Page 47 of Defensive Desire

“Tell me what?”

“I’m selling Summit Café.”

I blink, sure I’ve misheard. “Wait... what?”

Clara’s smile is soft, but there’s a sadness threaded through it. “I know. I’ve been thinking about it for a while now. But it’s time.”

“But... why?” My voice comes out more pleading than I mean it to. “You’ve put so much into Summit. It’s your life.”

She glances out the window, watching the snow drift lazily down onto the street. “It has been. For fifteen years. And I love it. But sometimes... sometimes you need to let go. Before you forget how to change.”

A lump rises in my throat. “But... it’sSummit. It’s the place everyone goes. You can’t just... not be there.”

Clara chuckles lightly. “That’s part of the problem. I’ve become... too much a part of it. I love Iron Ridge, but it feels like I’m anchored here, and I don’t know how to break free. I just need something new.”

Her words hit me harder than I expect.

I know what it feels like to be stuck, to think that maybe I’ll never be more than the girl running from her mother’s dream.

But Clara?

She’s the queen of Iron Ridge. I can’t imagine this place without her café.

“What will you do?” I ask, my voice small.

She shrugs. “I'm going to take some time out. Maybe travel. Visit my sister in London.”

The corners of my mouth lift, but it’s bittersweet. “I just… I can't believe this. I thought Summit was everything to you.”

“It was. But sometimes, Emma... sometimes what you love becomes a cage. I don’t want to feel trapped here. Not when I have a chance to do something different.”

Her words hit me in a place I didn’t even know was sore. How long have I been fighting to prove Chapter & Grind is more than just a temporary experiment? Prove to myself that it’s not just me playing at being a business owner?

The conflicting emotions are making me dizzy. Relief that my biggest competition is leaving. Guilt for feeling that way. Panic atthe thought that if Summit’s not sustainable, maybe Chapter & Grind isn’t either.

Clara reaches across the table, squeezing my hand. “Emma, you have something special here. You know that, right? People love this place because of you. Summit... it’s been a fixture because of me. But people can grow to love new things. I want you to keep pushing forward. This town needs good coffee. They need you.”

I swallow down the lump in my throat, squeezing her hand back. “I... I don’t know what to say.”

Clara’s eyes are softer than I’ve ever seen them. “Just promise me you won’t doubt yourself. You’ve got the heart for this, Emma. More than I ever did.”

My eyes sting, and I force a smile. “I don’t know about that. You’re kind of a legend.”

Clara’s laughter is warmer this time, more genuine. “Legends retire, too, you know. Besides, I think it’s your turn to be the legend now.”

She gives my hand one final squeeze before standing, gathering the papers to her chest.

“I just wanted you to hear it from me first,” she says softly.

I nod, watching as she heads back toward the front, stopping briefly to chat with Lucy before making her way out the door. The bell chimes softly as she leaves, and the room feels colder, emptier.

The burnt cupcakes sit forgotten on the counter, and I shove them into the trash with a frustrated huff.

Why did I even think I could pull off something sweet and celebratory when I’m still figuring out how to hold my own as a business owner?

Self-doubt claws at my chest.

If Clara, who’s practically a legend in Iron Ridge, can’t make it work anymore, what chance do I have?