“I’d love one, thanks.”
The two men sat outside under a row of black lotus trees lining the outside of the pavement, Jake welcoming the shade they provided.
“So, thoughts on my offer?” Theo asked as soon as their coffees were served.
Jake leaned back in his chair. “It’s tempting, but I’m no longer a free agent.”
Theo shrugged. “I’m sure your staff can run the place while you’re away. Besides, you often talked about working in London.”
His friend was right. London had appealed to Jake since he was a teenager. “What’s the time frame?”
“We’re on track to open early March.”
Jake stirred his coffee. “And when do you need to know by?”
“If you’re on board, December. If not, as soon as possible.”
Jake grinned. “No pressure then.”
“You know me. No pressure, no life. But come on, mate. It’s only for a year.”
Jake took a sip of his coffee, its strength as intense as he’d remembered. He mulled over Theo’s words. If it weren’t for Molly, he’d be all in, but he didn’t want to leave New Zealand without her.
“Look, I get that you’ve had a shit twelve months, and I’m not disregarding that, but you said yourself that starting the bakery when you did wasn’t the best decision. It will keep for a year, especially if you have a good team behind you.”
“Which I do.”
“Who’s looking after the business while you’re here?”
“Dad. He’d never admit it to me, but mum thinks he’s struggling with retirement.”
“Well, there you go. He might be keener than you think. How are your parents doing otherwise?”
Jake hesitated as an array of words formed in his mind—inappropriate ramblings best left unsaid. “They have their moments. It’s been tough on all of us, that’s for sure.”
“Is that why you’re reluctant, because you don’t want to leave them?”
An image of Molly in her fitting black dress came to mind. Her concern for him at the cemetery and how they’d missed a proper goodbye when she couldn’t make it to the airport. How he couldn’t wait to see her again. “No, but I’ve met someone, so…”
“It’s definitely all over with Ava, then?”
“Yep. All done.” Jake relaxed at the truth of his own words. Sure, he’d accepted his relationship with Ava was over months before, but seeing her again had cemented that acceptance more than he’d ever thought possible. “As it turns out, her decision was best for both of us.”
“Right, right.” Theo sipped his coffee. “And this new girl, she’s not keen on moving?”
“Molly. We haven’t discussed it yet. The relationship’s still new and… complicated.”
Theo chuckled. “Shit, mate. When are they ever not?”
32
With Jake away, Molly’s days dragged, her campaign for the city council laborious and her mood flat. She didn’t have her own office at SpinWeb—just a small desk partitioned off from her co-workers by a row of snake plants sitting atop a half-wall painted in boring-ass sage green.
With the trees still bare, if she craned her neck far enough to the left, Molly could glimpse the distant Carter Bay through the side window. Otherwise, there was nothing to see—nothing to inspire her creative process—and some days, she found that and the lack of privacy all very depressing.
Molly picked up her office phone when it rang. “Molly Parker.”
“Hey, Molly.” It was Nathan from reception. “Alexia Cunningham’s here to see you.”
