Page 36 of Cozy Girl Fall

“Let’s let her see the space first, Tash,” he said.

For once, Penny could see the resemblance between Keith Blake and his son, the approval in his warm eyes at once familiar and not.

“It has a fully functional kitchen in the back, the flooring is real hardwood—with a polish, and some fresh paint on the walls, this place could look great.”

Penny walked around the space while Tasha and her dad spoke softly.

The ceilings were low enough that the space could feel cozy, but the windows were big enough that she could have a fresh ambience if she chose.

She followed the line of the back wall and pushed through the swinging double doors into the industrial-looking kitchen.

All the surfaces looked like stainless steel, a sea of shiny metal reflecting her warped reflection.

It all looked relatively new, aside from a large burn mark on the tiled floor near the six-ring stove.

There was a walk-in freezer and another room off to the left that looked like a staff break-room.

It was perfect.

But there was still a voice of doubt in the back of Penny’s mind. Was she good enough to do the space justice? She really needed to talk to someone with experience.

“What do you think?” Tasha and her dad were still standing in the same place Penny had left them as she came back through the double doors.

“It’s incredible,” she admitted. “Better than I ever could have imagined, to be honest.”

“Oh, Pen, this is so exciting! Do you think you’re going to go for it?”

Penny wanted to say yes, willed herself to, but the doubt in her mind held her back. “I don’t know, Tasha. I mean, I’ve never done this before. Am I stupid for thinking I can do this?”

Penny jolted when Keith’s hand dropped down onto her shoulder. She’d been speaking quietly to Tasha and hadn’t realized he’d been listening too.

“Can you imagine if nobody ever did anything unless they’d done it before? Nobody would get anywhere. Imagine if we could have put man on the moon and instead decided, Nah, we haven’t done that before; better not. You won’t know whether you can do it unless you try, Penny.”

Tasha blinked at her dad, apparently lost for words until she shook her head and looked Penny in the eyes.

“As strange as this sounds, I think he has a point. When you left town all those years ago, it was new and scary but you also knew it was exactly what you wanted to do, and you did. So this is another big step for you, and of course you don’t have all the answers right now, but that’s what learning and research is for.

If you think this is what you want, then I say go for it. ”

“Yeah?” Penny’s voice was small but she was bolstered by the confident nods the Blakes offered.

“OK. OK, let’s do this.” Tasha whooped and Keith grinned, the emotion transforming his face so that Penny once again saw a glimpse of his kids in him.

“Wait, wait. Budget-withstanding, then we’ll do this,” she amended and Tasha snorted.

“This is Magnolia Springs, I can’t imagine the real estate is that pricey.”

Mr. Blake nodded. “You’re making a good decision, Penny. Why don’t you come back to my office and we can discuss it properly?”

She swallowed hard at the unexpected praise and flicked her eyes to Tasha who gave her a tiny nod before Penny agreed. “Sounds good.”

They shuffled out of the door and Penny glanced back several times, already missing the space. Maybe Tasha and Ethan were right—maybe everything did happen for a reason.

Penny couldn’t wait to tell Ethan about what she’d been planning, but had decided to keep it under wraps until the restaurant was ready to show him.

She wanted the news that she was staying to be a complete surprise.

She’d gone back to Mr. Blake’s office to discuss the details of the lease and the price was almost exactly what she had remaining in her savings.

She’d taken the plunge and, subject to credit checks and other legal stuff she was letting Mr. Blake handle, she would hopefully pick up the keys later that week.

It felt like it was meant to be.

But she hadn’t forgotten about her talk with her dad, and his suggestion to talk to Nicky had been a great idea. Hopefully Nicky wouldn’t think she was an idiot for opening up her own place without really knowing what she was doing, or even what kind of food or mood she wanted for the space.

She and Ethan had just finished dinner at Carter & Sons and were in the middle of looking at desserts when she remembered to ask him for Nicky’s number.

The menu crumpled, denting under Ethan’s grip as he jolted, looking up at Penny suddenly, and a plate slipped from the table to shatter on the floor.

Ethan blinked at it for a second before holding up a hand so she didn’t move.

“Sorry, I just hadn’t thought … You just surprised me, that’s all.

” The waiter arrived with a broom and Ethan apologized again.

She bit her lip. “Did I say something wrong?” They were supposed to be there celebrating their one-month anniversary, it was the only semi-fancy restaurant in Magnolia Springs, located in the new town.

She’d made the effort to do her make-up and had put on a wine-red sweater dress with a cowl neck that clung to her curves.

Ethan looked delectable in his gray-wash jeans and navy pullover on top of a gray shirt.

“No,” he said slowly. “I just wasn’t expecting you to want his number any more.

And I kind of thought we’d talk it over before you try out for a job in another state.

” Against the deep burgundy of the paneled walls behind him, he looked paler than usual, the greenery in the planter atop their booth’s walls the only relief against the moody color scheme.

“Of course we would,” she said, brows drawing together as she tried to decipher his tone. “I need to talk to him, that’s all.” She wanted the restaurant space to be a surprise, but maybe that was a mistake.

He looked up at her, eyes shadowed as he lowered the menu onto the table to look into her face more fully. “Are you being honest right now?”

She recoiled. “Why would I lie?”

“I don’t know. Why would you run away without saying goodbye the first time?

We’ve been talking about building a future together, Penny.

Maybe even here, in Magnolia Springs, and now you want Nicky’s number?

Maybe my dad was right.” There was no escape from the hurt in his eyes or the pain barely held back as he looked at her.

His shoulders slumped at her shocked silence and the pain on his face stabbed her like a physical wound.

“I’m sorry. I just don’t want to lose you again. ”

“You won’t.” The words were soft and she reached for his hand slowly, like a spooked animal. “ I’m sorry, Ethan. The way I left everything back then was wrong and I understand why you’re worried now. But I’m not going anywhere, I promise. I just need to talk to Nicky, for advice.”

“I want to believe you, Pen, I just don’t know if I can trust what you’re saying.” His face shuttered, jaw tensing so hard she worried for his teeth. “You’ve made promises before, Penny.”

“I know but—Ethan, please believe me, I’m not—”

“Oh, hi, guys!” The cheery chirp couldn’t have come at a worse moment. Penny gritted her teeth and forced a smile on her face as she looked up at Shelby and her date, knowing Shelby was analyzing the tension at Penny’s table.

“Hi, Shel.” Ethan’s voice was flat and Penny didn’t miss the look of triumph in Shelby’s eyes. “This isn’t a great time.”

Shelby pouted with fake sympathy. “Aw, trouble in paradise already? I hate to say I told you so, but …”

“He said we’re busy ,” Penny snapped. “Back off.”

Ethan frowned, shooting Penny a look that had her irritation rising. Was he seriously going to defend Shelby right now?

“Looks like our table’s ready!” Shelby leant down and kissed Ethan’s cheek, holding eye contact with Penny as she did so and making Penny seethe at the crimson mark left in the place where her mouth had been. Ethan barely reacted. “See you around, doll. You know where I’ll be.”

The table was silent after Shelby’s departure and Penny handed Ethan a napkin for his cheek as he pulled some notes out of his wallet to cover the bill, dessert forgotten.

“I’ll send you Nicky’s contact info. I think you should stay at your place tonight, I just—I need some space. Some time to think. OK?”

A prickle began in her eyes, welling up from her throat, and she nodded, glancing away so he wouldn’t see the dampness of her eyes.

She couldn’t blame him for feeling this way, for not being entirely sure he could trust her.

If he needed space, she could give him that.

But she wasn’t going anywhere, and she was going to prove it.