Page 108 of Brewing Up My Fresh Start

“And what do you want?”

I look at my motorcycle, then back at my sister who’s been waiting patiently for me to stop running from the most important decision of my adult life.

“I want to fight for her. For us. For the idea that building something beautiful together is worth more than building something profitable alone.”

Amanda hands me the coffee with a smile that suggests she’s been waiting for this moment since I arrived.

“Then stop making decisions about what Michelle can handle and start asking what she wants to handle together.”

“What if she won’t forgive me for running when she needed me?”

“Then you’ll have to prove that you’re worth forgiving. But Grayson?” Amanda’s expression turns serious. “You better not come back here without her. Because if you mess this up again, Tyler’s going to be very disappointed in his Uncle Grayson.”

The motorcycle ride from Charlotte to Twin Waves has never felt longer. Every mile stretches like construction delays caused by weather—frustrating, unavoidable, and completely at odds with the urgency clawing at my chest.

My phone buzzes with texts I can’t read while driving, but I catch glimpses at red lights:

Jessica: Michelle’s doing the Channel 7 interview at five. David showed up at the coffee shop this morning.

Mrs. Hensley: That snake is asking questions about federal compliance. Emergency book club meeting tonight.

Jessica: Get yourself back here. Michelle needs you.

By the time I reach Twin Waves, the afternoon sun is already casting long shadows across the boardwalk. The town looks exactly the same, but something feels different—like storm clouds gathering just beyond the horizon.

I pull up to Twin Waves Brewing Co. expecting to find Michelle preparing for her interview. Instead, the coffee shop is closed, dark windows reflecting my own growing panic and a hastily written sign that reads:Closed for important business matters. Back tomorrow.

Jessica’s car sits in the parking lot. I knock on the glass door, and she appears like she’s been waiting for this exact moment.

“About time,” she says, unlocking the door. “Michelle’s at home getting ready. David has been here twice today, pressuring her about compliance issues and partnership opportunities.”

“Is she buying it?”

“She’s terrified he’s going to destroy everything she’s built. Again.” Jessica studies my face with prosecutorial intensity. “The question is: are you here to help her fight, or are you here to create more problems with your emotional unavailability?”

“I’m here to fix my mistakes.”

“Good. Because we have a plan, and you’re part of it whether you like it or not.”

Jessica leads me to the back office, where Mrs. Hensley sits surrounded by manila folders and legal documents like a general planning a military campaign.

“Grayson Reed,” Mrs. Hensley announces without looking up. “You look like a man who’s been running away from his problems instead of solving them.”

“Close enough.”

“Well, you can solve them now or watch David destroy the woman you love. Your choice.”

She spreads documents across the table.

“Turns out our Mr. Norris has left a trail of destroyed partnerships across three states. Small business owners who trusted him, community leaders who believed his promises, development projects that somehow benefited his companies while leaving local investors broke.”

“How did you find all this?”

“The Bookaholics Anonymous network extends far beyond Twin Waves,” Mrs. Hensley says with satisfaction. “Book clubs are excellent sources of local business intelligence. We made some calls.”

Jessica opens her laptop, revealing what appears to be a comprehensive investigation into David Norris’s business practices.

“Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina—same pattern everywhere. He targets successful community leaders, offers partnership opportunities, gains access to their business plans and community connections, then disappears with everything valuable.”