Chapter 28
DELANEY
I was meeting Jules and Pia at The Coffee Cabin for a little Sunday Funday brunch when I saw it. Stopping in front of the building a block off the square, I wondered how I hadn’t noticed the sign before, unless it had just gone up.
The place was cursed.
It had been a toy store, a children’s boutique and, most recently, a wine-tasting room.
I thought that last one would stick. The place had been decorated to the nines, and the location was perfect for foot traffic.
Sourcing from all local wineries, it borrowed from the concept of an urban tasting room but, in the end, that hadn’t made it either.
The “closed” sign went up a few weeks ago, the out-of-town owners who’d come to Cedar Falls on vacation and never left giving up their dream.
They were a nice couple, retired, and had leased the small but cute building.
Since she was an interior decorator, no expense had been spared to transform the decor to one of my new favorite places on the square to pop in for a glass of vino with the girls.
Now, it was for lease again. I heard the actual building was owned by Paul Baker. He owned The Coffee Cabin building and about five others around the square. He’d even tried to buy out Heritage Hill when Mason’s father passed away unexpectedly.
Moving along, I headed to our pre-game meeting spot. Pia and Jules were already at a corner booth.
“I can’t believe we’ve got you for the whole day,” Jules said as I sat.
While it was true I had the day off completely and was thrilled, after breakfast, to hop around the wineries with the girls, I was also getting a bit antsy too.
Parker left Friday morning for the three-day workshop in Rochester.
He’d asked for me to come along, but there was no way I could get off both Friday and Saturday after taking the day for our ski trip.
“I’m excited,” I said, sitting.
“We ordered you a coffee already,” Pia said. “But nothing to eat.”
“I’m feeling a chocolate croissant. For the sake of soaking up the wine, of course.”
“Of course.” Jules jumped up from her seat, heading to the counter. “We did the same. Great minds, and all.”
“Sorry I was late. Did you know the Wine Barn building is available for lease? I stopped to take a peek.”
“No, but I’m not surprised. That shut down a few weeks ago.”
“One apple cinnamon muffin”—Jules put the muffin in front of Pia—“and a banana nut for me. They’ll have your croissant in a second.”
“Thanks. I’ll get you at the winery.”
“No worries.” Jules got up again. “Be right back.”
“I swear that building is cursed. Nothing has been in there for more than a few years, at most.”
“What was it before the Wine Barn?” Pia asked.
She was so ingrained in Cedar Falls that I sometimes forgot Pia just moved here last year.
“It’s been a hundred different things. It was a children’s boutique last.”
“The Wine Barn?” Jules put my croissant down.
“Yeah. Thanks.” I pulled it toward me. “I was just telling Pia, the building is available for lease.”
She looked up. Took a bite of her muffin. Stared at me.
“Um, am I missing something?” Pia asked.
“You should do it,” Jules said to me before addressing Pia. “The last time it was for sale, Delaney considered leasing it for a hot second. To open up an art studio.”
“Oh, wow.” Pia turned to me. “I know you’ve mentioned it before, but I never thought you’d seriously consider leaving the pharmacy.”
“Only because I spent years of my life and thousands of dollars in school to become a pharmacist. And an art studio probably would share the same fate as every other business in that building. Otherwise, I’d totally have considered it for real.”
“I sense sarcasm.” Jules’s own voice was laced with it.
“Just a little.” I took a bite of my croissant.
“All of that is true, but look at Mason. He couldn’t be happier, and his entire life he wanted to be a cop.”
“True,” I said. “But I feel like you’re a big part of that equation.”
“Maybe,” Pia agreed. “What about Parker? I really think he’s serious about venturing out on his own. Something tells me this workshop will be the start of something big.”
“I think it will too. He’s really excited about it. But Parker spent four years earning a business degree that will be put to use if he does start his own home-building business. Mine, on the other hand, would be a big waste.”
“That’s one way to look at it. Another,” Jules said, “is that learning never goes to waste. The universe works in mysterious ways, leading you to a path but waiting for you to take it. Sure, it’s a complete one-eighty.
But the biggest rewards in life come from the biggest leaps of faith.
You’d talked about selling your own artwork and jewelry in the shop, using it as a warehouse base for an online business and running workshops, combining multiple income streams and not relying on foot traffic alone. I think it’s a perfect plan.”
Not wanting to insult her, I could say, “You would think so.” Jules was very much like me. A creative type. An idea person. But taking so many math and science courses gave me another more practical side too.
“Maybe,” I said, noncommittally.
“Why don’t you let me help with some research on the viability of such a plan?” Pia asked.
If anyone had the resources to do just that, it was Pia. While her specialty lay in hospitality, turning around failing hotels and B it was important to keep things real too. “We’re just exploring. It’s a huge step and, to be honest, it scares the crap out of me just thinking about it.”
“I get it,” Jules said. “I’m over here talking a good game but teaching classes and writing stupid articles just to avoid doing the big, hard, scary thing. I’ll be the first to admit I’m a walking, talking ‘do as I say and not as I do.’”
“We’ll work on you next,” Pia promised, winking at her.
This was why I loved my girlfriends. Lifting each other up with unquestionable support. “You guys are the best.”
“And she’s not even drinking yet,” Jules teased. “Speaking of, where are we thinking to start? It might take a while to get a car in the off-season. Maybe I should put in for one now.”
“No need.” Pia finished up her coffee. “Mason is in town and will give us a ride to wherever we’re going first. I told him he couldn’t stay though. Girls’ day and all.”
“Awesome. I can’t wait to get one or two in her”—she nodded to me—“and then ply her for dirt on Parker. She’s been unusually tight-lipped about this one,” Jules said to Pia.
“She has been,” Pia agreed. “But thankfully I have all the inside dirt from Mason.”
“Did Parker say something to him?” So much for playing it cool.
Things were great with Parker. Beyond great, actually.
Which was exactly why I was being tight-lipped.
With Makis I’d gushed about how amazing he was only to have to turn around and tuck my tail between my legs so many times, not least when we broke up. Twice.
“Maybe a little.” Pia smiled. “All good though.”
I couldn’t help it. Every part of me felt alive. I woke up earlier. Had more energy. Couldn’t wait to get the day started to see him. Even something as small as a “Good morning” text made me smile for hours.
I hadn’t wanted it at first.
Hadn’t expected it so soon after Makis.
But there was no denying that I was falling in love with Parker Scott.
Every time we were together I found something new to adore.
His smile. His laugh. The little thoughtful things that made me wonder, still, if the guy was for real.
It felt as if I could tell him anything. There were no judgments with him, ever.
And the sex.
Dear lord, Parker’s dirty talking had only gotten dirtier. Filthy, really. And he could back it up.
“Alright. If you ladies are ready”—Pia crumpled her napkin and put it on the empty plate where her muffin had been—“who’s ready for Sunday Funday?”
“Let’s do this.” Jules stood.
“Me,” I said as my phone buzzed. I took it out from my jeans back pocket.
It was Parker.