Chapter THIRTY-TWO
Back in Lilac Lake, Melissa felt on firmer ground thinking of her career and what she hoped to do in the future. She met with Crystal and reviewed the pros and cons of Crystal selling the café and forming a partnership with her. They had no idea if Jason and Nettie would agree to their idea.
“Selling the café to be something other than it already is doesn’t work for me,”
said Crystal. “I feel as if I owe it to everyone in town to keep providing them with breakfast and lunch and tea for all their support over the last several years.”
“I understand and agree with you,”
said Melissa. “I think you can make the sale work, but if it doesn’t, I have other options.”
“In truth, I want to get out of the business so Emmett and I can get married and start our own family. We’re both at a time in our lives when it makes sense. I never thought I’d say it, but I want a big family with Emmett.”
“That’s so sweet,”
said Melissa. Knowing Crystal’s background, her eyes stung with tears. “I’m not ready for a family yet. But I am ready to settle down.”
She chuckled softly. “That makes it seem as if I’ve had many opportunities, which you and I know isn’t the case. But I have the feeling that Ross is the man I’ve waited for all my life.”
“Now you’re making me all emotional,”
said Crystal. “I think we’re both ready for a change, which is good. Right?”
“Yes, but I would’ve liked knowing it was coming. To have my life ripped apart by a disaster was shocking. Funny, without the restaurant, I wasn’t sure who I was. I guess it’s all been for good.”
“Some of the best out of that disaster is us becoming friends,”
said Crystal. “I’m grateful for that.”
“Me, too,”
said Melissa, feeling warm inside. “Nettie and Jason will get in town late tonight, arriving at my house around midnight. We’ll meet you here tomorrow at 4 when you close the café. That will give me time to show them around town.”
“Perfect,”
said Crystal. “Are you and Ross going to join the group at Jake’s tonight?”
“I hope so. I think it’ll be relaxing for Ross.”
Melissa hugged Crystal goodbye and left, wondering what the next few days would bring.
###
Melissa was outside working in her garden when Ross approached her. “Great to be back home?”
She smiled. “It’s always nice. Have you caught up with Mike? Plans still in place?”
He sat beside her on the grass. “Yeah, now that Dad’s service is over, I can think of other things. You’ve got a lot to think about, too.”
“Yes. I won’t know what will happen with the café until Nettie and Jason decide about buying it. When I saw Crystal earlier, she asked if we would join the gang at Jake’s. I told her I hoped so. What do you say?”
Ross shrugged. “Fine by me. It’ll be nice to see everyone.”
“Okay, that’s what we’ll do,”
said Melissa. She fluttered her eyelashes playfully. “Want to help me with the weeding?”
He laughed at her teasing and said, “No way. I’m outta here. See you later.”
###
That night, Melissa and Ross left for Jake’s around seven in Melissa’s car. That would give them plenty of time to socialize before Jason and Nettie arrived.
Melissa looked forward to seeing everyone. It was wonderful to be included. Though it was a diverse group, everyone was congenial.
She and Ross entered Jake’s to find most of their friends there, filling tables at one end of the bar.
They sat at a table with Dani and Brad Collister and Taylor and Cooper Walker. The two Gilford women looked radiant as usual. They had a way of dressing and putting themselves together that Melissa had always tried to emulate.
At the table next to them, Dirk sat with Samantha Waters, who was showing everyone the diamond she’d just received from him. Surprised, Melissa leaned over to congratulate Dirk, but he spoke before she could.
“Good to see you and Ross. Melissa, you’ve already met Samantha, my fiancée.”
“Yes, congratulations to you both,” she said.
“It’s sweet when people can rekindle a romance,”
said Dani. She grinned at Ross. “What about you two? You’re a new couple, but it seems like it might be becoming serious.”
Ross’s cheeks flushed. He leaned toward Dani and said softly, “We’re friends…”
He turned as Mike spoke to him.
Silence followed.
Melissa felt her body stiffen. It struck her then that while it had been nice knowing how much his family loved the idea of Ross and her being together for real, Ross wasn’t thinking that way.
Melissa waited until the conversation turned to something else, then stood. “I’m sorry, but I’m not feeling well. I’ll see everyone tomorrow.”
“Are you alright? Do you want me to drive?”
asked Ross with concern.
“No, thanks,”
she managed. “You stay. Maybe Dani and Brad can take you back home.”
“Sure,”
said Brad. “No problem.”
###
On the ride home, she allowed her tears to fall. She felt shredded. Whenever the idea of a future together came up, Ross backed away. How was it going to continue if he couldn’t acknowledge their relationship? She wanted a man who was as committed to the idea of being together in the future as she was, a relationship with marriage in mind.
At home, she told herself to hold it together. Nettie and Jason would arrive soon, and their visit was more important than ever for securing a future for her talents. Surely, she should be able to find employment between plans for the café and the Lilac Lake Inn.
Later, when Nettie and Jason arrived, she greeted them with enthusiastic hugs and offered them drinks and a light snack. But after working all day and driving to New Hampshire, they were ready for bed, which was fine with her.
###
The morning sun streaking across her bed caused Melissa to open her eyes, feeling drugged from the lack of sleep.
It was still early and quiet in the house. Silently, she got out of bed, slipped on a silk robe, and went barefoot into the kitchen, taking care not to make any noise.
She made coffee and took a cup to her back deck to enjoy the morning moment. She liked to observe nature greeting the day by listening to the songs of birds and, most mornings, seeing brown bunnies hop across her lawn to where her garden was fenced in.
She watched as a bunny tried to get under the chicken wire mesh. He was persistent but made no headway. It was more or less how she felt about her relationship with Ross. No matter how much she wished for a real relationship with him, she couldn’t break through to something that promised a future.
As if she’d conjured him up, Ross entered her vision. He didn’t wave as he walked toward her.
She waited to see what he would do or say.
He opened the screen door and stepped inside. Pulling a chair close to her, he said quietly, “We need to talk. I realize my conversation with Dani upset you. Let me explain.”
“Explain that you want to be friends with benefits?”
she asked, unable to stop herself. That thought had been circling her mind.
Surprise widened his eyes. “Why would you say that? You know that’s not true.”
“That’s what it made our relationship seem like. Let’s talk another time. Nettie and Jason are here, and I’m going to be busy with them all day. I need time to think over things.”
Ross let out a long sigh, then stood and moved the chair back in place. “ You’ve got the wrong idea. I get that this isn’t a good time, but we need to have an honest conversation. Let me know when you’re ready. I’m not going to give up on us.”
He left the porch and walked away.
As Melissa was fixing herself a second cup of coffee, Nettie appeared.
“Good morning! How did you sleep?”
Melissa asked, handing her a cup of black coffee as if she knew Nettie liked it.
“Very well. That bed is so comfortable. Jason is still sleeping, but I thought that would give us some ‘girl time’ to talk.”
“Come out to the screened-in porch with me. It’s a perfect place for a morning cup of coffee and a chat with a friend. I’m so glad you’re here.”
“I’m looking forward to seeing the town and meeting some of your friends. Crystal sounds impressive on the phone.”
“She’s worked hard to have a very successful business. I both like and admire her,”
said Melissa, thinking how lucky she was to have gotten to know Crystal better.
Nettie took a sip of her coffee and set her cup down. “Between you and me, I think this is a perfect time to ask Jason to make a change. We have the wedding coming up, and because we’ve waited so long, we want to start a family soon. I think we can have a more normal life by getting away from working dinner hours. The restaurant business is tough, as you well know. And knowing our siblings will still be part of the restaurant in Boston takes a lot of pressure off of us.”
“I’ve had so many mixed feelings about my family’s restaurant being destroyed that I get it. One minute, I’m feeling free; the next, sad and at loose ends.”
“What about your neighbor who isn’t just a neighbor anymore? How’s that going?”
Nettie asked.
“It’s going nowhere. His family loves the idea of the two of us together, but last night, among a group of friends, Ross made it clear he’s not about to commit to anything. He tried to discuss it with me this morning, but I put him off.”
Melissa felt Nettie’s eyes boring into her and shifted in her seat.
“You’re not pushing him away, are you?”
said Nettie.
“Not really. I just don’t want to be friends with benefits,”
said Melissa. “I want a real relationship.”
“Whoa! Where did that come from?”
Nettie said.
Melissa shot Nettie a helpless look. “Crystal tells me to let time take care of things.”
“Wise advice,”
said Nettie, taking hold of Melissa’s hand. “Why aren’t you listening to her? We’ve been friends for a long time. I’m here if you need me. But you know I’m going to agree with Crystal. For heaven’s sake, give Ross a chance. You’ve only been dating for a few weeks.”
“You’re right,”
said Melissa. “I’m not used to being in this situation. I love him, and it scares me.”
“Yes, I understand, but you’ve got to give him time to reach the same point. Isn’t that what you want? For him to feel the same way you do?”
Melissa nodded, allowing Nettie’s words to sink in.
“It’s all going to be fine. Slow down and let the relationship develop. Now, let’s talk about the town and why Justin and I should move here,”
said Nettie, eliminating some of the tension in the air.
Jason appeared carrying a cup of coffee. He sat in a chair next to Nettie. “Morning. What are you talking about?”
“The town,”
said Nettie. “I want Melissa to tell us what living in Lilac Lake is like.”
Melissa sat back and drew a breath. “Lilac Lake is very special. It’s small-town living for sure, but the lifestyle is one of being healthy, living each day well with lots of outdoor activities, and having time for enjoyment,”
she said, realizing how much she loved it.
The conversation turned to more practical matters like health care, schools, sports, and other things most people want to know about anywhere they live.
“I’m going to show you around the town, and we’ll pop into the café for breakfast so you can see the operation and taste the food. Crystal doesn’t know we’re coming, so it’ll be a surprise, which is the best way for you to make a fair judgment.”
Melissa didn’t say that by dropping in on a regular morning, Nettie and Jason would understand better how important the café was to the town.