Chapter 7 Gabriel
GAbrIEL
While I had a nice conversation with Louise, I’d gotten more of the cold shoulder from other residents on my walk to Hal’s Hardware. I tried not to let it get to me, but that was easier said than done.
I would get it if people knew me and didn’t like me—that was fine—but I’d just gotten here. It likely all stemmed back to my father and how I couldn’t separate my reputation from his.
All that left me in a bad mood, leading to a not-so-ideal first interaction with Lily Richards. She was even more beautiful in person, with her long blonde hair, rosy cheeks, and bright-blue eyes.
The emotion on her face, in her words, and deep exhale signaled she didn’t want me here.
Well, Lily, join the club. Apparently, most of Golden Falls didn’t want me here.
It wasn’t much of a deterrent, if I was being honest. I’d spent most of my life on the outside looking in. This was more of the same.
Lily keeping her distance from me was better than the alternative. Because her bright smile in the photo I saw could bring men to their knees.
Just not me.
I wasn’t here for pretty blonde women with soft smiles. I was here to get my hands on that building, prove to my father what I was capable of, and get the hell out of Golden Falls.
I shook my head to get out of my thoughts and followed to where Hal was waiting for us.
Calling the room an office was…generous. It was a small room with one window, a desk, and two chairs set up across from it. Hal had a few toolboxes and supplies stacked along the wall. And…
I froze in the doorway as I saw various photos lining the walls. Like at his home, Hal had photos from over the years, including some of me. He had some photos of my father when he was younger, and, of course, photos of Vera.
I swallowed the lump in my throat, not realizing how long I’d been staring until Hal gestured to the empty chair. “Have a seat, Gabe.”
I felt Lily’s eyes on me, but I avoided her gaze as I sat.
Hal, who was sitting at his desk across from us, folded his hands on the surface.
His eyes softened as he looked between us.
“I’m so happy to have you both here and for entertaining all this.
I know it’s been…confusing, and I apologize for that.
Admittedly, it’s been confusing for me, too.
You see, I’m torn on what to do with the building and its ownership. ”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lily fiddling with her scarf, which was now on her lap, along with her coat. She anxiously plucked at a few stray threads.
“Lily, I am so proud of you and the direction you’ve taken your business.
I’m incredibly impressed, and I need you to know that.
We’ve talked about you taking ownership of the building, so I know this must be surprising to you.
It’s just that—well, I’m worried you’re working too hard and not prioritizing other parts of your life.
I’m worried that selling to you will saddle you with more work and prevent you from exploring what else is out there. ”
“Hal, you have nothing to worry about,” Lily said quickly, leaning forward in her seat. Her voice was strained, and there was panic in her eyes. “I can handle this. You know I can.”
“I know you’d be able to handle it.” Hal’s voice softened, and I saw his eyes getting watery. “But if this prevented you from exploring other dreams…I don’t know if I’d be able to forgive myself. You’ve talked about hiring help at Purrfect Blend. Have you had a chance to do that yet?”
“Well, no, not yet,” Lily stammered. “I’ve had a lot on my plate, but I’ll get to it. I will! That’ll make it even easier for me to take over managing the building.”
“We’ll get to that in a moment.” Hal cleared his throat then turned to me.
“Gabe, you’re very smart, and I know what you’re capable of.
I’ve been following your various projects at Nelson Group, and they don’t reflect what you prioritized in school: sustainability, affordable housing, or community development.
I’m worried your father is preventing you from reaching your full potential.
I fear he is molding you into someone he wants you to be and is holding you back. ”
Hal’s words shouldn’t have been surprising to hear. It was things I’d been thinking for months now, years even. But hearing it out loud? It was a sucker punch to the gut.
“I—I am my own person,” I said, my throat dry, closing in. But it was hard even for me to believe my words. “I maybe haven’t been able to turn my ideas into reality, but they’re there. I…I just need more time.”
Hal hummed. “I think it’s more than that, Gabe. For both of you, really. I am planning on selling the building, and I’d like to sell it to one of you.”
Lily’s spine straightened as she sat up.
“But I need to see that taking over this responsibility will better your life and not add unnecessary stress.”
Lily and I both parted our lips to speak, but Hal continued.
“Lily, you mentioned being busy and needing help in the café. And Gabe, you mentioned needing more time. I also think you need to slow down, think about why you got into this work in the first place. Which is why I came up with my own little plan for the two of you.”
I didn’t like the sparkle in Hal’s eye.
Hal opened his desk drawer and reached in, pulling out a piece of pink stationary.
Lily sat up, her eyes going wide. “My list,” she whispered. “How did you—”
Hal set down the paper, smoothing out the corners. “You dropped it in the shop during one of your visits. When I didn’t hear you were looking for it, I assumed you didn’t realize it was gone.”
Lily twisted her lips to the side, not saying anything and slouching in her seat.
I craned my neck to make out the glittery words in swoopy cursive. Lily’s Winter Wish List. Following the heading, there were items numbered one through ten.
1. Hire help at the café
2. Decorate the cat room
3. Sign up for baking classes
4. Build a gingerbread house
5. Go sledding
6. Romantic kiss under the mistletoe that takes my breath away
7. Make a holiday recipe for fun
8. Dinner at Pasta Fresca to treat myself
9. Visit Milwaukee
10. See a shooting star
Oh, no. Hal hadn’t started explaining yet, but I already didn’t have a good feeling about where this was going.
“When I emailed you both, I wasn’t sure how this conversation would go. Then, when I stumbled upon Lily’s list, it all came together,” Hal started. “Life has a funny way of working out.”
I let out a dry scoff. There wasn’t anything funny about this.
“Gabe, if you want a chance at owning the building, you’ll first help Lily at Purrfect Blend while she brings on a new hire. Then you’ll complete the list with her. Along the way, you’ll be getting to know people in town.”
“What?!” we both exclaimed. Suddenly, Hal’s comment from yesterday—you’ll be here a while—made sense.
Hal continued. “Lily, I want you to enjoy the holiday season. This is your favorite time of the year, and I want to see you living your life. I’d like you to complete this list. Not only that, but I want you to have fun while doing it.
Sign up for the baking classes you’ve talked about, go sledding, and the other ideas you have on here. ”
“Hal, you can’t be serious.” Lily shook her head vehemently. “We can’t—we can’t do this list together.”
I rubbed my temples, my eyes zeroing in on the list, specifically number six. My jaw clenched, and I shook my head, too. “I’ve been in town for a day and a half and people already want me gone. There’s no way I’ll be able to get to know them.”
“He’s going to drive out my business simply by being there!”
“How much are you intending to sell the building for? Whatever you’re looking for, I’ll double it.
Triple it, even.” I was desperate, looking to cling to anything to get out of this situation.
To keep this strictly business. Because if I stayed here, if I got to know people, those lines would get blurred.
“Of course, you’re trying to throw money at the problem.” Lily raised her hands, letting her palms slap against her jean-covered thighs.
I brushed off her comment, telling Hal, “I have an idea for the building already.”
Her head whipped toward me, her blue eyes ice cold. “You’ve been in Golden Falls for two seconds. You can’t possibly know what this town needs or wants. You can shove that idea up—”
“Let’s get back on track here,” Hal interrupted, which was a shame, really.
I wanted to know where she was going to tell me to shove my idea.
“This isn’t about the money.” He shook his head.
“I won’t be taking any offers or listening to ideas from either of you just yet.
If you don’t like my conditions, you can back out. I won’t be offended or upset.”
I turned my head toward Lily, raising an eyebrow. Was she going to back out?
Lily looked at me and scoffed. “I’m not backing out. Are you?”
“Nope,” I said, popping the P. Even with Hal’s conditions, and having my trip extended, this was my one viable chance to create something that would benefit a community.
To get noticed by my father for the work I wanted to be doing.
I wasn’t going to give that up, even with a few obstacles.
I couldn’t go back to Nelson Group empty-handed, only to continue doing the work my father wanted me to.
It was time to finally take matters into my own hands.
“How will we know when you’ve made a decision?” Lily asked Hal.
“Once you complete the list, I’ll make up my mind and let you both know. Likely sometime early in the new year. But I have a feeling you’ll know before me.”
“We have to do every single thing on my list?” Lily asked, exasperated, at the same time I asked, “But what about my actual job?”
That meant I’d be in Golden Falls at least through the end of December, likely into January, too.
I inhaled deeply, running my fingers through my hair.
I wasn’t sure how I was going to make this work, but I’d find a way.
I’d work remotely, but I wasn’t looking forward to breaking the news to my father that I was going to be in Golden Falls for a few weeks or more.
“I’m sure you’ll figure something out,” Hal said to me. “You’ll likely need to make another trip to Milwaukee to grab your things. I recommend doing that before starting at Lily’s café on Monday. Lily, think about how Gabe can help you and ensure you’re ready for his first day.”
It was Saturday afternoon, which gave me the rest of today and all of tomorrow to prepare for my first day with Lily.
“If we don’t kill each other before then,” Lily muttered. Her hand was wrapped tightly around the arm of the chair. “If it’s too complicated with your job, it’s not too late to back out. I’m sure you’ll have other opportunities for your idea.” She narrowed her eyes and faked a smile.
“It’s not too complicated. Like Hal said, I’ll figure something out. I’ll make this work, and I have no intention of backing out. I hope you’re ready to be working together.”
I had a feeling this list—along with the blonde next to me—was going to be the bane of my existence.