When we pull up outside Seth’s workshop, I see Chance working under another car.
“Shouldn’t you be in there helping him?” I ask Seth as he switches the car off.
“Yeah, later. He can handle it; he’s a big boy.”
We climb out of the car and the heat of the sun warms my skin. “Why are we here, though?”
“The place is just across the road.” Following where he’s pointing, I see the shell of what used to be a cute café. Looks like it’s been empty for ages. Newspapers cover the tiny squared windows and the front door has a large closed sign hanging in the clear glass door.
It would be perfect for a readers’ café with books there for clients to read while they enjoyed some time out alone or with friends. Oh, my goodness, this could be amazing! A flutter of excitement fills me, and I can see myself working there, serving clients. Working so close to Seth would be an advantage; I would be able to look out the windows directly at him. Yeah, I think I’m sold on this idea.
“Are you coming with me, or just gonna sit and stare at it all day?” Seth jokes while he waits for me, ready to cross the road. The street isn’t busy this early in the morning, but I’ve seen it busy with tourists passing through in buses, kind of like one of those road trip tour things. The shops near this empty one have always been busy when I’ve come to Seth’s workshop.
“Yeah, sorry.”
We cross the road and Seth pulls out a set of keys, unlocking the door. He pushes it slightly, and it creaks open. “Might need to oil up the hinges; this door hasn’t been opened in years. Maybe even since Nan shut the doors.” A sadness fills his eyes. His head tilts down to the ground, and he goes silent.
Stepping into the store, there’s so much dust in the air, you could choke on it. At the thought, I cough, as does Seth.
“Gosh, no one’s been in here in years!” I say through a coughing fit.
“Yeah, after I moved in with Nan there was a family . . . there was an issue, and she closed it down.”
I didn’t miss the pause; he seemed unsure how to word his sentence. “Oh, okay.” I want to ask questions, but it’s not my place. “How about we open a window before I die from dust inhalation?”
He laughs as I cough more. He goes to the windows at the front of the store, flicks a latch in the middle, and pushes them open. This place continues to reveal its beauty. It’s been left for too long, and now I need to be the one to let its magnificent beauty shine again.
“Wow!” I breathe. The breeze blows through the open windows and sunlight fills the room. My eyes adjust from the murky darkness to the brightness. Tables are stacked against the walls. One of the old glass cabinets is dirty, but I see its potential. The flowery wall paper is peeling off the walls.
“I forgot how beautiful this place is.” Sherri’s voice echoes through the near empty room. Jumping in fright, I spin around to see her standing in the doorway with a happy smile upon her face.
“Oh, hello . . . How are you, Sherri? I didn’t know you were coming. We could have picked you up.” I give Seth a glare for not inviting his Nan along, he shrugs.
“It’s okay, dear, I have a small car to buzz around in, thanks to this young man.” She places her hand on Seth’s shoulder and squeezes.
“Oh, okay. This place is wonderful. It has so much potential.”
“It does, dear. It needs a bit of fixing up and cleaning, but I think once it’s finished it will be a fine café.” She runs her fingers along the countertop, dusts her hand off on her pants, then walks through the doors into the back room. Here I was thinking she’s all prim and proper, but she has a wild side to her, good ol’ Sherri. I grin to myself.
“She’s amazing, isn’t she?” Seth whispers into my ear. I hadn’t even noticed him right behind me. Goosebumps prickle my skin as his breath tickles my neck.
“Ah . . . yeah, she is. Lots of sass.”
We laugh together. The hand he’s placed on my shoulders, glides down my arms and then falls to my hips. My instincts tell me to lean back into him, but the sensible part of me won’t allow it. Stupid sensible me.
“So, Chloe dear, have you thought anymore about my proposal?” Sherri enquires.
My eyes dance around the room; the smile on my face is bright. Yes, my new beginning starts here. “I have, and I’d love to be a part of the team.”
Sherri lets out an excited squeal and rushes over to me, wrapping me in her tiny arms. For someone with little arms, she sure has a tight grip. “Seth, isn’t that wonderful?”
“Yeah, Nan, it is.”
I look at him watching Sherri hug me, a smile on his face, a glow in his eyes. They don’t look sad in this moment, but shine with happiness.
Our hug ends, and I take a walk around the shop and investigate the back rooms. There’s a medium-sized kitchen, probably good for this café. But like the rest of the place, it needs work. It’s going to take weeks or maybe even a few months to get this in order.
I enter the front room again and ask a question that’s been playing on my mind. “I hope you don’t mind me asking, but why didn’t you find someone else to run the place and keep it open?”
Seth and Sherri look at each other, a shared moment crosses between them, then back to me.
“Nan couldn’t let just anyone run the place. It’s been in the family since this town came about. It’s basically a family heirloom and she’d only ever leave it in the hands of someone very close to family or someone she can totally trust and rely on.” Seth spreads his arms wide to open the large window. “When something unexpected happened, Nan made the tough decision to close and take care of her family.” Seth clears his throat, and Sherri places her hand gently on his back.
“I’ve been waiting for the right person with a glowing spirit to help me open it. You’re that glowing spirit, Chloe. You make me smile and not only me, but you seem to have bewitched my grandson here.”
I watch Seth as he shrugs and nods, not even trying to hide his feelings. It’s kind of refreshing.
My cheeks flush for the millionth time since I’ve been around him. “Oh . . .” is all I manage.
“We need to get a plan in place,” Sherri announces. “Will you join me for morning tea, Chloe, and we’ll start our planning?”
“I’d love to.”
“What about me?” Seth asks, sounding hurt.
“You have to get to work,” she responds politely. “Poor Chance can’t do it all himself.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Sadness is evident in his tone.
“Don’t worry, Mildred—you’ll see us later.”
His eyes spring open and are on me instantly, his face pale. Sherri and I giggle at my response.
“Wha—you . . .” He points his finger accusingly at Sherri.
“Leave your Nan alone, Mildred. Pick up your skirt and get to work.”
Now it’s his turn to pink up. This only causes me to laugh harder.
“Why did you tell her?” he questions Sherri.
“My darling boy, we got talking one night when you were working late at the workshop. I rang her to see how she was going. I needed a girlie chat, and this young lady brings laughter to my day. I swore her to secrecy, but I guess the cat is out of the bag now.” She giggles.
“Gosh, Nan, can’t you keep anything a secret?” he responds playfully.
“Leave her be. Now off you go.” I shoo him out the door, leaving just Sherri and me.
“Let’s go, dear. I know the perfect place.”
I lock things up again and hand the keys to Sherri, but she pushes them back toward me.
“You keep them. You’ll be needing them.”
“Thank you for this chance, Sherri. It means a lot to me that you trust me.”
Her eyes twinkle as she smiles. “No, thank you. You’re helping me in more ways than one.” She winks and links her hand through my arm, and we head off down the road.
I can’t help glancing over at the workshop. My heart speeds up a tick when I spy Seth looking my way. I give him a brilliant smile, and he responds by blowing me a kiss.