Chapter Ten #3
“I need to tell you something,” Joel started.
“Ryan Grant and I were at law school together. He doesn’t know who I am, but everyone knew who he was.
Half the cases we studied came from his father’s firm.
A few years ago, I crossed paths with him again.
He destroyed one of my clients in an acquisition.
He was a complete asshole, which is why I moved home and took over the restaurant.
I hated corporate law, and I really hated Ryan Grant.
So now I serve sandwiches and occasionally provide legal services to the residents here. ”
“You’re a lawyer?” Callie asked, amazed. “I never realized that.”
“How would you?” Joel replied. “Unless there’s an estate or a divorce I’m settling, not much else happens here.”
“I’m sorry Ryan did that to you,” Callie replied.
She knew Joel was likely accurate in his recounting. Ryan would be the first to admit he had been closed off after his wife's death. He knew he was an asshole and realized he was becoming his father.
“It was shortly after his wife passed,” Joel confirmed.
“Callie, I barely know the guy, and I still don’t like him.
But seeing what he did for you last night, that wasn’t the Ryan Grant I knew.
He’s the kind of guy who wouldn’t stop an old lady from walking into traffic.
In fact, he’d push an old lady into traffic if she got in his way.
He’s not the guy who runs into a hurricane to save someone. ”
Joel wasn’t the first to tell her she had changed Ryan.
Her mind betrayed her, bringing back the good memories with Ryan.
The early days in the coffee shop, when he was so shy about flirting.
The way he took care of her after the assault and after her mother died.
He was the most selfless person she knew.
But how could she go back to him, knowing how much she had hurt him?
“I hurt him so badly,” Callie argued, tears stinging her eyes.
“And yet he came to find you,” Joel countered. “He doesn’t blame you. He blames himself.”
“He left,” Callie noted.
“Only because you asked him to,” Joel replied. “I think he understands you aren’t ready, but I doubt he’ll give up on you.”
Joel was about to continue the argument when Edna entered the restaurant.
“I hope you have plenty of gas for your generator,” she said, frustrated.
“What happened?” Joel asked.
Edna explained what she had seen on her way back to the restaurant.
The transformer serving their small town had been destroyed.
Several large trees had fallen into it, crushing the infrastructure and shutting down the system.
Edna was right; it would take time to replace it.
To limit the town's expenses, they had decided to have a private company supply their transformer.
But the small town was not one of their priority customers and, as they had learned in the past, was often last on the list for service after a major event.
“How long will it take?” Callie asked.
“It could be a week or more,” Joel explained.
“But how will people eat, stay warm, or do anything?” Callie objected.
“Exactly, it’s a pretty serious problem,” Edna replied.
“We’ll need to ration supplies," Joel said. “And ask those with perishable food in their fridges to bring it here. We’ll continue feeding anyone in need, but we’ll be depending on donations.”
“How long can we keep going like that?” Callie asked.
“As long as we need to,” Joel smiled encouragingly. “Here, the contacts are on my phone. Start calling people.”
Throughout the day, people arrived with their groceries.
As the restaurant became the gathering place again, they were also given every spare canister of gas to keep the restaurant’s generator running.
Edna started taking inventory and planning meals.
They were basic, but they were good. She wouldn’t let her standards slip.
Callie felt useless, unable to walk and help, but she did her best to coordinate people.
She began putting together a schedule so people could show up in shifts, allowing everyone in need a turn to come for their meals.
Joel praised her for her organization and initiative as people began signing up for time slots.
On the second day, strangers arrived at the restaurant asking for a meal. Callie watched as Joel chatted with them, learning the purpose of their visit.
“Who are they?” Callie asked after Joel finished the conversation.
“They are here to fix the transformer,” Joel said, surprise in his voice. “Apparently, the company’s owner said our town was a priority.”
“Owner?” Callie questioned.
“Some big investment firm,” Joel said, waiting for her reaction.
“Oh,” Callie said, trying not to seem interested.
“Why do I have a feeling that has something to do with you?” Joel pressed. “First, Ryan Grant shows up, begging you to go home with him, and now Kline Investments suddenly knows we exist?”
“Kline Investments?” Callie repeated.
“A friend of Ryan’s?” Joel asked.
“A friend of mine,” Callie replied, lowering her eyes shyly. Joel didn’t press for details.