Chapter 18 Gabriel
GAbrIEL
Friday
I’d gotten used to helping Lily and spending time at Purrfect Blend. As much as I enjoyed my office in Milwaukee with big windows, double monitors, and a large desk, I was more at ease sitting at the café.
In the office, I was usually glued to my desk, only taking a break for lunch. Here, I took a few short walks throughout the day while on the phone with current and prospective clients.
I glanced down at my phone when it started vibrating on the table. Ron Nelson appeared on my screen, and I let out a heavy sigh. This was definitely a phone call I was going to step outside for.
I closed my laptop, picked up my phone, and threw on my coat. Lily was nice enough to keep an eye on my things whenever I stepped outside, so I didn’t have to pack everything up. I felt her gaze on me as I closed the distance to the door in a few quick strides.
“Hey, Dad,” I answered once I was outside.
“Where are you?” My father’s tone was always annoyed to some degree. Today, I could tell he was already fucking irritated.
“I’m in Golden Falls. Is everything—”
“Still?”
I inhaled deeply through my nose, keeping my composure as I started to walk down the block. “Yeah, still. It’s been about two weeks. I imagine I’ll be here for a few more. I’m still taking calls and meetings and getting everything I need done. Did you need something?”
“I thought you’d be back by now. You haven’t purchased the building yet?”
“Not yet. That’s what I’m trying to do.”
“Make him an offer he can’t refuse. There has to be a dollar amount. Find out what it is.”
I didn’t want to admit to my father that I already tried throwing money at the problem. It had been my first instinct during the meeting with Hal and Lily, and I still felt ashamed about it.
“It’s not about the money. I don’t think there is a dollar amount. It’s about more than that, which is why I’m taking my time here. I mean, you’re the one who said to not come back until I had things figured out.”
“Yeah, because I thought it would take you a week—two at most. You’re not wasting your time there, are you? That place is too small for you. There’s nothing there.”
Irritation bubbled inside me, and my grip on the phone tightened.
Securing this building meant more to my father than Hal.
Accumulating money meant more to him than taking time to ensure a project was done properly with input from the community.
I wasn’t surprised, because he’d always been like this, but lately, it had been striking more and more of a nerve.
I couldn’t turn out like my father—I refused to.
I didn’t want to be that cold and unfeeling, whether that was now or in twenty years.
“I’m not wasting my time here. I’m making progress,” I said to him, my voice firm. “If Hal sells the building to me, I’ll handle it at Nelson Group. This is my opportunity to put a proposal forward. I don’t want to move forward with an idea that’s not right for the town or the building.”
Silence filled the other end of the line before Ron let out a deep exhale. “Yes, Gabriel. It’ll be your proposal. You’re getting worked up over nothing.”
I held back my laugh. Yup, I was paranoid about my father screwing me over for no reason. Even hearing him say it would be my proposal had me skeptical.
I didn’t believe him. But what choice did I have?
“Has your mother called you recently?”
“No, not recently.” I realized the last time I’d talked to her was before I left for Golden Falls.
“I reinstated her credit cards. Well, my credit cards that she uses. So, next time she calls you to complain about what a selfish bastard I am, go ahead and tell her the good news.”
I had no idea what to say in response to that. “Uh, okay? Listen, Dad, I have to—”
“I need to go to my next meeting. Close the deal in the next few weeks and be back in the office. I bet you’re eager to get the fuck out of there. Bye, Gabriel.”
Not waiting for my response, he hung up. I ran a hand through my hair, gripping at the strands.
Closing the deal over the next few weeks was still the plan, and while I was looking forward to being back in Milwaukee, I disagreed with him. I wasn’t eager to get out of here. I was starting to like this town more than I wanted to admit.
I liked certain people in town more than I wanted to admit.
I was eager to get past the holiday season, though, and to have all these damn decorations taken down. I turned around and made my way back to the café, feeling the same sense of defeat I always did after a call with my father.
Once I was back, I made my way over to the table. I initially planned on finishing my day from here, but now I wanted to be alone.
“Hey, Gabe?”
“Yeah?” I asked, my tone coming out sharper than I intended because of the weight of the conversation with my father.
I closed my eyes, pausing what I was doing and letting out a deep exhale to center myself.
I turned toward Lily and said, “I’m sorry for how that came out.
What’s up?” I then continued sliding my laptop and various papers into my backpack, trying not to think about the concern written all over her expression.
I didn’t deserve her concern—I didn’t deserve to take up any ounce of her mind.
“What’s wrong?” she asked gently.
“Everything’s fine,” I answered with a sigh, my tone gentler than earlier. “Just work stress.” With the way her blue eyes softened, I knew how easy it would be to tell her what was on my mind, but that wasn’t the dynamic we had. “What did you want to ask me?”
She chewed on her bottom lip, ultimately nodding and dropping her question.
“Oh, um, would you be willing to drop off a drink and treat for Hal? He called in an order, and normally, I’d deliver it to him, but a few customers walked in, and I want to help Tiffany.
But if you’re busy, I can take care of it in a little bit. ”
I glanced toward the line that was forming at the counter and then turned to face Lily. “It’s not a problem. I’d be happy to help. I was going to head out of here anyway, so I’ll stop by his store before heading back to the house.”
With my work materials all packed up, I slung my backpack over my shoulder and followed Lily. She had a pink bakery box prepared, as well as a to-go iced coffee.
“These are the chocolate crinkle cookies and then the drink is the s’mores latte. But please tell him that this is the last time I’m making this drink for him. When I run out of ingredients, I’m not ordering them again—and I’m serious this time,” Lily said with a laugh, a gentle smile on her face.
The tension in my shoulders lessened a fraction from her smile.
“Take care of yourself, okay?” Lily said. “Don’t feel like you need to come in this weekend. I have it handled.”
I knew she could handle this all herself, and now, she had Tiffany’s help, but a part of me liked helping her.
I saw firsthand how hard she worked. How she put every ounce of herself into her business.
For some unknown reason, I didn’t want her to have to handle it on her own.
I wanted to be there for her, even if it was only for a few weeks until we finished her wish list. It also took my mind off the whole situation with my dad and Nelson Group.
“I won’t be in on Saturday, but I’ll stop by Sunday. That work?”
“Yeah, of course. The fact that you’re helping me in the first place means a lot.” She handed me the bakery box and drink. “I should get back to taking orders. See you on Sunday.” It didn’t take long for her to eagerly start chatting with the customers in line.
With the bakery box in one hand and the drink in the other, I left the café and made my way to Hal’s Hardware.
“To what do I owe this surprise?” Hal greeted, a grin on his face as I walked in. He folded his newspaper and set it on the counter.
I lifted the bakery box and drink. “I’ve come with treats and a message that this is the last time Lily is making this drink for you. She said she’s serious this time.”
Hal chuckled, amusement twinkling in his eyes. “I suppose that’s fair. Although, she did say the exact same thing last time. You two getting along okay?”
I made my way inside and set the bakery box on the counter along with Hal’s drink. “Yeah, I think we’re getting along fine. It’s strange at times, but we’re making it work.”
“I can understand why it’s been strange,” Hal acknowledged. “I appreciate you two being patient and entertaining my conditions. I think it’ll all work out in the end. Just a little bit more time. Why don’t you take off your coat and stay awhile.” He tipped his chin to the other chair.
I hesitated.
“I know we haven’t seen much of each other. I wanted to give you time to settle in and not feel like I was in your space constantly,” Hal continued. “Well, I think you’ve settled in now, and I’d like to spend some time with my grandson while he’s in town.”
Fuck. How could I say no to that?
“Yeah.” I cleared the lump in my throat. “Yeah, I’d like that, too.” The admission left my mouth easily, but I was still surprised by it. I pulled the chair over and sat after taking off my coat and backpack.
“And look at that. Lily packed four cookies when I only asked for two.”
“Is she usually one step ahead?” I asked with a chuckle.
“More often than not,” Hal said fondly. “She’s the youngest out of the Richards kids and was always up to something growing up.”
“I take it you’re close with Lily’s family?”
Hal nodded. “Your dad and Lily’s dad Mark were best friends growing up. When Mark’s parents moved away, I figured the least I could do was help Mark and Laura when their kids were growing up.”
My brows furrowed. I hadn’t realized that. “Dad has never mentioned Mark.”
“That…doesn’t surprise me. The two of them didn’t exactly end on the best of terms, as far as I know.
After your dad left Golden Falls, he kept in touch with Mark.
The two of them were going to start Lake Ridge together but had differences on how to move forward.
Mark ended up continuing without him, which was good.
It was the right thing to do. Wes, Lily’s older brother, owns Lake Ridge now. ”
I nodded slowly, putting the pieces together.
I couldn’t wrap my head around what Lake Ridge would have turned into had my father been involved.
Surely, not the spot it was today. “Lake Ridge was one of the first places I stopped by here. I didn’t meet Wes, but I did meet Louise. She’s…” I trailed off.
“A character?” Hal finished for me with a grin. “She’s a good person to know. She’s fond of you already.” He grabbed one of the cookies and then passed the box over to me.
I took a cookie and leaned back in the chair. “Dad said he tried to buy the building from you?”
Hal huffed a laugh. “Something like that. I think tried to buy is putting it mildly. He tried to make me an offer I couldn’t refuse, but it’s not about the money for me.”
My mind went back to the meeting with Hal, again thinking about how I did the same thing.
“Do you think I’m like him or turning into him? Is that why you invited me to town?” I asked bluntly, not wanting to skirt around it anymore. He wouldn’t be the first person to think so.
Hal reached over, grabbing a napkin and setting the other half of his cookie on it.
He leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees.
“Listen here, Gabe. You are your own person, and you have the potential to be whoever you want to be. Yeah, maybe you do have parts of your father in you. But you also have pieces of me, of your grandmother, of everyone in your life who has made an impact on you. The relationship I have with your father is…a complicated one. I didn’t ask you to come to Golden Falls because I thought you’re turning into him.
You’re not him and you never will be. A part of me did wonder, though, if you were forgetting who you are. ”
You’re not him. Those three words were simple, and yet they were exactly the reminder I needed. I was my own person with my own career and my own goals. It sounded so obvious, but somewhere along the way, I’d forgotten.
“My career isn’t anywhere close to where I wanted it to be at this point. I feel like I’ve wasted time working for him, but I don’t exactly have a choice.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Gabe. You always have a choice. Sometimes you might have to get creative, but you always have a choice.”