3. Chapter Three
Chapter Three
Lizzie
Iwipe my eyes and sniffle, staring down at my untouched coffee and pastry. How can I eat? My stomach churns as I think about Billie and the audacity he has to come to my cafe to stir up trouble.
He ruined my appetite. I grab a couple of tissues from the box on my desk, blow my nose, and wipe my eyes and cheeks. I can’t go back out there looking like I’ve been crying, so I sit in silence for a few more minutes, sending up silent prayers to God to help me calm down.
But I don’t want to be calm. I want to be sad or angry, which makes my eyes water again.
How could Billie do this to me?
It’s the same question I asked when he left me without much of an explanation, without anything except a text saying he needed space and time to pray about what’s best for him.
Six years ago. I was ready to be with him back then. Once upon a time, he was the perfect choice for me. He was loved by my Mama. He went to church regularly here in Selah. He was my boyfriend throughout senior year of high school and all of college.
I was looking for forever with him. We’d just graduated from Selah Falls University when, one Sunday after church, he came over for dinner at my parents’ house. At some point during dinner, he looked at me and said, “You and I make sense.” Then he proposed.
And I said yes because I believed him.
But in reality, I was just a young woman fresh out of college with a BS in Entrepreneurship, who was happy staying in her hometown to open her own business. I hadn’t known it then, but he was a confused, cocky man looking for his next victim instead of the perfect man I thought he was.
And now, he’s here, as if resurrected from the dead after six years of radio silence. He is not only alive, but he is coming to dinner.
I should text Mama and ask her why she is allowing him to slide back into our lives and why she is extending an invitation to him. But I know why. She always liked him for me, or for any of my sisters. She sees him as a way to marry one of us off to a good man from Selah Falls.
Papa never warmed up to him like Mama did, and truth be told, I trust his discernment more than I can depend on Mama’s. I wish I’d listened to his discernment back when Billie proposed at that Sunday family dinner all those years ago.
But I ignored all the red flags and said yes because getting married to a good man was the goal… that’s how Mama raised us Bennet girls.
I think of the family dinner tonight that was rescheduled from yesterday and wondered if Mama planned this around Billie coming to town. I wouldn’t put it past her.
But I also considered who would be at this dinner: Mama, ready to marry me off to Billie no matter his excuses for leaving.
Papa, keeping a watchful eye on Billie and quietly listening to the excited chatter of conversation that naturally occurred when my sisters and I were together.
My sisters: Janet, with her husband, Charlie Bingley.
Mary, Kitty and Lydia with their boyfriends and then me.
I groan out of frustration. I can’t show up to dinner alone again. My mind goes in a million directions trying to think of a plan.
Maybe I can cancel and say I’m sick.
But that won’t work since I live with Mary, Kitty, and Lydia. They will know I am not sick when they get home after dinner. And then Mama will just bring soup over and check on me since she and Papa live right next door.
I can invite Nic and Jane over for moral support. But Jane has rehearsal tonight with the church worship team since she is the backup guitar player. Nic has wedding errands to run with Jay before he leaves for a quick trip to New York for an in-person interview ahead of his second book release.
“I don’t want to go,” I say to myself, checking my phone for the time.
My lunch break is over. I look at the to-do list on my desk, showing administrative tasks I have to tackle this month as the cafe owner. My head starts to hurt a bit, and I am a little overwhelmed by the thought of work, family, and Billie.
I stand up and stretch, not feeling up to going back out there after my eventful morning, but business doesn’t take a break, so neither can I… not for long, anyway.
I pass through the kitchen, casually gazing at Will. I expect to see him baking, but he’s just standing by the open refrigerator looking at me. I don’t pause to talk to him. But the way he looks at me makes me want to stop and ask if he is okay.
He looks worried, or maybe concerned… about me?
No, I doubt it. Maybe we are out of an ingredient he needed.
I head to the front counter to check on Wolfsheim and to see if help is needed.
Then, I plan to go back to the kitchen to check in with Will to make sure he is okay before heading back to my office to get started on that dreaded do list.
“Mr. Wolfsheim, how’s it going out here?” I ask. He’s organizing some cafe business cards on the counter but looks up and smiles that gold-tooth-flecked grin at me.
“Had about five customers come through for their morning caffeine rush, but it’s been quiet for a bit. Two were simple to-go orders. There are a few customers here now.”
I look around the cafe as a burst of laughter breaks out. There are three customers huddled at a round table, sipping coffee and chatting.
Charlotte Lucas, an old friend of mine from my time at Selah Falls University, where we co-chaired the Black Student Union; George Wickham, a local police officer who is one of the few white men in town; and one of his officer buddies.
I wave as they stand up and throw away their trash. Charlotte smiles at me, coming over to chat.
“I still can’t believe Nic is getting married so soon. Are you excited?” she asks once we move past greetings and pleasantries.
“I’m so happy for her and Jay. They are literally perfect for each other,” I say, and I mean it.
“They really are,” she agrees. “The wedding is all anyone in town can talk about these days. It’s going to be the event of the season.”
“You make it sound like we’re in the Regency era,” I say, laughing. “But it really is going to be the best wedding ever. Have you RSVP’d yet?”
“Of course,” Charlotte gushes, flipping her long braids over her shoulder.
Wickham strolls over to the front counter as his other friend heads to the cop car parked outside. He smiles at me and I almost forget I saw my ex today when he asks, “How are you doing today, beautiful?”
“Better now that you guys have stopped by,” I say, smiling back.
“I had to come by and grab a cup of coffee from my favorite barista.”
I know I am the only barista in town, but when Wickham says it, I kind of feel special. It is probably because he is a handsome flirt, but hey…I’m just a girl.
Charlotte, who is the daughter of the local police chief, orders a few extra things at the register for her dad.
Wolfsheim takes care of her order while I talk to Wickham.
But I swear I see her side-eye him as he talks to me.
I look between them, not sure if there is something there, but I know one thing: drama is the last thing I need.
“I’m going to hand these off to your partner outside,” Charlotte says to Wickham. “Make sure my dad gets his drink and donuts, please and thank you.” Then, she waves goodbye to me on her way out.
Wickham, on the other hand, lingers. I bite my lip because the hunger from not eating lunch starts to get to me.
Also, as I watch him take one last bite of a donut he bought, it makes me want one too.
Then, I realize how thirsty I must look and clear my throat, looking away.
Wolfsheim busies himself with cleaning off the front counter while Wickham turns his full attention to me.
His baby-blue eyes twinkle as he licks his fingers, eyes still on mine. Okay, so he is definitely flirting with me. But I have to ask something first.
“So, are you and Charlotte a thing?” I ask, keeping my voice low as I lean forward on the counter, getting right to the point. I’ve never been one to beat around the bush.
He blushes and says, “Are you trying to see if I’m single, Lizzie?”
“Maybe.”
He leans forward too, his face inches away from mine. “Do you want to go out with me?”
“That depends, Wickham.” My heart is racing, but I play it cool, keeping my voice level.
“I’m single. And I’ve been wondering if you noticed me noticing you, if I’m being honest.”
“You’ve been noticing me?” I ask.
“How could I not?” Wickham asks, and it takes my breath away, the way he looks at me… maybe he has been genuinely interested in me all along. “I’ve been coming in here every day so I could see you.”
“So, not just for the coffee and donuts?” I asked, teasing.
“The coffee and donuts are good, but you are just so…”
“Officer Wickham.”
The moment is interrupted by Will calling his name. Wickham looks away from me and stands up straight. The two men assess each other.
I look at both of them, sensing…tension? No, it can’t be. I shrug it off as Will nods at Wickham.
Then, Will grabs an empty tray from the display case. Wolfsheim whistles a tune in the background, minding his own business or pretending to.
“I’d better get going.” Wickham smiles at me again before nodding at Will and Wolfsheim.
To me, he says, “Text me later.” He writes his cell phone number on a napkin, using a pen from his pocket. I take it and smile stupidly at him as he goes.
Will says nothing, brushing past me to go back to the kitchen. Wolfsheim looks at me with raised eyebrows.
“What?” I ask him.
“Hm.” Wolfsheim smirks at me, but goes back to tidying up the front counter like nothing happened.
And I wonder if I missed something.