Chapter 15 #2
Then she saw Eric, Jake’s father, sitting on the other side of the room, huddled over a drink, dressed in an oversized, lumberjack-style jacket.
Willow paused for a moment, feeling hesitant.
Part of her wondered if she should wander over and say hello, but Jake had asked her explicitly not to.
It didn’t look like Eric would notice her anyway.
She could tell he was swaying a little on his stool, and his red-faced cheeks were clear even from this distance. He looked in a bad shape.
Not today, Willow decided. It’s not the right time. And it’s probably none of my business now anyway.
Willow strode over to the bar and rested her now more-or-less empty box on a stool.
‘Hey,’ Greg said brightly. ‘You look like you need a drink.’
‘You can say that again. I’d love a Coke, please,’ Willow replied, pulling herself up onto the stool next to her. ‘I’ve been all over town delivering these flyers, trying to drum up some interest.’
Lucas nodded at her. ‘Good for you.’ His eyes drifted towards Eric. ‘I see you noticed our regular?’
Willow glanced over at the slumped form again. ‘He looks like he’s in bad shape. Is he in here every day?’
‘When he can afford to. If not, I guess he drinks at home. That man isn’t well.’
His words were dry and heavy. Willow glanced at the beer Lucas was drinking and wondered how many he had had already. He didn’t exactly sound sober either. ‘Aren’t you working later?’ she asked.
‘Not today. Evening off. The wonderful Janice is covering for me.’ Lucas raised his glass and beamed. ‘So, I can celebrate your successful first day in here with my friends. And with Eric – not that he will care one way or another.’
Willow shifted on her seat awkwardly. Lucas didn’t look like he wanted to celebrate at all. His dark eyes were like granite now, hard and unflinching. His jaw was clenched. He seemed anything but happy.
‘Let me see one of those,’ Rachel said suddenly, leaning over and pulling a flyer out of the box. Her face scrunched up as she began to read out loud in what Willow thought was a slightly affected voice:
‘Willow’s Matcha Wagon. Now serving matcha in the heart of Honey Springs.
Your daily dose of calm, low caffeine and color.
Chilled energy without the crash and packed with antioxidants.
Sitting right by the vibrant diner – Willow’s Matcha Wagon is your new go-to spot for feel-good matcha drinks and plant-based treats – all served from our cozy green van with good vibes only.
Experience classic iced and hot matcha lattes.
Coconut vanilla matcha. Lavender honey matcha.
Vegan matcha ice cream. Seasonal fruit flavors.
Come visit today. Ten percent off your first drink with this flyer. ’
‘Sounds wonderful,’ Rachel said smiling stiffly and then discarding the sheet back into the box. ‘I’ll have to come and try one.’
‘More mumbo jumbo hippie stuff by the sounds of it,’ Lucas muttered, slurping his beer.
‘Actually,’ Willow replied sharply, ‘there’s nothing mumbo jumbo about my drinks!’
Lucas held up his hands lamely. ‘Sorry – it was a joke.’
Willow eyed Rachel carefully, wondering if she might say something to defend her. She was dressed in bright-yellow pants and a flowery top today. If anyone looked like a hippie here, it was her, but Rachel had clearly decided to keep her mouth closed.
Greg handed Willow her drink. ‘Well, I tried one this morning and it was pretty nice. If it helps calm my mind, I’m all for it.’
Willow murmured a thanks to him, for both the Coke and the support; it was actually quite surprising. Lucas wasn’t saying anything at all now. Instead, he was staring off into the distance as if totally lost in thought.
She wondered about what Macguire had said earlier and tried to think of a way to bring Lucas’s mood back up. Drinking in here clearly wasn’t doing the job.
‘I mentioned the wagon was next to The Diner because I was hoping it might drive business for both of us,’ she told him. ‘They can come to me, and I will direct them to you for a tasty steak or whatever.’
Lucas took a slug of his beer. ‘That’s good of you,’ he said coolly. ‘But you will still be taking away my regulars who only come in for a coffee or a shake.’
‘There’s room for both of us,’ she reasoned. ‘People like choice.’
‘You think? There’s barely room for The Diner and the bar at the moment. Your health-conscious new drink is bound to put a dent in my earnings.’ He shrugged. ‘But it’s OK. I really don’t think it will be a problem for that much longer.’
‘Why do you say that?’ Willow said, feeling confused.
Lucas simply took another gulp of his drink, but Rachel leaned across to answer for him.
‘Lucas doesn’t mean to sound harsh. We just wonder how you’ll make it work long term.
Is this something you’re trying out while you are having some “time off” or whatever?
Will you realize that there’s no money to be made and hurry back to the city to be with your very successful boyfriend and continue your very successful life?
Will Honey Springs just be a memory for you?
’ Rachel said this in a rush, and as she did, her cheeks bloomed red.
‘Of course,’ she added, ‘I could be wrong. Maybe you will be like my romance heroines and stick it out. I’m just thinking it’s unlikely, isn’t it? Really. I mean, this is real life after all.’
Willow stared back at her open-mouthed, not sure where this outburst had come from. Rachel had always been so quiet when they were younger and now, she was this spirited woman who clearly had some strong views.
‘You’re wrong,’ Willow replied finally. ‘I will make this work. It isn’t just some little fad. This is my new life, my new direction, and I’m excited about it. I have plans.’
She was about to say more about Jake, that they weren’t even together anymore – but then decided against it. Jake had nothing to do with her decisions and it was no one’s business!
‘What plans?’ Rachel asked sweetly. ‘I am interested, really.’
‘I’ll do more marketing. I’ll promote this town and get it back on the map, where it deserves to be.’ She could feel her energy build as her self-belief increased. Yes, she could do this. She really could. Not only could she make the matcha wagon successful, but she could help the town too.
‘Sounds ideal,’ Greg said. ‘We could all benefit from more promotion.’
‘Sounds almost too good to be true,’ Rachel said. ‘How are you going to get people interested in this place? It’s been forgotten, Willow. It’s been left behind – by people like you that ran away as soon as they had the chance.’
Willow was stung but she tried not to react. Instead, she straightened her back and glared at Rachel with an unflinching gaze.
‘I’m working on it already, actually. I have an influencer calling me tomorrow. I’m hoping she’ll come to the town and post about it, and I have—’
‘Hang on. You’re planning to bring an influencer here! To Honey Springs.’ Lucas had clearly woken from his moody slumber and was now staring right at her. His tone was practically a growl.
‘Yes. I am! What’s so bad about that?’
‘What’s so bad about that! What kind of idiot are you, Willow?’ he hissed, standing up. ‘Do you know anything about what has happened here in the last year or so?’
‘The only idiot is you,’ she shot back. ‘You’re so narrow-minded, you can’t bear to let anything change.’
Lucas downed the rest of his drink. ‘I can’t stay here,’ he muttered. He strode towards the door, then turned before leaving.
‘You want to save this town, Willow? I’ll tell you how you can do that. Stop interfering. Go back to the perfect city life you had before and forget about Honey Springs. We don’t need you here.’
And then he was gone.