Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
The ring of Emily’s cell phone filled the hotel room with shrill insistence. She grabbed it from the bedside table and nearly dropped it in her hurry. She steadied her hand, raising an eyebrow as she stared at the screen. Joe Griffin’s name flashed in bold letters. A quick sigh escaped her lips as she sat on the edge of her bed, a loose spring protesting beneath her. “Hi, Mr. Griffin,” she greeted. “What can I do for you?”
“Good afternoon, Emily,” the Brave Badge Roasting Company owner greeted in return. “I have something important to discuss with you.”
Emily listened intently as the words spilled out from the other end. Joe wanted her to come on full-time as the senior barista trainer for the company. She would be based out of the main hub in Montana and travel around the country to new locations when they opened. Her mind latched onto the offer as her boss talked about major pay increases, travel opportunities, and future potential.
She held the phone tightly, her fingers whitening with the pressure. “Wow,” she said, struggling to keep up with the offer that was spiraling into a reality. It was everything she ever wanted in a job, or at least, it used to be. She couldn’t help but think about the manager position Mark had offered her the day before. It hadn’t been something she ever considered, but suddenly, she had two options in front of her, both viable and appealing in different ways.
“I—I don’t know what to say,” Emily stammered, trying to buy time to think.
“You don’t have to make a decision today, but I would like to know by week’s end,” Joe told her.
“Of course. Thank you for the offer and for giving me time to think about it.”
“I know it will be a big change. You’ll have to leave Texas, and you’ll be traveling a lot, but it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” he encouraged.
“I’ll let you know my decision soon,” Emily promised before hanging up.
Stunned, Emily sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her phone, her pulse loud and chaotic in her ears.
A big promotion, she thought. And in Montana, not Faith Valley. She tossed the phone onto the bed where it bounced once, twice, before settling against the worn pillow. Her heart raced as the implications sank in.
She pressed her lips together as uncertainty etched across her face. What did she want? Emily ran a hand through her hair, her fingers catching in a small knot she hadn’t noticed before. She’d come to Faith Valley expecting this very thing, but now...she wasn’t sure what she wanted.
Emily stood, the room feeling suddenly too small. A career as a trainer based out of Montana? Or coffee shop manager here in Faith Valley? One offered travel and the open road, but the other had Mark in her life every day. The pros and cons came quickly, nipping at her heels as she paced the narrow strip of carpet. She needed time to breathe, time to figure it all out.
She flopped back onto the bed, her eyes locked on the ceiling’s off-white expanse. Her mind whirled with all the possibilities and all the unknowns. “What am I going to do?” she muttered, covering her face with her hands. The promotion echoed in her thoughts, refusing to let go. She sighed again, this time with the weight of her uncertainty.
But lying here wasn’t going to solve anything. She needed to talk it over with someone. She’d been invited by Sue to hang out with a couple of the local women Emily had met at the festival. She hadn’t planned on going, but maybe a break would help her clear her head.
An hour later, lightening crackled followed shortly by thunder across the darkening sky. Emily squeezed through the bar’s heavy door, damp hair curling at her neck. She shook off the rain like a stray dog, drops glistening in a small pool on the cracked wooden floor. Sue along with Macy and Layla West, cousins, waved her over, already nestled in the corner with glasses of wine.
Emily maneuvered through the small space, squeezing past damp coats and dripping umbrellas. She plopped down in the booth, breathless and pink-cheeked, her wet curls sticking to her skin. “It’s crazy out there,” she huffed, shaking her head at the downpour outside.
Sue slid a glass of wine her way with a smile. “Maybe this will take the edge off.”
“Thanks,” she told her new friend.
“So?” Sue said, her eyes alight with curiosity. “What’s this big news?”
Emily hesitated, swishing the wine in her glass before taking a sip for courage. She glanced at their expectant faces, a small knot forming in her stomach. “I—I’m not sure where to start,” she finally murmured .
Layla leaned in, her light brown hair cascading like a messy waterfall. “Just spit it out. You’ve got us all on the edge here.”
Emily took a deep breath and then finally began. “The owner of the Brave Badge Roasting Company called me. He offered me a promotion.” Her voice wavered, the confession tumbling out awkward and unsure.
The table erupted in exclamations as the women looked around at each other.
“A promotion?” Macy echoed, her voice soft but insistent. “Where would it take you?”
Emily paused, feeling the weight of their questions pressing in. “Montana,” she finally disclosed. “It comes with a significant raise and lots of travel.” The admission hung there, suspended between her own conflicted hopes and the reality she hadn’t yet faced. “And then there’s the offer from Mark. He wants to make me the manager of the Brave Badge here in Faith Valley.”
Sue blinked, clearly taken aback. “That’s huge, Emily. What are you going to do?”
She shrugged, playing with the stem of her glass. “I don’t know. I see reasons to stay and reasons to go.”
Macy fixed her with a disappointed look. “You’re not thinking of taking it, are you?”
“She could,” Sue chimed in, her tone gentle but honest. “But I’d be glad if she stayed.”
Layla tilted her head, studying Emily with an intent gaze. “I think you need to talk to Mark about it.”
Emily bit her lip, their words tangling with her thoughts. Talk to Mark? Did he even care what she decided? She tucked a damp strand of hair behind her ear, her mind a whirlwind of maybes and what-ifs.
Sue nodded in agreement, a knowing smile forming on her lips. “Yeah. He might have a good reason for you to stay.”
Emily’s fingers tapped on the table, her nails revealing her nervous energy. “I don’t know if—” she started, but Lacy cut her off with a gentle but firm, “You need to.”
Sue reached across, giving Emily’s hand a supportive squeeze. “Just so you know, I’d love to have you as my boss.”
“Thanks for that.” Emily forced a smile, but her eyes betrayed her turmoil, darting to the window where the rain ran in frantic, racing lines. She was more conflicted than ever, but one thing was clear: she’d have to talk to Mark. The thought settled uneasily as the storm pressed against the windows with unrelenting force.
“I guess on that note, I have somewhere to be,” she told the other women as she stood up. With a lingering glance at her friends, she stepped away, her mind already racing ahead to where she needed to go.
The wind whipped her face as Emily stood outside Mark’s apartment, indecision sharp and stinging. She bit her lip, tasting rain and nerves. One moment more, two, and finally, she knocked. The door swung open, light spilling out and around her, his surprised expression framed like an unfinished picture. Emily steeled herself, pushing past the uncertainty that howled as loud as the wind. “Can we talk?”
Mark stepped aside, gesturing for her to come in. The space felt warm and close, and Emily struggled to catch her breath, both from the sudden change in temperature and from the weight of what she had to say. He shut the door against the storm’s fury, a quiet barrier between the wild outside and the tension that settled around them.
“Didn’t think I’d see you tonight,” Mark said, a hint of surprise lingering in his voice .
Emily nodded, awkward and unsure. “Yeah. I—” She broke off, looking everywhere but at him. She had to do this; she had to get the words out. She focused on his expression, trying to read what was beneath. “I wanted to tell you...Joe Griffin offered me a promotion but it would be in Montana.” Her voice was thin, trembling slightly with the effort.
Mark didn’t react right away. He was so still, too still, and it made Emily’s heart race with a nervous rhythm. “That’s big,” he finally responded without any emotion showing.
She felt her resolve falter, then stiffen under the scrutiny of his blue eyes. “I guess.” She brushed her damp hair from her face, her hesitation lingering in the air like a half-formed question.
His gaze didn’t waver. “What are you thinking you’re going to do?” he questioned, his tone serious but soft.
Emily fumbled for the right words, feeling them slip through her fingers like sand. “I—I’m not sure,” she admitted, the confusion raw in her voice. “I always wanted a job that would give me a chance to travel, and the pay is great.” She wanted to say that she also really likes Faith Valley, that she likes him, and she is tempted by his offer. But she was also afraid his offer stemmed from his appreciation of her work, not something romantic. And that kept her from bringing up how she felt.
Mark’s expression remained unreadable, his silence stretching long and thin between them. “Sounds like you’ve made up your mind.” The calm acceptance in his tone caught her off guard.
Emily’s heart sank, her earlier conversation with the women echoing cruelly. Did she misread everything? She’d thought—hoped—there was something real forming between them. “Is that it?” she asked, struggling to keep the hurt from her voice.
He blinked, surprise or confusion—she couldn’t tell. “Emily, you have to do whatever is right for you?—”
She couldn’t let him finish. “I thought maybe...” She trailed off, feeling the enormity of the space between what she’d wanted and what was real. Her words stumbled, awkward and raw. “I should go,” she muttered, turning toward the door, her heart twisting painfully.
Emily couldn’t find the strength to look back as she stepped outside. The wind and rain were a fierce but welcome distraction from the sharpness of his words and the ache in her chest.
Even though she didn’t want to, Emily knew it was the right thing to finish her final day at the Brave Badge and say goodbye to the staff.
The air inside the coffee shop was thick with the scent of espresso and uncertainty as Emily entered. She shook off the storm that had been raging outside all night.
The baristas bustled with the day’s activities, a choreography of steaming milk and pulling shots. Emily caught Sue’s eye, the younger woman smiling warmly as she slid a cup her way. The weight of what Emily had to do pressed heavy on her chest, and Emily struggled to return the gesture. She’d have to tell them soon before the words broke free without them being measured.
Mark approached, his usual easy gait stiffer than normal. Their eyes met, a flicker of the previous night’s tension sparking between them. “Late start,” he commented, his voice flat and controlled .
“I had a lot to do before I came here,” Emily retorted defensively.
“Joe follow up with you yet?” Mark asked, arranging shop merchandise with mechanical precision.
Emily hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah. He wanted to know when I could be there.”
He paused, the air between them tight and charged. “And?”
“I’m leaving Faith Valley today,” she blurted out, the words rushing out faster than she intended.
Sue looked up, eyes wide. “Wait—what?” she exclaimed, setting down the cup she was holding.
Mark’s expression darkened, a storm all its own. “I see,” he said, the anger slicing through the facade of professionalism.
Emily swallowed hard, her voice trembling. “I don’t know why you’re reacting that way. You didn’t seem to care when I brought it up to you last night,” she accused, the heat of her own anger taking over.
Mark’s jaw clenched. “That’s not exactly how it happened,” he shot back, his words short and clipped as he folded his arms across his chest.
The staff watched, a captive audience to the unfolding drama. Sue stepped forward, her tone a careful bridge over turbulent waters. “Maybe we can talk this out calmly,” she suggested; the hope in her voice sparking more than it soothed.
Emily shook her head as she clenched her fists at her sides. “Talk? About what? He doesn’t even want me to stay,” she cried, the rawness of it hanging heavy in the air.
Mark’s eyes were intense, sharp. “I didn’t say that,” he countered, but the argument was already a wildfire, bright and uncontrollable.
Emily’s anger boiled over, her voice trembling but loud. “ It doesn’t matter. I’m leaving Faith Valley, and there’s nothing left to say.”
The staff stood frozen, coffee cups mid-pour, the dramatic moment stretching long and taut. Emily turned, breathless and hurting, as her declaration echoed against the walls of the small shop. The tension snapped with a ferocity that left everyone speechless.
An hour later, Emily shoved clothes into her duffel bag, each hasty push a declaration that she couldn’t wait to get out of town. She moved with the desperate rhythm of a woman running from a pain she didn’t want to admit was there.
Emily zipped her bag with a rough, decisive pull, the sound barely audible over the howling wind. Her mind was a tangle, tight and uncomfortable, like the jumbled mess of clothes in her bag. She didn’t know where she was going, but she knew she couldn’t stay—not like this.
The wind picked up, rattling the windows with vicious intent. She pressed her lips together, determined but so very lost. It felt like running away and standing her ground all at once, the contradictions as fierce as the storm itself. She swung her jacket on and grabbed her helmet and keys.
As she exited the hotel, the rain beat the pavement outside, an urgent drumming that mirrored the thrumming of her heart. The storm pushed back at her, daring her to make it through, but she refused to let it slow her.
Then he was there, as sudden and shocking as the lightning that split the sky. Her ex, Dave, was standing in front of her with all the force of the storm and none of the warmth. Emily stopped short, surprise freezing her mid-step.
“Em,” Dave shouted, his voice hard and commanding against the roar of the wind. “I’m here to take you back to Hero with me. ”
Her heart raced, fear and anger competing with the rain for space beneath her skin. She shook her head, a wild defiance in the gesture. “No,” she yelled back, her voice barely reaching over the storm’s fury. Each word was a struggle, a victory against the tempest that raged both inside and out.
Dave took a step closer, his eyes fixed on her with aggressive determination. “You’re making a mistake,” he insisted, the accusation sharp and rage-filled as he reached out to grab her arm.
“No, I’m not,” she shouted, yanking free. Emily’s fear tightened in her chest, causing her to turn and run back into the hotel. Emily hesitated for a moment, considering her options.
“Are you all right?” one of the workers asked, his voice gentle but probing.
Emily simply shook her head, her mind racing. “Is there a back way out of this place?” she inquired, urgency edging her voice.
The man nodded, pointing behind her. “Through the back. There’s a sidewalk that wraps around to the parking lot.”
Without a second thought, Emily dashed through the lobby and out the back doors. The looming storm seemed less daunting than the prospect of confronting her ex through the front again. As the wind whipped around her, Emily realized she had made the right decision. She was ready to face whatever came next, closing one chapter in Texas and beginning another in Montana.