As soon as I walk through the front door of my house, I flop down on the sofa and get ready to make the phone call of my life. I asked Rex for Steve’s number before I left today. He wondered why I needed it, and I told him I wanted to buy the Calypso. At first he chuckled, but then he saw that I was serious.

“You have that kind of cash lying around?” he asked.

“Not lying around but in the bank—yes.”

After his long pause ended, he gave me the number. Now I punch it into my phone and stuff my ear buds in as the call rings. I look around my living room, waiting for him to answer. I’m the one who had the contractor knock out the wall that separated it from the dining room and kitchen and opened up this space. That was a good call. I have so many ideas for remodeling the Calypso that I’m getting all tingly just thinking about them.

“This is Steve, leave a message.” Beep.

I’m not shocked that I got his answering machine. “Hi, Steve, this is Gina Gilbert. I work, I mean worked, for you at the Calypso Café. I heard you’re looking to sell the place. I’m looking to buy it. I also heard the price you want to get for it. I can give you 270K in cash. That’s my offer.” I leave him my number and urge him to get back to me as soon as possible.

I quickly end the call. All the tension releases from my shoulders, and I take a deep sigh. Jeez, I didn’t realize how anxious that made me. Now all I can do is wait, hoping that Steve takes my call seriously. I scoot up to stand, and my phone rings. I quickly swipe it off the sofa and look at the number on the screen. It’s Steve.

I tap the green button. “Hello,” I say, keeping my voice calm.

“Yeah, Gina from work. How are you?” He sounds friendly.

We’re in negotiations, so I have to keep it business. “So did you get my message?”

“Yeah, yeah… sure. I talked to Rex, and he said you’re looking to purchase the café? Didn’t you used to work the register?”

“Mostly.”

He pauses. “Gina, are you fucking with me?”

“No, I’m not. I can give you two seventy K in cash.”

He laughs sarcastically. “That’s a big discount you’re asking for.”

I’ve seen Steve’s desperation. I know he’s strapped for cash. I’m pretty sure he could get full asking price for the location the Calypso’s in, and other than needing a facelift, the place is in pretty good condition. “Yeah, well, that’s cash, and I have it right away.” If he’s got as much of a gambling problem as I think he does, he might just go for it.

Steve grunts. It’s a sound that says he’s taking me seriously. “Three hundred thirty.”

I smirk, satisfied I was able to move him off his 350K mark. “Two eighty-five.”

“Ah…” He sighs. “You know I can get a lot more than three fifty K.”

“I’m sure you can, but is it a real cash offer today?” I say.

He breathes heavily through his nose. “Are you fucking serious?”

“I already said I was, and I’m done answering that question. My time is valuable too, and I sure wouldn’t sit here and waste yours.”

“Okay, then. Three hundred K,” he says.

“Look Steve. I’m going to wire you the money the minute my lawyer okays the deal. That means as early as tomorrow, you can have two hundred eighty thousand dollars in your pocket to do with whatever you want. You’ll be free of this burden. But I can’t pay a dime more.”

“Okay,” he snaps.

“Good. I’ll have my lawyer call you in the morning.”

I tell him it was nice dealing with him and call Naomi to tell her I need a big favor.

“I’ll do it,” she says. “But are you sure you want to go this alone, especially now that you’re pregnant? Have you told Randy yet?”

I groan because her questions are giving me an actual headache. “As always, I can count on you to kill my buzz.”

“Well, it is a significant purchase, and I can tell that you’re dead set on making it, but you should at least find a partner who knows more about the business. Do you know you have to file for a license?”

I love Nom, but sometimes I feel like taping her mouth shut. “Of course.” My tone is deadpan.

She sighs. “Okay. I’ll exit Negativeville and say, congratulations. I wish you all the luck in the world. And yes, I’ll contact this Steve guy and get the ball rolling.”

I smile from ear to ear. “Really?”

“Really. Listen, Gina, you can decide to fly to Mars tomorrow, and if you’re dead set on doing it, then you’ll have my support. I love you.”

“Ahh…” My heart swells, and my eyes tear up. “I love you too. Now, what’s your hourly fee?”

She chuckles before telling me. It’s quite steep, but she gives me a thirty-five-percent discount for being her best friend. Before ending the call, I accept the fees and feel quite confident that everything will go smoothly. I chuckle, amazed. Naomi was determined to go into criminal law, which is the direct opposite of what her father, Dick Sutters, does. He owns one of the largest law firms in the city, specializing in corporate law. She used to be hell bent on not following in his footsteps. I’m starting to think that has changed, and I wonder if it’s because of Derek Valentine. I mean, could love make a woman alter all her ambitions? If so, then I’d better stay far away from it.

I look down at my belly and press a hand on it, thinking maybe this kind of love has the same effect. If so, then I’m very happy that I chose to buy the Calypso. That way, I’m in it before the little one can make me change my mind. I grin victoriously and hop up off the couch. Now I’ll go make us dinner. Since I don’t have work today, I have nothing but time.

“What would you like?” I ask my stomach.

In a faint voice from deep inside, I can hear him or her say, “Feed me healthy food, Mommy, and make vegetable egg drop stew tonight.”

“You got it.” I give my belly one last rub before dancing off to the kitchen.

Suddenly, my phone buzzes, and I trot back over to the sofa to see who just sent me an email. I’m hoping it’s not Steve changing his mind.

I retrieve my phone and see a message from Samantha, one of the girls who worked at the Calypso. It says: “Official farewell tomorrow night at eight at the Bryant Lake Bowl. See you there?”