Chapter 26
Molly
Five minutes before closing, the coffee shop door swings open and Wolf ducks his head and makes his way through the door. I find myself biting the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing—even before Kalli notices what he’s wearing.
From the table in the corner, where Collin is sitting with Winnie, laptops out and paperwork everywhere, there is a loud snort. I’m not sure who made the noise, but it grabs Kalli’s attention. She looks their way, then turns and sees Wolf.
“Out,” she says, pointing toward the door.
“But there’s no rule,” Wolf says. “I looked last time I was here.”
“I shouldn’t need a rule for this. It’s common sense, Wolf. You cannot wear stilts into a place of business.”
The stilts in question are not the kind that a person can easily hop on and off of. They must be attached around Wolf’s legs underneath his pants.
Honestly, I’m pretty impressed by not only his balance but his sheer audacity. He’s got to be pushing eight feet tall.
I probably shouldn’t be surprised by this kind of thing in Sheet Cake. Especially not when it comes to Wolf. And I better get used to it considering this is my new home.
Home. The word, the idea—both excite me.
Though I had already made my choice to stay here, being at the wedding really cemented it for me.
Not just about the place, but about the people.
I have Collin and I have my brother, but I also have Harper and Tank and Winnie and Lindy and James and Pat and Jo.
Seeing how the whole town showed up for James, even as they tried to respect his wishes for a small, private wedding, only made me more sure about being here.
Maybe they wouldn’t do something like that for me—yet. But I think once the town’s loyalty is earned, it’s impossible to lose.
“Where on earth did you find pants long enough that fit you?” Winnie asks Wolf.
“You like my pants, Winchester Graham?”
Winnie grins at the use of her new last name. “I do.”
Wolf does a mock runway walk through the shop, executing a perfect turn before coming back to the register.
The gray cargo pants really do fit him well and seem perfectly tailored for the stilts.
His form isn’t bad either. He could teach a class on America’s Next Top Model if they ever bring back the show.
My roommates and I sometimes watched the show during college as a study break and actually, now that I’m thinking about it, they had a stilts challenge one season.
“Well, then, thank you. Because I busted out the sewing machine and made these myself,” Wolf says.
“You sew?” Winnie asks, one eyebrow arched.
“It’s one of my many skills. Just call me Renaissance Wolf. I’ve got all kinds of hidden skills and talents.”
Winnie laughs, and beside me, Kalli groans.
“How are you with spreadsheets and budgets?” Collin asks, sounding pained.
I almost hop over the counter and give him a hug.
His hair is mussed, and his expression is tight.
The day after Winnie and James’s wedding, he told me about his idea for the field—a training and rehabilitation facility for elite and professional athletes.
A day after that, he accepted an offer for Grit.
I went with him to Austin to sign the paperwork and celebrate.
We stayed at Tank’s house, which is where Collin grew up.
Sadly, his room didn’t have all his high school memorabilia and things, but Tank did stay up late telling me stories of Collin and his siblings from childhood, which was great.
Then he talked to his dad about his idea, and now, things are in motion.
The offer for the gym wasn’t exactly what Collin was hoping for, but it did allow him to pay back his family’s investments.
Now, with Winnie’s help, he’s working on a business plan.
This is when I’m glad for both the village that is his family and also the village by way of Sheet Cake, because Collin has had all kinds of help.
But the business planning and budget part is not his favorite, so he’s been stressed out rather than enjoying this stage.
“Sadly, I am not good at either of those things,” Wolf says.
“You are also not good at following directions,” Kalli says. “Remember when I kicked you out a minute ago?”
“Are you seriously saying my money’s no good here?” Wolf bends to slap a twenty down on the counter in front of me. “Because all I want is an iced mocha, and you can keep the change.”
I hold it up to the light, making a dramatic show of checking for the security strip. “I mean, if there’s no rule, I don’t think we have to refuse service,” I say, shrugging at Kalli. “At least he’s wearing pants.”
She rolls her eyes. “I see how easily your loyalty can be bought.”
“I mean, I’d kind of like to see him walking around in stilts while trying to drink a mocha. Wouldn’t you?”
Kalli considers. Wolf and I wait, and I swear, he and I are both holding our breath. “Fine. But you are not to attempt to drink this inside the store. You take your iced mocha, then get out of here. And you better believe I’m adding No Stilts to the rules.”
Wolf grins. “Yes, ma’am.”
“You’re sure you don’t want change?” I ask him, waving the twenty.
“Positive. You ladies work hard. Keep the change as a tip.”
“It is hard work dealing with so many high-maintenance customers,” Kalli says, topping Wolf’s drink with whipped cream and drizzling it with chocolate sauce.
Humming thoughtfully, Wolf says, “I can see that.” As though he isn’t one of those high-maintenance customers. “What other problems do you have as a business owner in Sheet Cake?”
Kalli passes Wolf the drink and gives him a suspicious look. “Why?”
Wolf shifts, standing on his full height in the stilts, which means his head is close to some of the exposed ducts in the ceiling.
“Because you are looking at Sheet Cake’s newest mayoral candidate,” he says.
“And I want to make sure I am getting to know my constituents as well as their wants and needs.”
Kalli and I exchange a glance.
“You’re running for mayor?” Collin asks, dropping his pen.
Kalli frowns. “Isn’t your cousin also running?”
“Billy—yes,” Wolf says. “It’s quite unprecedented.”
“Wow—a Waters versus Waters mayoral race,” Winnie says, picking up her phone. “I’m shocked I haven’t heard about this on Neighborly yet.”
“Oh, I just decided today,” Wolf says. “You’re welcome to announce it for me though. Unless you think it would be best coming straight from the source?”
“What do the stilts have to do with running for mayor?” I ask.
Wolf shrugs. “Nothing. I was just in the mood.”
“Are you good if the post includes a picture of you in your stilts?” Winnie asks.
“Absolutely. But hang on—let’s do an action shot. Watch my high kick!”
Winnie gets an action shot, all right, but Wolf’s high kick busts one of Kalli’s pendant lights, and she chases him out of the store with a broom.
She waits, holding the door open as a small group enters.
James, Chase, Harper, and, finally, Deacon, who earns a full-body hug from Kalli.
She locks the door and turns off the neon Open sign.
The Graham planning meeting has officially begun.
“Where’s Pat?” Collin asks.
“Lindy wasn’t feeling well, so he’s with Jo,” James says, and Collin nods, like this is the only acceptable answer.
Kalli and I clean and shut down the shop while Winnie helps Collin keep everyone on track.
I listen half-heartedly as ideas and suggestions are tossed around.
Collin and I have talked through everything together, so I don’t mind listening from afar as they discuss things like funding and facilities.
Deacon, Kalli’s boyfriend, wants to be in on the investment level, and as a former pro football player, he has lots of good suggestions.
By the time we’re done cleaning the espresso machine and doing the other closing duties, they’ve made quite a bit of progress. Still, though, Collin looks tense.
“Hey,” I whisper, taking a seat on one of his thighs. “You know this is going to be okay, right? It’s a great idea. It’s going to be amazing.”
He sighs, leaning into my touch as I run my hands through his hair, lightly massaging his head. “Thank you. I know. It’s just—”
Whatever he would have said is interrupted by a persistent knocking at the door.
“Who’s that guy?” Kalli asks.
We all look up, but only Chase and I react. Our shocked eyes meet and lock before we jump up together and head for the door.
“What is he doing here?” I hiss.
“I have no idea. When’s the last time you talked to him?” Chase asks.
“I haven’t.” The last communication Dad and I had was before he cut off my phone. I didn’t really see the point in talking to him after that.
But now he’s here … at the door of the coffee shop where I work and where Chase and I both happen to be. My brother meets my eyes before he flips the lock. I only realize Collin is right behind me when his hand finds my hip and squeezes.
“I’ve got you,” he says. “Whatever you need.”
I’m too choked up to say thank you. Too shocked by the sudden appearance of my dad here in Sheet Cake.
Making matters worse is the fact that I still haven’t talked to Chase about everything.
I told Collin, and I know I need to talk to my brother about how things have been with my dad. But … I haven’t.
And now he’s here.
Chase unlocks the door and holds it open. “Hey, Dad. How are—why are you here? Sorry. That sounded rude. It’s just … a surprise.”
Dad looks between me and Chase, his steely-blue eyes cool. He looks older than the last time I saw him somehow. His gray combover is like a sad attempt at relevancy. I almost feel sorry for him.
“As a kind gesture, I drove Molly’s car down. Though it took some searching to find her. This street is where your phone location last pinged, then I asked about you from some man wearing … stilts?”