Chapter 5
5
“ C offee Loft in Greenhaven is a really unique space. The patio is perfect for sipping, people watching, and/or working. This gem of a place even had adoptable dogs on the day I visited. How cool is that ?” ~ Coffee Fan
L ater that night, Ginger tucked her feet underneath her as she sank into the couch after cleaning up from dinner. Her good friend Kit Wendell had finally found a free day from ferrying clients up and down the river on her charter boat. Kit lived in Port Chance, one of the historic river towns along this stretch of the Mississippi.
“You weren’t on the water when that storm came through, were you? Wasn’t it awful?” Ginger sipped the iced ginger peach tea she’d poured for them after dinner. Beside her, Daisy’s purring vibrated against her hip. The cat curled into a tight ball which signaled she’d sleep the rest of the night away.
“It was a close call.” Kit’s eyes popped. “I’d just docked with a group celebrating an eighty-year-old’s birthday. The wind sent one poor lady’s umbrella into the trees. I had to help half of them to their cars so they wouldn’t get blown into the shrubs.”
“What a nightmare if you had still been on the water. It was bad enough in the shop.”
“I know.” She took her iced tea from where Ginger set it on the end table. “Thank goodness there wasn’t more damage downstairs than the broken door panes,” Kit said. She inspected the green hobnail glass after she sampled the tea. “This is yummy, by the way.”
“Thanks. I’m testing a new brand for the shop. I think it’s a winner.”
“I’ll second that.” Kit set the glass on the coaster again, then settled back into the wing chair. “So, tell me more about the guy who helped with the repairs. What’s his story?”
“Not much of a story. He’s a regular. Brings his foster dogs onto the patio most of the time.” She wrinkled her nose.
“You’re lucky he came in that night.”
She nodded. “I am. I offered to pay him, but he wouldn’t take anything.”
Kit wound the end of her long braid around her finger. “The way you talked about him, it sounded like there’s a little more to your history together.”
Ginger looked at her lap and smoothed the wrinkles in her shirt. “Not much to tell. ”
Kit snickered. “Are you sure about that?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Why? Because I’ve never seen you brush off a topic faster than you did when I asked about him the first time.”
She looked out the front window. Had she avoided talking about Cal? It wasn’t intentional. Maybe Kit’s question had caught her off guard is all.
“You haven’t dated in a while.” Kit asked with a wry smile. “Is this one on your radar?”
That’s what she liked about Kit. She didn’t hold back—in her opinions, questions, or life in general. She’d met her when Kit stopped in Coffee Loft a year ago last summer with her oldest sister Rose to drop off a batch of cider donuts from Rose’s bakery at Apple Hill Farm. Rose recommended Coffee Loft as a supplier for Kit’s morning boat tour package. During Kit’s subsequent twice-monthly visits to Coffee Loft, she and Kit had become good friends. There wasn’t anything Kit couldn’t do, be it changing out a bathroom faucet, replacing a car battery, or—as she’d experienced first-hand—patching a leaky spot on the roof near the building’s chimney. But date Cal? Obviously, Kit lacked matchmaking skills. She couldn’t be more wrong.
“Nope. I’m taking a break.”
Kit snorted. “It’s been a long break if I’m remembering right. But I’d be a hypocrite if I tried to sell you on the merits of dating. What’s changed?”
“It’s exhausting. The small talk, the pretense. I’m not that great at first impressions.”
“You’re the face of Coffee Loft. Everyone loves you. ”
“Running a business is a lot different than dating.”
“Nah. It’s all public relations. At least, initially.” Kit shrugged.
“That’s what I have trouble with, the transition period.”
“That only means you haven’t found the right guy.”
“I’m beginning to think there isn’t anyone else out there for me.”
She took another sip of tea to hide her frown. Since her divorce, she’d opened Coffee Loft and relished the freedom of steering her life in whatever direction she pleased. But sometimes she missed the companionship. The shared dreams. The possibilities . Early in her marriage, she’d had all that with Marco. But then suddenly she didn’t when he decided someone else’s company was more preferable than hers. The drama happened long ago, though, and she’d moved on. Bitterness had dissolved over the years as she focused more on herself. Still, the trust issues remained.
Kit looped her arms around her bent knees. “I’d just get up and leave if there was no connection.”
She chuckled at Kit’s candidness. “I wish I could do that. I’m more of the suffer-in-silence type.”
Kit let out an exasperated sigh. “So, back to the door-fixer guy. Maybe he came to your rescue for a reason.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I bet he wouldn’t have done that for just anyone.” Kit pointed at her. “Maybe it’s a sign that you should ask him out.”
“What ? I think not.”
“But you have so much in common.”
She laughed at the ridiculousness of it as a buzz tickled its way up her spine at the same time. Her and Cal Donner…together…on a date ?
“What are you basing that on, the fact that he comes in for coffee?”
“I’m sure many solid relationships have been built over cold brews.”
“He’s so outgoing. I’m a complete introvert. And he’s a software consultant. What does that even mean? I’m feeling lucky if the computer doesn’t crash at least once a day.”
Kit laughed. “You’re both business owners. And you like pets.”
“Hey, Kit?” She held a hand to her mouth for the stage whisper. “Stick to steering boats. You’re a terrible matchmaker. The guy has multiple dogs at a time. My only experience with dogs is offering a fresh bowl of water to the ones he brings here.”
“It’s a starting point.”
“Or a point of no return.”
“Fine.” Kit frowned.
She finished off her tea and rolled an ice cube around in her mouth. “But I have been thinking of reaching out to him…”
Kit smacked her hands together, excited. “See? Now we’re talking.”
“No, not like that. I’ve been mulling over the idea of asking him for a testimonial. It’s for the portfolio I’m supposed to submit because of my Forty Professionals Under Forty nomination.”
“You could literally choose any one of your other fifty thousand customers.” Kit gave her a wink. “This is just an excuse to get close to him.”
“Wrong. The constant parade of dogs on my patio is a little much, but I’m trying to be objective here. Most of the customers seem to love him and his dogs when he brings one by. Everyone gravitates toward him.”
“Except you.”
She ignored the comment. “I’m supposed to highlight someone who has been positively impacted by me or my business. His dogs have, I’m sure. I know of at least one family that adopted through the shelter because they met Cal on the patio.”
“Exactly!” Kit nodded.
She slumped, giving Kit a look. “You’re just humoring me now.”
“Guilty.” She grinned. “Okay, in all seriousness, just call him.”
“You think?”
Kit nodded again.
“What do I have to lose, right?”
The conversation turned to Kit’s busy schedule for Muddy Bottom Tours, her sister Janie’s upcoming wedding, and plans for the neighborhood fall festival. Kit offered to help set up for the day if Ginger thought more hands were needed.
When Kit left a short time later, Ginger beelined it for her bag resting on one of the bar stools at the kitchen counter. When she couldn’t find Cal’s business card in her wallet, she remembered sticking it in the desk drawer in her office downstairs. Merris had closed the store an hour ago, so Ginger hurried down to Coffee Loft to find the card and call Cal from there.
The shop was dark and quiet, and the scent of roasted beans calmed her taut nerves. She swallowed against the tightness in her throat, slipped Cal’s business card from the desk drawer, and tapped his number into her phone. The seconds between hitting the last number and the call connecting were punctuated by her heartbeat thudding in her head.
Why is this such a big deal ?
Cal answered before she thought about how to answer that.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Cal. It’s Ginger.”
“It’s late. Is something wrong?” His tone was off, like she’d caught him at a bad time.
“Not at all. I just have something to ask you, and it’s perfectly fine if you say no.”
Silence.
Maybe warming him up a little instead of jumping right into her reason for calling would have been a better idea. Or maybe she shouldn’t have called at all.
What if he was on a date? The possibility heated her face.
Just ask him .
“I’m wondering if you’d give me a testimonial.” There. That wasn’t so bad .
More silence.
“Hello? ”
“What for?” he asked. In the background, metal clanged like he was rearranging pots and pans. “Hold on.”
The noise grew muffled as if he’d covered the phone with his hand. Seconds passed. Ginger took a deep breath. It was a big ask, she knew. He’d already fixed her doors for free, and now this. She didn’t want to give him the impression that she was all take and no give. What could she do for him?
“Okay, I’m back,” he said. “Why on earth do you want to interview me ?”
She gritted her teeth. Here goes .
“I’ve been nominated for that Forty Under Forty Award. You know the one that?”
“Oh, right. The movers and shakers of the Quad Cities,” he said. “What a huge honor. Congratulations,” he said, distractedly. In the background, a dog yipped. Something crashed before a door slammed.
“Did I catch you in the middle of something? I can call back at another time.” Talking to her was probably the last thing he wanted to be doing right now. It was late. It sounded like he was busy. And why is it so hot in here ? She glanced at the thermostat on the wall while fanning her face with her free hand. Had she accidentally turned the heat on today? She tugged at the neck of her tee-shirt. Her hair felt like it was on fire.
“No…no, not at all,” he said, out of breath.
“Anyway, I have to submit a portfolio. A résumé, personal statement, references. That sort of thing.” It was definitely a mistake, calling him.
“Uh huh.” There was a smugness in his tone. “I’m not sure where I fit into all of that.”
“I want to interview you for a little profile I want to write. You know, a feel-good story. About one of my most interesting customers.” He’s going to see right through that heap of hooey. She shuffled through the application papers until she came to the portfolio requirements. “It says, ‘Submit a five-hundred-word profile on a co-worker, business associate, or customer who has been positively impacted by you and/or the business you work for, along with a fifty-word testimonial from that person.’”
When he didn’t say anything, Ginger held her phone out to see if they were still connected.
“That’s intense,” he said.
“It is.”
Cal let out a little sigh. “I’ll have to think about it,” he said nonchalantly.
She blinked. Of all the ways for him to respond, she didn’t expect a noncommittal answer.
“Okay, then take your time.” She let out an awkward laugh. “And, no worries if you decide it’s a bad idea. I have someone else waiting in the wings.” She totally didn’t.
“Good to know that you have a back-up plan. In case, you know, I decide to decline.”
“You bet.” Ginger clenched a hand and tapped her fist against her forehead.
“I’ll let you know tomorrow,” he said. “Thanks for thinking of me.”
She looked at her phone as their call disconnected. Now would be the perfect time to go to bed and pull the covers over her head until next year.
She stalked over to the refrigerator, looking for something to take her mind off of how she’d just made a complete fool of herself. Thank goodness he was clueless about the butterflies in her stomach, beating against her ribcage as she talked with him. She opened the door, staring blankly at the contents, her thoughts tumbling over one another to make sense of Cal’s answer.
He’d think about it?
What was so complicated about her request? A simple “yes” or “no” would have worked just fine. And why was she stewing about this?
The refrigerated air fanned the heat of embarrassment as she replayed the conversation again in her mind. Was he playing games? Why would he do that?
What she knew about Cal Donner could be summed up in one word: intentional. Cal wasn’t the wishy-washy sort. He knew what to order the second he stepped up to the counter. He didn’t hesitate when he offered to fix her doors. He had never adopted one of his fosters, though he’d been tempted in the past, he claimed. I can do more good fostering many than owning a couple . And he’d certainly never said, I’ll think about it before.
She eyed the can of whipped topping, popped the lid off, and dispensed a cloud of cream into her mouth. The sweetness melted on her tongue as she looked at the almost-empty can in her hand, her thoughts still far away.
Of course, he’d picked a fine time to be indecisive with her portfolio deadline coming up. She almost wished she hadn’t been nominated for the award now that she’d told Cal about it. The only other people who knew were Kit and the person that nominated her, Josie Runyon, another loyal customer. Unfortunately, Josie was a self-proclaimed recluse who’d decline on the spot if Ginger asked to interview her instead.
In the stillness of the shop, Ginger groaned out loud. She squirted one more generous helping from the canister into her mouth, then tossed it in the garbage.
Whereas she was all out of whipped cream, there was plenty of Cal-fueled angst to go around.