Page 6 of Waiting for You (Balsam Cliffs #3)
It doesn’t take me long to review the paperwork. It looks like everything I’d want to see, but honestly, I’m not here to make his agency a mega-agency. I just want to live here, and make a good, honest living while I’m back.
We enjoy our lunch together, and I let him know that I’m definitely interested but need to secure the loan.
I just need him to give me a few weeks to work out logistics.
Thankfully, he isn’t in a rush to retire.
He even said he’d be happy to stay on part time for a few months until my feet are firmly planted and ready to grow.
“Thank you so much, Mr. Darnell. I feel really good about this move. And I hope I can make you proud.” I stand to say goodbye to him.
“I know you will.” He nods, shaking my hand once again before he leaves.
I sit back down, dropping my head against the booth and letting out a long sigh.
“So you’re moving back and buying Darnell’s business?”
I jump, hitting my knee on the table and clutching my chest. When I open my eyes I see Esther sitting across from me, chuckling.
“Esther. You can’t just pop up at people who have their eyes closed!”
“Last I checked, it’s my shop.” She raises a brow, waiting for me to challenge it.
“Nothing is official. We’re just talking. You know better than to spread rumors now don’t ya?”
“Uff, you’re no fun, deary.” She gets up taking the dirty dishes with her.
“You’re not the only one to say that lately,” I mutter to myself as I pack up.
I think I deserve some chocolate tonight for dinner. Since it’s technically move-in day I have no food. And my brother, the only other place to get dinner in town, would ask too many questions after hearing about my meeting, and he’s always been able to see through my happy facades.
So, it’s off to Sweet Violets I go. Since Margaret isn’t here at the coffee shop with her best friend, Esther, I know the bakery is still open.
Once I’m in the bakery, I can see my next problem is going to be choosing what I want to buy. The front case is full of all the fall goodies that Violet has been testing out at the inn all week, along with some solid fall choices that I’m sure are a staple here.
“Hi, what can I get you today?” Margaret comes to the front. “Oh, Evelyn!”
“Hey, Margaret. I can’t decide what I want. Everything looks so yummy.”
I move side to side taking in the full case. “I’m here as long as you need to decide, but can I recommend this caramel apple cheesecake? It’s so good, and really soothes the soul when you’ve got some tough choices to make.”
“Did you already get a call from Esther?” I look up from the case, a smile tugging at my lips.
“No, hun.” I cringe at the nickname that reminds me of a certain man I want to forget. “I’ve been selling baked goods and chocolate for a long time. I’ve seen my fair share of sad and conflicted women. I know the look.” She nods at me with a smile.
“Okay. Two please. And one apple cider whoopie pie. And two pumpkin pie bites. And I’ll take some chocolate donuts.” I look over one more time. “And maybe a few cupcakes. With sprinkles.”
“You got it.” She grabs a signature purple box from the counter behind her, expertly whipping it together within seconds and filling it with all my favorites.
I pull out my card to pay her. “Oh no, not today. You can pay me for my goodies when you’re happy.”
I pout at her, and fish a twenty out of my wallet. This haul would cost me at least sixty in Portland. I drop the twenty in her tip jar, winking at her.
“Thanks, Margaret. Have a good evening.” I wave at her, leaving the bakery to secure my treats in the box attached to the back of the four wheeler before she can run out here and put that twenty back in my pocket.
I’m pulled out of the true crime podcast I’m listening to on my phone when I see two figures silhouetted in the dark followed by a knock on the glass. I nearly jump off the couch, crumbs of my girl dinner flying through the air.
I really need to get curtains.
I turn on the porch light and see Violet and Emma standing on the other side.
Pulling the door open, they both practically fall through the door trying to get in first.
“Gran called. Said you were sad and needed reinforcements before Sunday brunch.” Violet puts another lavender box next to the matching one from earlier on the counter.
“And I stopped at Rebels.” Emma holds up a six pack of my favorite cider donut flavored hard cider from Roman.
Tears spring to my eyes. When was the last time someone so accurately saw me and determined my needs without words?
“Oh no, no, no. We aren’t here to make you cry!” Violet hugs me from the side. “I told you to text her first, you scared the shit out of her with your creepy staring in the window.”
“It wasn’t me who scared her. She’s just obviously ready to spill everything to us.” Emma puts the ciders in the refrigerator.
Violet sits on the couch with me, while Emma sets up a small bluetooth speaker in the kitchen. I need to get some internet out here in the next couple days. But that’s a priority for Monday.
“Okay spill it girl. Why did Margaret call us and tell us that you’re having a sad night and eating your weight in fall desserts?” Emma eyes the almost empty box on my coffee table.
“I need to end things with Neil.” Unexpected tears fill my eyes.
“Oh, babes. Walk us through it. Why are you ending things with him?” Emma joins us on the couch.
“It’d be way shorter to just tell you what’s going right between us.
The worst part is, he’s not awful. He’s not great, but he’s not cheating, or anything.
He’s selfish. But deep down, we just don’t want the same things out of life.
He’s all about business and getting ahead.
He reminds me so much of my dad, and seeing my future morphs me into my mom.
That makes me want to run. I don’t want her life.
I want someone who loves me for me, not for what my family can offer them.
I want kids, I want to live here in Balsam Cliffs.
I want date nights to be more than getting drinks with future clients.
” At this point the tears are flowing freely down my cheeks.
“You deserve all the things you want, Eve. You don’t need to accept the bare minimum because on paper he looks like the perfect guy. He’s not perfect for you and that’s all that matters.” Violet rubs my arm, comforting me.
“I guess I know that realistically, but why do I feel so bad about doing it?”
“Because it’s change. No one likes change.
And you’re disappointing your parents, which no one likes to do, but especially you.
Between you and Rome, you’re the one who followed in their footsteps.
They expect themselves out of you, and it feels wrong that you don’t want the same. ” Emma leans in to me and Violet.
“Trust me, as someone who was being used as the pawn in the parent political game, it sucks. But it still hurts to go against them. But that is absolutely no reason to stay with a man who doesn’t give you everything you want.
” Violet gets up and grabs three ciders from the refrigerator and the extra box of goodies.
She puts the cider in my hand, and the box in my lap. I lift open the lid peeking in, hoping to see more cheesecake.
I pout. “There is no cheesecake.”
“No, but there are cookies! I’m trying out new recipes so I have a surplus. You have apple pie cookies, pecan sandies, gingerbread sandwich with cranberry jam, iced oatmeal, and pumpkin snickerdoodles. Oh, and peanut butter blossoms because who doesn’t love those?”
“Shut. Up. These all look so good.” Emma hops over to my side of the couch and peers into the box with me, plucking a pumpkin snickerdoodle out for herself.
Emma and I eat about four cookies each in a matter of a few minutes.
“You guys are seriously the best. I appreciate the support. And cookies.”
“Oh it’s not over.” Emma hops up grabbing her bag and pulls out a handful of DVDs with a player. “Mom still has these in her house, I figured you didn’t have internet or cable yet so I snagged a few different genres.”
I peruse the options she has. “I think a comedy.” I hand her the movie and she gets to work setting up everything while I inhale a few more cookies.
I’m grateful for these women, that I’ve rekindled two friendships here in Balsam Cliffs that already know me better than anyone in my life back in Portland.