Diane's eyes widened, and her lips parted, but no words came.
At her lack of response, Bev concluded, “I'll take that as a no.”
Diane's chin dropped to her chest, bringing her head down in embarrassment. The question had caught her off guard, but even greater was the fact that she hadn't made much effort to reach out to her mother.
“The most I've talked to my mom was back at our family barbecue when I told her I was going to take a bank loan to expand this place.” She made a sweeping motion with her hand around the shop.
“And what was her response?” Bev questioned.
“I didn't wait to hear it.” Diane ducked her head. She released a heavy sigh, and her shoulders sagged at the older woman's lack of response. “You don't understand my mom. She's...she doesn't listen. If I'm not doing exactly what she wants, then I might as well be dumb.” Her eyes tightened at the corners as her brows knitted and the lines of her throat tightened when she remembered how dismissive her mother had been toward her plans to expand the café and make it into an official bistro. “She never listens,” she spoke bitterly.
“I understand that you two don't see eye to eye, but it is not an excuse for you to hate her.”
Diane's eyelids stretched wide as her eyebrows jogged her forehead. “What? I-I... I don't hate my mother. How can I? She's my mother,” she argued.
“Actions speak louder than words, sweetheart.” Bev patted her arm.
Diane's insides became a thorny knot of emotions. Did she really hate her mother? It scared her to think what the answer to that question was.
“Now, about that loan. Are you going ahead with it?”
Diane shook her head to clear her thoughts. “Um, I don't know... I mean, I was signing up for it, but then I just... stopped,” she replied with a look of confusion.
Bev touched her arm again, and Diane turned her gaze to her.
“If you believe that you have what it takes to expand your business and that it will be as successful as it is now, then you should do what it takes to make that happen,” she encouraged.
Diane's lips turned up in a grateful smile. “I believe you've just given me the push I needed to go through with this. Thank you,” she spoke sincerely.
Bev returned her smile. “Anytime, dear.” She bit into a cookie before raising the teacup to her lips and taking a sip.
Diane reached for the laptop and moved the cursor over the send icon once more. This time she clicked on it, confirming her appointment with the bank in two days. She looked over at Bev with a triumphant grin. “Done.”
Bev nodded her approval with a smile. The two spent the next hour chatting while Bev finished her cookies and tea before asking for a second serving. She left then, and Diane was alone again.
She spent the next four hours working on her business plan and sorting through the documents she’d need for the interview. By the time she was ready to leave the café, it was dark outside. Her phone rang just as she turned the lock. She fished the device from her bag and placed it to her ear without checking the caller ID.
“Hello?”
“Diane, why did I receive an email that you have an appointment with the bank?”
“Hi, Diane. How was your day? Oh, Derek, it was okay. I closed the shop early and used the time to sort through the business, and before I forget, I applied for a loan,” Diane spoke sarcastically.
Derek ignored her snark.
“When were you planning to tell me that you were applying for a loan?”
Diane sighed. “I told you when you took me to that restaurant last month. Remember?” Balancing the phone between her shoulder and ear, she opened the car to put away her laptop bag and binder before climbing inside.
“That you were considering it, not that you were actually going through with it,” he replied.
“Well, I'm going through with it now,” she returned, then proceeded to explain her reason. “The café is doing great, Derek. I need to capitalize on its success now, and since Mom won't give me the money, a bank loan is my only option.”
“So that's it? My opinion doesn't count?” he asked in a tight voice.
“That's not what I meant. Your opinion matters to me, Derek,” Diane answered, but he ignored her response.
“Obviously, you don't see this as a partnership because if you did, we wouldn't be having this conversation. I'm beginning to wonder if this isn't a m...”
