Page 51 of Right With You
“To Luc and Elise and their new engagement,” Aurelie said, a sly wink directed at her brother and me.
“And to being open to new opportunities when they present themselves,” Luc’s grandfather said, then a posh, “Santé.”
Well. Okay. Not going for subtle at all then, which wasn’t a shock. After all, he’d insisted on the meeting in the first place, so it wasn’t like we could pretend he didn’t have a motive.
Everyone joined in, echoing his cheers and enjoying a sip. I may have taken a rather hearty drink before setting down my glass and taking the seat Luc helped me into. He’d said nothing, and part of me felt he should’ve, but he wouldn’t poke the bear so overtly, nor would he risk being rude to someone… unless that someone happened to be Callum.
“Odette has just obtained a Master’s in Organizational Leadership and will be looking to take the helm of a large non-profit in New York,” Mr. Devereaux said, tipping his flute toward her before taking another drink.
“That’s exciting,” Aurelie said, offering her a smile.
“Si, congratulations, Odette. Do you know which organization?” Michele asked, cheery smile shining over at the woman.
I didn’t hear her response because despite the decent preparation Luc had given me, and the warnings he’d shared about how this would go, I hadn’t realized just how brutal it would feel to be set up directly next to a woman who was essentially my foil. Her looks were my opposite, her family was no doubt the inverse of mine, and here she was with a world-class education, a master’s degree, and heading for a job at what would undoubtedly be an impressive non-profit.
“Are you alright?” Luc asked, his voice so close, I startled slightly, then shut my eyes when he pressed his lips to the side of my head.
Whether the affectionate gesture was rooted in the need to be convincing, or if it’d been in an effort to comfort me, I’d take it either way. I needed to remember who I was. I didn’t care about any of the things Odette had. Good for her. So far, she seemed lovely, and her life had nothing to do with mine.
I nodded and patted his thigh to reassure him without drawing any excess attention. Sadly, even the simple gesture did the opposite of what I’d hoped, and Luc’s grandfather zeroed in on me.
“Do you hold a professional degree, Elise?” He waited with brows raised as though this were a completely normal question to ask someone.
“I have a bachelor’s in communications.” I wouldn’t mention the half of an online MBA program I’d completed since I’d left that by the wayside almost two years ago. I’d realized I couldn’t open the store and complete the degree, neither financially nor with only twenty-four hours in a day. One had to go, and for once, it hadn’t been my dream.
I’d spent so long acquiescing to others and, at that time, Callum. He’d talked me into letting him invest, and although it’d made me slightly ill to allow it, he did. He’d even wanted me to continue the master’s and he’d cover the difference, but in my heart of hearts, I’d known him helping that much more would make me miserable. I hadn’t wanted him to contribute at all, but he’d made a convincing case, and we’d been together for a while at that point, so I’d said yes.
Quitting the MBA had been an important choice for me. Maybe someday, I’d go back and pick up where I’d left off, but it’d been the right move. The more I’d gotten into the nitty gritty of the business, the more I’d seen how some of the MBA programming had been helpful but much of it didn’t really apply to my little shop, and that was okay. I’d learned so much by doing and I was proud of that.
Except you’re currently failing, which is why Callum is trying to salvage his investment and sell it off.
I blinked away from that cruel reminder right as Mr. Devereaux said, “And this donut shop is… a franchise?”
The disdain with which he said the word made it seem like anything unoriginal would threaten his ability to breathe. One would think he’d never experienced a retail chain in any capacity, but the designer stores with his brands’ labels on the doors were, in fact, chains.
“No, it’s an original,” I said, a little burst of pride hitting with the confession.
“Ah. Well, we can see you and Luc aren’t exactly?—”
“What made you decide on donuts?” Aurelie asked, quickly cutting through whatever delightful criticism her grandfather would’ve landed.
I smiled at her stealthy work. “I love them, and I had a period a while back where I experimented with all kinds of baking but kept coming back to donuts after I tasted an amazing one in Salt Lake. It was too far to drive to satisfy the whim of a craving, so I started making them here and sharing them with friends. Soon, people were requesting them, asking if they could order them, and… well, the rest is history.”
The community had driven my belief I could have a store here. They’d supported it in peak ski season and in the slim months. I’d never be anything but grateful to the residents of Silverton for the way they’d allowed me to bring my dream to life.
Even if that dream gets sold off to someone I’ve never met.
“Oh, I love that,” Aurelie said.
“É una storia perfetto—a perfect story.” Michele smiled.
I beamed at them both, appreciating that they’d taken the time to come to the shop and try a donut, and also that they were clearly trying to help Luc. They were good people, and they were doing right by Luc with every breath tonight.
Odette, too, seemed charmed by my story. I hadn’t shared all the details, but I supposed it was nice enough to learn someone had turned a passion or pleasure into a fruitful business.
“It is, however, a clear reason you and my grandson aren’t suited to one another. You are tethered here, and he is a member of an international community. You have a… background that has trained you to expect very little from your life and my grandson is in a situation where?—”
Luc stood and reached for me, tugging me up from my seat and walking out of the lounge leaving only a murmured “Excuse us,” in his wake.
