Page 40 of We Thought We Knew It All
“I’m sure she will in time.”
“Jay.” I leaned forward, meeting his eyes.
He shook his head. “I shouldn’t have said anything. I have to get to work.” He stood, dropping a twenty on the table. “Thanks for talking. Sorry about your face.”
“Still looks better than yours.”
He walked away, shaking his head. I threw some bills on the table and followed him out, remembering what he’d said. Callie had something she hadn’t told me.
15
Callie
Aunt Kat met me outside the now empty building with a warm hug.
“Hi sweetie,” she said.
“Thanks for coming with me. This is kind of big.”
“You have no idea how happy your phone call made me.” She smiled. “Your mom would be so proud.”
I matched her smile and led her into the building where an older, portly man with a balding head was waiting. He wore jean shorts and a Hawaiian shirt and met us with a broad grin.
The restaurant looked different than it had before. All signs of boats or nautical themes had been removed and pure potential sat in its place.
“This place is great,” Kat exclaimed.
“I know.” I grinned.
“Welcome, welcome,” the man said. “My name is Frank. You must be California.” He extended his hand toward Kat.
“Uh,” I started. “I’m California. We spoke on the phone.”
He looked from Kat to me and back again. “Aren’t you a little young?”
“Didn’t you see my age on the paperwork I sent over?”
Kat jumped in. “I’ll have you know, my niece will make this a success.”
“The last two restaurants at this location did not last more than a couple years. What makes you think yours will be different?”
His question was fair.
“Because.” I grinned, looking to Kat. “We have a plan.”
I proceeded to outline what we wanted to do. His eyes widened as he scratched his chin. “You think that Gulf City is the place for such a restaurant?”
“Of course it is. Gulf City is where it all began.”
“Okay, then the place is yours.” He walked back toward the counter and the contract that sat there. “I just need one final signature.”
I signed the papers, handed over the security deposit, and was given the keys to my very own kingdom.
My new landlord left and Kat wrapped me in a gigantic hug.
“Ever since my book came out, I’ve been wondering what to do next.” I squeezed her back. “I’m not a writer. I think I know that now. I have one more story to tell, but it isn’t who I am. This feels right.”
“Ally’s diner should’ve been yours. I still feel the sting of that closing.”
