Page 104 of Brewing Up My Fresh Start
Mom’s expression softens with understanding. “And how did that make you feel?”
“Terrified. Exhilarated. Like I was standing on the edge of a cliff deciding whether to jump.” I trace patterns on the tablecloth, avoiding her knowing gaze. “It was romantic. It wasperfect. He was patient and gentle and willing to wait for me to catch up to where my heart was already running.” The bitterness creeps into my voice. “And then he decided our relationship was a ‘professional mistake’ that compromised his business judgment.”
Mom reaches across the table, capturing my restless fingers. “What changed?”
“His investors questioned whether his feelings for me were affecting his business decisions. And apparently the answer was yes, they were affecting his decisions—so much that he needed to end things rather than risk his professional reputation.”
Dad looks up from his paper. “That’s not love, honey. That’s a man who panics when emotions interfere with his carefully controlled world.”
The observation hits me like cold water. “But what if he was protecting both of us? What if loving someone who needed time to catch up felt too risky?”
“Then he should have fought for you,” Mom says with fierce certainty. “Real love doesn’t retreat the moment it encounters complications. It finds ways to work through them together.”
The truth settles in my chest with painful clarity. Grayson didn’t leave because I was too slow to reciprocate. He left because when his professional world collided with his emotional world, he chose the safe, predictable option over the terrifying, beautiful possibility of us.
“I don’t know if that’s even possible anymore.”
“Everything’s possible until you stop trying.” Mom stands and starts clearing dishes with determined efficiency. “Now, what’s your plan for dealing with this David situation? Because whether Grayson comes to his senses or not, you can’t let that predator destroy what you’ve built.”
The shift in topic snaps me back to immediate reality. David’s threats. The grants. The interview this afternoon.
“Honestly? I have no idea. He knows everything about our grant applications, our development strategies. He could cause serious problems if he wanted to.”
“Then you need allies,” Dad says quietly. “Legal help, community support, and documentation of everything he’s threatened.”
“Grayson should be here,” Mom mutters, scraping plates with aggressive motions. “Running off while you handle his mess.”
“This isn’t his mess anymore. He made sure of that.” The words come out sharper than intended, but they’re true. “I need to protect myself and this project without him.”
“Good.” Mom pauses in her cleaning, meeting my eyes with fierce determination. “You know what you need?”
“More food?” I guess weakly.
“A strategy. And backup. David thinks you’re alone and vulnerable. Time to prove him wrong.” She sits back down, leaning forward with tactical intensity. “Tell me everything about this interview. What questions will they ask? What could David use against you?”
For the first time since David walked into my coffee shop, I feel a spark of my old fighting spirit returning. Mom’s right. I can’t control what Grayson does, but I can control how I respond to David’s threats.
“Channel Seven will want to know about project management, compliance oversight, how I’m handling federal funding requirements.” I straighten in my chair, mind sharpening. “David knows I’m managing this alone now. He’ll try to make me look incompetent or overwhelmed.”
“Then we make sure you’re neither.” Mom’s smile turns predatory. “What documentation do you have? Who else knows about these grants? Who can vouch for your competence?”
“Jessica knows everything about the business side. Mayor Waters approved the applications. Mrs. Hensley has been tracking every detail through the town gossip network.”
“Perfect. Community support, official backing, and witnesses.” Mom ticks off points on her fingers. “Now, what’s David’s weakness?”
The question catches me off guard. “His weakness?”
“Every predator has one. What does he want most? What would hurt him if he lost it?”
I think about David’s smooth confidence, his expensive suit, his calculated threats. “His reputation. His business depends on looking successful and trustworthy. If people knew what he really was...”
“Then that’s where we hit him.” Mom’s expression turns satisfied. “Today you survive the interview and document his threats. But soon, we make sure everyone knows exactly what David Norris is capable of.”
Dad looks up with amused concern. “Should I be worried about what you two are planning?”
“Probably,” Mom and I say in unison.
Despite everything, David’s threats, Grayson’s emotional abandonment, the crushing weight of protecting something I built alone, I find myself smiling for the first time since yesterday’s disaster.
