Page 63 of Semi Sweet
“So tell us everything,” Mr. Mizuno said. “Is the job better than your old one? Do you enjoy the city?”
I watched Sean pour three glasses of the wine as he said, “Do you want the parent answer or the therapist answer?”
As he passed a glass to his mother, she replied, “You know I’ll get both out of you one way or the other.”
He handed his father a glass and reached across the table to hand one to me. I watched as Mr. Mizuno took the bottle and filled one more glass. I got the feeling I was witnessing another custom taking place. Sean took the wine and seemed to collect his thoughts.
“The parent answer is I’ve got a great crew under me and the store is far busier than the one here in Aspen.”
“And the therapist answer?” Sean’s mother asked.
Sean’s eyes bounced to me, almost like he wasn’t sure if I would be surprised by what he had to say. He exhaled. “It’s not my dream, so I’m never going to be one hundred percent satisfied. Being hand-picked to work at the original Cash Value Market is an honor, but it’s not where I see myself ending up.” Once more, he looked at me. “I’m not pleased with some of the choices management makes, either, but that can be a conversation for a different time.”
There was silence afterward. I took the time to make myself a plate of food so I wouldn’t be interrupting the conversation when it picked back up.
It was finally Mr. Mizuno that spoke. “Do you want to tell him, or should I?”
“Tell me what?” Sean asked.
His mother finally sat down beside her husband. Her face seemed troubled, yet hopeful. “The place down on Main Street, the one you’ve been talking about for years. It’s back on the market.”
Sean’s body sagged with disappointment as he took in her words. It took me only a few seconds to realize that they must have been talking about the hunter green storefront with the large window that he taped to the wall in his bakery.
“No….”
She nodded. “Sean-kun, it’s the cheapest it’s ever been.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight: Timing
Afterabitmorevisiting and small talk, Sean showed me to my room. I sat on the edge of the bed, taking in the cream walls and the pictures hanging on them. Sean lingered. It was like he knew he needed to go, but couldn’t. I’d hoped we would be sharing a room like we had the previous night, an event that felt like a lifetime ago, not twenty-four hours. It seemed that we were going to be separated until the morning. I was sure he was being respectful to his parents, but I could feel it adding to the tension.
“You’re troubled,” I said as I watched him stare into space.
“I’ve had my eye on that place since I was twenty-two. It’s never been available at the right time or I couldn’t afford it. I’ve never even been inside.”
“Well, maybe it’s finally time to check it out.” I hoped being lighthearted would calm him down.
“I just moved to Denver,” he murmured. “I’m not ready.”
“Come on, Sean, no one is ready to do risky things.” I smiled at him when he finally looked into my eyes. “Trust me, I know.” I realized I probably wouldn’t have come to that conclusion without him.
He motioned for me to come to him. I squeezed him tightly when he took me into his arms.
“Am I insane if I want to go look at it? Is that just torturing myself?” he asked.
“I think you’ll regret it if you don’t.”
“Come with me? I was planning on taking you around anyway, unless you have Rocky Mountain Press things to do.”
“My new editor told me to get settled in Aspen. I start coming to work on Monday,” I explained. “And I would be offended if you didn’t ask me to come along.” I also knew I was destined to sit down with Sean’s mother at some point and talk about my troubles, but it didn’t have to happen immediately.
Sean drew back so his dark eyes could bore into my blue ones. “I wish…. I want….”
I reached up and cupped his face with my hands. “Don’t worry about me right now. We’ve had a rough twenty-four hours. Just rest.” Wasn’t he just saying the same thing to me?
Once more, a wordless conversation passed between us. I rose up on my toes, brought his face to mine, and I kissed him. I was grateful we had a safe place to go, but I so desperately wished we didn’t have to be polite and could close the door behind us.
***
