Page 14 of When I Come Back
“I told you, it wasn’t all me. Owen and Hazel designed a lot of the interior, and Brooks did all the branding for the distillery. He created the sign outside. I don’t think I’ve ever seen your parents as proud as they were the day it was installed. I think they stood out there just staring up at it for an hour.”
“I had no idea,” I say.
“I had forgotten how talented he is.” Her tone turns warm again. I’m seeing a bit of the old Thea shining through—she’s always the most animated when she’s talking about people she cares for. “He was so cute when he came to me with a sketch of his idea. He was so nervous he asked me not to tell your parents where it came from. Of course, they immediately loved it. I’ve had other business owners come to me over the years asking for the name of my designer. You’ve probably seen his work around town. I keep telling him he should get his name out there and start getting paid for the work, but he refuses. Maybe you can talk to him.”
We both grow quiet. She knows just as well as I do I have no say in what my brother does. I barely had any influence over him before I left, and I definitely don’t these days.
“What’s your plan now?” I say switching the topic.
“I—I don’t know. We had plans for another expansion, but now…” She pauses and takes a deep breath, and I know she’s psyching herself up to say something. “Let’s cut to the chase.What’syourplan here? I can’t afford to buy you out, not yet at least. I’ve looked into my finances, and I just can’t swing it right now with everything else. I’m willing to keep things going as they have been, and maybe we can come up with some sort of payment plan so I can buy your share over time…” she trails off, a challenge in her eyes.
“I haven’t made any decisions. I think I need to get a lay of the land and see how things are being run, what’s working, what the plans are for the future.”
Her gaze turns hard, and I know I’ve said something wrong again.
“So you plan on staying?” The words leave her lips, and panic fills her eyes.
“For a little bit, but I have to get back to Seattle soon. I have to go back to Car—my restaurant. My manager can only do so much without me there.”
She nods in understanding before saying, “How involved are you planning on being here? The expansion we had in mind can’t be put into motion 3,000 miles away if you plan on being in charge of it. And if I’m being honest, I have it handled. You can stay on as an investor or something. I don’t need a partner or a boss. I don’t know why they did this.”
“I don’t either, but I honestly don’t have an answer for you right now on how it’ll all work. I just need all the details before I’ll feel comfortable making a decision.”
The silence stretches out between us, and I shift in my seat trying to find a way back to a more comfortable topic when the bell above the door rings. Thea’s eyes dart over to see who came in, and a smile breaks out on her face, the tension from a moment ago gone. I turn around and see Ripley making his way over to us.
Great.
If this wasn’t the only coffee shop in town, I’d think this was planned.
“Hey, babe,” he says, sitting down in an empty chair next to Thea and giving her cheek a quick kiss. He then turns to me. “Hey, Cary.”
I give him a small up nod and a blank expression in greeting.
“You’re here early. I can’t remember the last time you rolled out of bed before eleven,” Thea says with what I think is a knowing smirk.
“Well ifsomeonehadn’t made a racket getting dressed and out of the house this morning, I’d still be happily in bed,” Ripley says, and I track his arm as it slips over the back of Thea’s chair. She seems to find comfort in his grip but doesn’t melt into it.
Not like she used to with me.I shove that thought aside quickly.
“I tried to be quiet, but I couldn’t find my jeans.” It’s then I notice she’s wearing the same clothes from yesterday, and the pit in my stomach from earlier opens up wider than ever.
“All good,” he replies with an easy smile, settling back in his chair, his eyes on me. Ripley seems to be one of those people who’s comfortable in any situation. I’m sure he can sense the tension radiating off of me, and there’s a bit of a challenge in his eyes. “Whatchya guys up to?”
“We’re trying to figure out what to do with RED after everything we learned yesterday.” He nods at her, clearly already aware of the details of the situation.
“I’m not sure much needs to change. We all know you could run that place with your eyes closed… single-handedly,” he says this to Thea with warmth, but his eyes are anything but when they cut to me.
Single-handedly—as in, without me.
Got it, Rip. You don’t want me here, and Thea doesn’t need me.
“Oh, stop, I know everything you do for that place in the background. Not to mention, I wouldn’t even know where to start when it comes to the distillery,” Thea says.
“Nothing a few hands-on demonstrations can’t fix,” he says salaciously. My molars grind at the insinuation, and I have to look away from the look they share.
It’s then Ripley’s phone chimes, and he pulls it out, quickly glancing at it.
“Oh, I have to run—Brooks says he can meet me early to transfer the mash. We’re still on for tonight?”
