Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
ANGELO
Leaving Everly with Gracie is one of the hardest things I've had to do, but missing this appointment could be detrimental to my business and my family.
Annie bought the shop just a few doors up from the diner a few months back, but it wasn't until recently that she hired me. It’s a small job, but one that keeps my employees busy and me in business, so really there is no job too small.
"Sorry I'm late." I walk at a fast clip through the nearly empty space. "I appreciate you waiting."
"It's only been ten minutes, Angelo." Annie laughs. "You can take a deep breath. I know you have kids at home."
"Yeah, well, it's not the kids that are the problem. It's the damn babysitter who keeps canceling on me," I grumble.
Annie gasps. "Do you need to reschedule? I completely understand if you do. Family's important." Annie snaps her fingers. "Oh, do you need someone to watch the kids? I would be happy to help, or they can come here. I don't have a problem with it."
I smile with gratitude. "I appreciate the offer, but I found someone last minute who's willing to help me out for a bit."
I don't mention that it's Annie's sister.
My client was very adamant when we met that she didn't want people to know she's in town, nor did she want to know about what her family is doing.
I was sworn to secrecy about her identity and her familial relationship to those who already moved here.
Something about keeping it fair. So, instead, I keep that bit of information to myself and ignore the sadness in Annie's eyes.
"Let's talk about your plans for this place. Have you decided what you want it to be?"
There's nothing normal about this project. When Annie hired me, she didn't know what business she wanted to open, just that she wanted one on Main Street. The plan was to decide after demolition of the interior was complete. Well, we are at that point.
"I'm thinking a pub. This town doesn't have a bar, but I also don't want to take away from the diner, so maybe just some bar food.
Burgers and such." She bites on one of her nails the longer she thinks about what she wants to do.
"I haven't been to the diner, but the sign mentions club sandwiches. Do they have a lot of dinner items?"
I smile at her reassuringly. "The Crazy Fox primarily caters to lunch. Sure, Bee has some breakfast items, and yes she's open for dinner, but it's only because there isn't another place in town to eat. I'm sure she'll be fine with you opening a pub and offering another option."
Annie blows out a relieved breath. "Okay, a pub it is.
I know you must think I'm a complete flake for not having an idea before I bought this place, but I just couldn't decide what would be a good addition to the town.
There are already so many lovely places.
I want to add to it, not take away from something else. "
"I don't think you're flaky, and I like that you care enough about this town that you took the time to see what would work best. My family would be proud to have you."
"That's one of the reasons I hired you rather than bring someone in from the outside. I knew if anyone would care enough about my project, it was the descendant of the founding father."
I wince at the term. My connection to the town is something I rarely speak about. It's one of those things that people know but no one talks about unless I bring it up.
There are downsides to having no siblings and a parent who is still alive. Besides my girls, I'm the only living relative of Warren James Creek, the founder of Willow Creek.
"Yes, I care very much about this town." I keep my explanation brief. I don’t like to talk about my relationship to the founder. So many people in Willow Creek already make a big enough deal about it that I don’t need another person to do so.
I just want to be the kind of man who makes a name for myself and passes down my own legacy to my girls.
"I think it's so romantic that your however-many-great-grandfather named the town after his late wife. They must've been so in love."
So I'd been told. According to my parents, Warren's wife, Willow, died in childbirth. He was so distraught, he moved away from others to be by himself. He bought this land and made it his new home. Eventually others followed and that's how Willow Creek became the town it is today.
"They were." I need to redirect her. Change the topic of discussion away from me before the emotional similarity crumbles all my defenses. "So now that we know this place is going to be a pub, tell me how you envision it being set up."
I don't miss the gleam in Annie's eyes. She knows exactly what I'm trying to do by changing the subject.
"Okay, so I'm thinking the bar on the side.
" She points toward the right side of the shop.
"The kitchen back there. I know we’ll have to close the area off, so maybe part of the bar can be in front of it so that orders can be brought out that way.
Then bathrooms on the other back side and the rest will be open seating.
I'm thinking barrels for tables instead of high tops, and then booths around the outside of the place. Ohhhh . . ."
Annie snaps her fingers again. "I wonder if we can have some outdoor seating next to the building, or even around back. I guess I would need to see who owns the grassy part to the rear and side since I know it's not part of my property."
I wince. "I own it. Well, sorta. It belongs to the town, but one of the stipulations in our town bylaws is that any piece of property owned by the town must be approved by me before it can be sold.
It's an old and archaic way of operating, but the town counsel refuses to change it despite how many times I ask. "
And I ask. Repeatedly. But they don't care that I don't want the responsibility. Willow Creek is a sentimental town that believes in tradition, and no matter how many times I tell them it’s okay to come into the twenty-first century and change things, they refuse to let go of the familial connection.
"Do you think the town council would be open to me having outdoor seating?"
I answer her honestly. "You would need to approach them, and I know you don't want that. This town isn't good at keeping secrets. The moment you asked, everyone would know who you are and who you're related to."
It's crazy how much Annie resembles Gracie, and yet I don't find her nearly as attractive as I do her younger sister.
"Okay, never mind. I'll keep the idea for the future after the pub opens."
"Is there a reason you don't want your sister and brother to know you plan to move here?"
I have yet to meet Owen, but Annie’s told me he was the first one to move to Willow Creek. Gracie followed, and now Annie. Although, technically, Annie was before her sister. Just no one knew it.
"It's not them I'm keeping it from, but who they would tell."
The last thing anyone would consider me is a gossip, but I refuse to lie to myself and say I'm not curious about what she means by that.
"I know my opinion doesn't matter, but I think if you told them you wanted it kept a secret, they would do that for you."
Annie laughs. "You’ve obviously never met my youngest sister. Keeping her mouth shut isn't something she knows how to do very well."
I'm torn between confessing to my client that I know her sister well enough to rent to her, and keeping my mouth shut to avoid the can of worms that might open up.
No matter which way I look at things, I'm in a lose-lose situation.
If Annie learns I know her sister, she might want to hire someone else.
But saying nothing may bring its own set of consequences later.
Either way, it's best for the time being to shut my trap and keep things professional.
"Let's get back to the task at hand. Do you have a time frame you want things done by? I have my guys on another project as well, but both can be done concurrently as long as you're not looking to have this completed in the next few weeks."
Annie shakes her head. "Time isn't a factor. The longer it takes, the longer I can stay hidden. I have to fly back to Chicago tomorrow to get back to work, so most of the communication will have to be over the phone. Unless you need me here for something?"
"Nope. Based on what you've told me, I'll have a set of blueprints emailed over to you in the next few days. Once you approve those, we can get started on the build-out. The other project is a senior living facility that's almost done, so my guys can easily work on both."
Annie smiles from where she's moving around the wide-open space. "I saw that. Someone purchased an old estate and is converting it. I think that's a great idea. This small community is growing in a good way."
I have to agree. There's progression, but not the negative kind that most towns see. "Yes, so far we've been able to keep the expansion of the town to only those things that will enhance it. Town council is adamant that we keep only small businesses as our main focus."
It's nice to know my great-great-great-great-grandfather Warren's legacy is still in place. He founded Willow Creek to get away from his memories, but created new ones in the process. Ones that are intact to this day.
"Then I chose the right place to bring my dream to life."
We spend the next ten minutes finalizing plans and setting tentative dates for the next few steps, before Annie sneaks out the back to where her car is parked. I wait until I know she's gone before shooting off a text to Gracie.
Ang
How are things going?
It's several agonizing minutes before Gracie finally responds. I was giving her two more minutes before I was on my way to the house to check on things.
Gracie
They are going. I've decided Everly and I are going to have lunch at the Crazy Fox today.
I don't like the way that first sentence sounds.
Ang
Do you need me to come home?
Something tells me my overly enthusiastic youngest child is giving Gracie a run for her money. No wonder the babysitter keeps canceling on me. I know Everly can be a handful, but she can also be the sweetest toddler when she wants to be.
Gracie
Nope. I got this!
My fingers fly across my phone screen as I quickly type out my reply.
Ang
I'll meet you at the diner. Just text me when you leave.
Gracie is quick to respond.
Gracie
I said I got this.
Ang
I know. Did it ever occur to you that I just miss my little girl and want to see her for lunch?
It's a lie. Well, partiality. Sure I always miss my girls when I'm not with them, but this is more than that. I want to see Gracie as well. And I really want to see how she is with my daughter.
Gracie
Fine. I'll text you.
I can practically see the eye roll and feel the attitude through the phone. Once this woman realizes how much she’s like my daughter, their time together is going to be so much easier.