screen of the phone Sam thrust into my hands. Endangered wildlife - here? Their nest sat squarely in the path of Caleb’s proposed luxury condos.
His excited expression faded. “We have to do something.”
I glanced out the cafe window, my thoughts churning. The little coffee shop had been my whole life since my parents passed. Now, Caleb’s development threatened not just my livelihood but the heart and soul of Pebble Point itself.
I straightened, meeting Sam’s worried gaze. “You’re right. We can’t let this happen.” I grabbed my cell phone from under the counter. “I need to call Caleb, get him down here to see those birds for himself before he bulldozes the land. Maybe if he understands what’s at stake...”
Sam nodded, his eyes twinkling behind his glasses. “Good thinking. You know how to handle that corporate hotshot.”
I smiled tightly, already dialing. With the Coastal Blue Tips involved, Caleb would have to listen.
I took a deep breath as the line connected.
“Hey, Zo! How are you on this beautiful morning?”
“Confused and exhausted, but enough about me,” I said briskly. “There’s an... issue with your construction site.”
“Oh! Okay. An issue?” His voice sharpened. “What kind of issue?”
I quickly explained about Sam’s discovery, my words urgent. Caleb listened without interrupting, his silence heavy on the line.
When I finished, he let out a long breath. “I see. That does complicate things. I’ll head over now to assess the situation.”
“Thank you,” I said, surprised and relieved. I’d expected more resistance. “I think seeing the birds firsthand will help.”
We hung up, and I turned to Sam with a small, hopeful smile. “He’s on his way. Now, let’s get out there ourselves.” I untied my apron, calling my part-timer Emily to watch the cafe.
Sam and I hurried down the seaside road towards the site, the sunshine glinting off the bay’s waves. I realized this wasn’t just about my business or Caleb’s empire. It was about protecting the natural wonder of the place we both called home. Indeed, together, we could find a solution.
***
