“Hey, Ben is at the hardware store in town, so I thought I’d come down with him. You busy?”
Emily placed the phone between her ear and shoulders. “I’m actually on my lunch break. Meet you at Café El Sol?”
“I’ll be there in five,” Lily replied cheerfully.
After hanging up, Emily shoved a few more things together and stood. She draped her sweater over her arm, shoved her phone into her purse, and ran out the back door, pausing to give it a firm tug before she did. Outside, the weather was unusually hot, especially for June, but as she walked, she let the sounds of Falmouth wash over her, making her momentarily forget about the heat on the back of her neck.
Everything from bikes pedaling in the distance to the sound of children laughing felt like home.
Café El Sol was in a quieter part of town, nestled in between a hairdresser and a nail salon. Lily stood on the sidewalk in a pair of blue jeans, a flowery shirt, and a black sweater that was rolled up to her elbows. As soon as she spotted Emily, she ended the call and pulled her in for a hug.
“You look too thin,” Lily commented with a frown. “Everything okay?”
Emily held the door open, and the two of them ducked inside. Since it was emptier than usual, they selected a small table in the back next to the windows. While Lily studied the menu, Emily glanced around the spacious and airy space with its tile floors, salmon-colored walls, and tables set up on either side of the walls, forming a narrow path that led to the cash register.
Lily snapped her menu shut, bringing Emily back to the present with a jolt. “Okay, don’t think I haven’t noticed that you avoided my question.”
Emily sank into her chair and began to rub her fingers together. “I know, I know…I just… I haven’t told anyone this, but the bakery is in trouble.”
Lily’s eyes widened as she leaned against the table. “What happened? I thought business was doing well.”
“It was—it is,” Emily added hastily. “But I had to put the bakery up as collateral to be able to pay off Trevor’s debts.”
Lily blinked. “Trevor’s debts? I don’t understand.”
“He made a series of bad investments,” Emily explained with a quick look around the restaurant. “Mostly to help his friends with start-up businesses. I kept telling him not to invest large sums of money, but he wouldn’t listen.”
Lily’s hand darted across the table as she motioned for her to continue.
“When I found out, I had to put the bakery up as collateral. It was going fine but with the rise of interest rates… I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
Lily frowned. “Have you asked for an extension?”
“The bank manager knows Grandma and Grandpa,” Emily said in a soft voice. “He called me himself to tell me that they’re probably going to reject my application. I’ll know for sure in a few weeks, but in the meantime, I don’t have a way to pay back the money.”
Lily took Emily’s hand and held it, her brows knitting together. “What about a mortgage?”
“The bank won’t approve it,” Emily replied with a shake of her head. “I don’t make enough to put the bakery up as collateral and mortgage the house too.”
Lily exhaled. “I’m so sorry, Emily. I wish there was something I could do to help. Does anyone else know?”
Emily shook her head a little too quickly. “No, and I don’t want them to. I don’t want to ruin the image they have of Trevor.”
“Honey, you wouldn’t be ruining anything. You need help, and it’s okay to ask for it.”
“I know. I was thinking of something else, actually.” Emily withdrew her hand and sat on both of hers, straightening her back. “I’m thinking of getting a partner. Someone who’ll own half of the bakery.”
Comprehension dawned on Lily’s face. “You’d want a silent partner then, so things wouldn’t change too much at the bakery.”
Emily nodded.
Lily sat back, and her expression turned thoughtful. “I could reach out to some friends of mine in the city and put out a few feelers if you want.”
Emily’s stomach dipped, and her shoulders sagged. “I’d really appreciate that.”
Lily smiled at her. “Of course. I’ll do whatever I can to help. I do think you should reconsider telling the rest of the family though. I’m sure they—”
“I didn’t know you two were going to be here.” Amy appeared at their table in a pair of wide black pants and a cream-colored tunic. Her sunglasses were perched on top of her head, and her dark hair had been styled and cut into a shoulder-length bob.
