Page 112 of Defensive Desire

But I can't join in. Not yet. Not until I know.

Without thinking, I walk back out to the front and flip the sign on the door to "Closed," even though it's barely ten in the morning.

"Emma?" Ethan calls out from behind the coffee machine. "What are you doing?"

Lucy chimes in. "We can watch the shop while you're gone."

"I just... I need a minute. Alone, maybe?"

Ethan freezes and Lucy just raises both hands in surrender, like a wave of understanding just crashed over them. Grandpa Walt walks over, wraps me in one of his signature hugs before releasing me and moves towards the door.

They file out with minimal fuss, and the moment I'm alone, I sink into the window seat, the one Lucy usually claims, and stare out at Iron Ridge.

The town is waking up slowly, moving around as people rush to work, tourists snap photos of the mountains… life continuing in every corner of the world as if everything is normal.

As if my world isn't possibly cracking apart while no one's looking.

I remember the day I opened Chapter & Grind. How terrified I was. How my mother said it would never last six months. How the bank almost didn't approve my loan because "small businesses don't survive in towns like this."

Yet here I am.

Not just surviving, but thriving. Expanding.

My dream is coming true before my eyes.

So why does it feel like I'm losing everything?

After a long moment to myself, movement across the street catches my eye. Clara stands outside Summit Café, a suitcasein one hand, keys in the other. She looks small against the "SOLD" sign in the window, her face a mixture of sadness and excitement.

Our eyes meet across the street, and she gives me a little wave.

Before I can think, I'm outside, crossing to her.

"Clara," I call, my voice catching. "You're leaving?! Today?"

She nods, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "You know what they say… London waits for no one."

"I..." I gesture helplessly at Summit Café. "I still can't believe you're really going."

"All good things evolve, Emma." Her smile is warm. "Speaking of which, I hear congratulations are in order. You won the arena space. Well done."

I nod, trying to summon some enthusiasm. "Yeah. It's... it's incredible."

Clara studies me, head tilted. "You don't look like someone who just achieved her dream."

"I did. I mean, I am. It's just..."

"Ah." Understanding dawns in her eyes. "This is about the handsome hockey player."

A laugh bubbles up, surprising me. "God. Have I become that obvious?"

"Only to someone who's been exactly where you are." She sets down her suitcase and takes my hands in hers. "Listen to me, Emma. You've got it all. The space. The business. The love. Don't let fear convince you it's not real."

Tears spring to my eyes. "What if he leaves? What if they trade him?"

"Then you'll figure it out," she says simply. "You think passion like that comes along twice? Fight for it. Why do you think I'm jumping across the pond, huh?"

"You make it sound so easy."

---