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"Call me later!" Alice yelled to her before driving off. It was something she did often, the busy woman. They would catch up at a different time. Maybe when things in April's life would calm down. Who was she kidding? It would always be this crazy.
The streets flooded with sweet music, a symphony of different songs, all folk, from the speakers of each restaurant.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, letting the melody wash over her. The sound of the guitar strings was soothing, and she felt her tension slipping away. Her mind was clearer now, and she felt more focused than she had all day.
Then she saw the sign for Giant's, Nigel's burger joint. It wasn't his lunch rush yet. The tables inside looked half full. April might have gotten there just in time to talk to him about the other night.
April hesitated for a moment, her hand on the door, debating whether or not she wanted to see Nigel. But curiosity got the best of her, and she found herself walking into Giant's.
She pushed the door open and was met with the smell of sizzling beef and the sound of Nigel's voice shouting orders to the kitchen staff.
The stools held several patrons, each one drinking something different. Was it too early for her to get a cocktail herself? She wanted something, anything, to ease her nerves. But in the end, April knew it wouldn't help any of the situations she'd found herself in.
Nigel's head went past the kitchen window not once, but three times. She questioned, calling over the bartender and asking for him.
She wanted to know about Lily. Had they met up since the night April walked out on dinner? Did he want her back? Was what they had just a rebound?
No. Everything was speculation. Neither of them handled that night well, but they would have to figure it out some other time. Because they were clearly preparing for something, the lunch rush probably.
April should have been preparing for something herself. And at this point, she was just putting it off. It was time to meet her father.
She left the burger joint feeling a bit defeated. She stuck her cold hands into her pockets, letting the discouragement take her. Nigel was nowhere to be found, and she had to accept that maybe he wasn't ready to talk to her yet. As she walked down the street, she tried to shake off the feeling of disappointment and focus on the task at hand.
April arrived at Millie's with ease. The popular lunch spot was a bustling cafe with bright, colorful decorations and the smell of freshly brewed coffee. As she stepped in, April took a deep breath and felt her heart flutter. She had been anticipating this moment all morning, and now it was finally here.
It was time to face her father.
Her eyes quickly scanned the room, and then she saw him - sitting in a booth with a cup of coffee warming his hands.
"Hey, kiddo," he said as she slid into the booth opposite of him. "How did the opening go?"
She shrugged. "Not my best, but I'm sure I'll get better at it."
The waitress took her order, remembering exactly how she liked her eggs and toast. Her father ordered the same.
"Dad, what are you doing here?"
He blinked up at her. "What do you mean? I told you, I heard about your renovations on the house. You're making it into a bed and breakfast. I wanted to see how my daughter was doing and what the place looked like now."
Normally, April would have taken that at face value. But she knew her father better than that. After all these years, she'd grown to understand that nothing ever came that easily.
"Where were you before this?"
Now she saw his eyes light up. "I was in Argentina for a while. I met the most amazing man there, who showed me how to make the most delicious empanadas. And then I went over to Chile and... and well this beautiful woman..."
As her father continued to talk, April's memory of his adventures all blended together. She barely listened to them anymore. It was good to hear what he was up to, but it was exhausting to hear about all the fun he had while he was without her.
When she was a child, she was amazed by the stories he brought back from his travels. But now it was just a reminder that he chose that life over her.
"That's great, dad," she said, sipping her coffee.
They chatted about his most recent adventures. She managed to get a few sentences in about the renovations before the food got to the table.
Her father dug into his meal with gusto, muttering his approval every few bites. April picked at her food, her mind still elsewhere. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was something her father wasn't telling her. He was here for a reason, and it wasn't just to check out the new bed and breakfast.
Richard never cared about the property before. He'd left it to rot, leaving it to April to fix up on her own. Why would he care about it now?
"So, is there something you wanted to talk to me about?" she finally asked, unable to bear the silence any longer.
