Harper
I don’t know what I was thinking when I offered to buy old man Cold’s restaurant. It was a bad idea. Running a restaurant isn’t for the faint of heart and if there’s one thing I know about myself, it’s that I’m definitely the faint of heart.
I’m definitely weak.
I’m definitely broken.
I’m definitely not the type of person who should have taken on an endeavor like this, but I did. When I found out his health was failing and he was thinking about selling, I didn’t wait for him to put his restaurant on the market. Instead, I immediately met with a lawyer and the bank to figure out what it would take to make a sale happen.
Then I made it happen.
I approached him with an offer and to my surprise, he accepted. I offered as much as I could, but he could have easily held out for more money. Cold One is located on prime real estate in Raven. The little restaurant and bar is one of the most popular joints in town. It’s always busy. Even if the restaurant was failing, the property alone is worth much more than I paid for it.
To be honest, I’m not sure why Martin Cold accepted my offer, but I’m grateful that he did. I told him he’s always welcome back in the kitchen and I made sure my staff members all know that when he comes to visit, he shouldn’t be charged. He could order every item off the menu and we still wouldn’t charge him because I’ll always be in debt to him and I know it.
He’s done something incredible for me and I know I’ll never be able to repay him, but I’ll do my best to try. I’ll do my best to make it up to Martin because when no one else thought I could be a chef, when no one else thought I could run a restaurant, he believed in me.
The morning rush is in full swing and I’m prepping back-to-back orders when Melanie, one of my best servers, comes in.
“Hey, Mr. Cold is here,” she says. Unlike many new restaurant owners, I didn’t take on new staff when I purchased the restaurant last month. Instead, I kept the same team members who had been here. A lot of people believe they need to fire the old staff and hire a new team who will be loyal, but I didn’t feel that way. Before I purchased the restaurant, I was a chef here for two years, and I was familiar with how things run. I like knowing my team doesn’t need to be trained. I like knowing I can count on them to keep things running smoothly.
“Is he already seated?” I ask, glancing at the list of orders I need to get started on. I’m working side-by-side with Angela, another chef.
“Yeah,” Melanie says slowly. “He’s here with his family.”
“Okay,” I say, running through a mental checklist of items I need to get started on. “His brother likes fresh sweet tea, so let’s get that going, and Mrs. Cold always orders the turkey sandwich, so Angela, you start on that.”
“No,” Melanie says seriously, shaking her head. “His family,” she lowers her voice, and suddenly I realize what she’s saying. Melanie is the only one who knows about my sordid history with Mr. Cold’s son. Thanks to $1 beer night about six months ago, I spilled my guts about our torrid affair years ago.
Not that it could really be called “torrid” or even an “affair,” but hey, I’ve always had a flair for the dramatic.
“Are you telling me that Blake is here?” I ask slowly, and Melanie nods. My heart simultaneously sinks and soars. I’m both excited and terrified. I’m both elated and nauseated.
“What do you want me to do?” She asks.
“Take their orders,” I tell her. “I’ll be out in a minute.”
“Hey,” Angela says once Melanie leaves. “Are you okay? You look a little pale.”
“I’m fine,” I wave her off. “I just need a second.”
I abandon my work station and go into the walk-in freezer. Then I close my eyes for a minute and just breathe. In and out. In and out. I can do this. I know I can do this. Everything is going to be okay.
Only, suddenly, all my memories of Blake come rushing back at full force and I don’t know if I really can do this. It’s been so long since he left home and to my knowledge, he hasn’t been back to Raven in about eight years. He hasn’t been back since he left.
In all the time I’ve worked for Martin, he’s never once said Blake was coming home. Instead, he and Patricia have always flown out and see Blake wherever he happened to be. That was living in Kansas City, last I heard, working for some sort of firm.
But now he’s here in my restaurant and I’m going to have to go face him.
I’m going to have to go face the boy – the man – who broke my heart all those years ago, and I’m not sure I’m ready for that.
Then again, it has been eight years. A lot has changed since then. If I’m not ready now, will I ever be ready? If I can’t have a normal conversation with my high school sweetheart, how can I ever call myself an adult?
After a few more deep breaths, I remind myself once more that I can do this. Then I walk out of the freezer, stride through the kitchen, and walk into the dining room.
Our eyes lock instantly across the tiny restaurant. I’m standing at the back, near the bar. The rest of the room is filled with small wooden tables. Each is decorated with a white linen tablecloth and a little vase of flowers. Almost every table is full, but I don’t have any trouble picking Blake Cold out of a crowd.
Even after all this time, I recognize him immediately.
He stands, but doesn’t move toward me. He just looks at me, watching me. My feet manage to start moving of their own accord and soon I find myself in front of Blake Cold. He’s different now, older. His hair is long and he’s got this cool hipster beard most people wouldn’t be able to pull off. There’s something else, though. There’s this confidence he’s exuding. The old Blake didn’t have that. The old Blake was nervous and shy.
This Blake is bold and fierce. I can tell.
“Good morning, dear,” Patricia says from her seat. I nod, but don’t say anything. My focus is entirely on Blake right now. It shouldn’t be. I should really be polite, should really be kind to his parents, but I have so many questions for him.
Why didn’t you write to me?
Why didn’t you call?
How come you never came to visit?
Why did you break my heart?
My heart is screaming and my head might explode, but somehow, I manage to find normal, human words to use.
“Blake,” I say. “It’s been a long time.”
And then I faint.