“No, everything I said to you was the truth.”
“And how can I… How can I believe it, Ben, when you withheld the rest from me?” Sadness, that’s what it was, and it washed over me like a tidal wave.
“Aren’t you being a little dramatic about this? This has nothing to do with what’s between us.”
I bristled. “My business has everything to do with me. It’s my entire history, Ben. This is your hometown, too. How could you come here and do this? How could you try to take our lives away with a check?”
He held out his hands as if he didn’t know what to do, and it broke a part of me. He looked so sad and confused. “Like I said, Percy, I stopped trying to do anything after I met you.”
“Isn’t that just as complicit?”
“Why are growth and tourism bad for the Basin? They would help out the entire town, wouldn't they?”
“But at a cost to eight businesses who have been a part of this town for decades. Growth shouldn’t have to kill, Ben.”
“Tell that to the gardeners who weed, but I see your point.”
“Do you think that makes it any better? I could sell to them and take their money, but then why would I stay here, Ben? There would be nothing left for me.”
“You could come with me.” He said hoarsely.
“I… really? That’s your response. People would be losing everything. What about the jobs that we all provide? What are those people going to do?”
“I… I don’t know.” He ran his fingers through his dark hair, and I stood there with my arms crossed – unmoving – like a statue. “The resort would provide a bunch of jobs.”
“What kind?”
“I…”
“What kind, Ben, answer the question?” I raised my voice. “Management?”
He stared at me and slowly shook his head. “Probably not. Cleaning staff mostly.”
“So minimum wage? The lowest levels of employment would come from the town, and the resort would bring in everyone else?”
“Not everyone. Look, Perce…”
“E. Perc-E.”
“Alright… I’m…”
“I swear to God, do not tell me that you’re sorry again!” I shouted, my anger finally getting the best of me. I had tried to keep it civil because what was the point of exploding? But this was my town – our town – and he should care much more than he seemed to.
“I’m a fuck up, is that what you want to hear?” he begged and looked like he was on the verge of crying. I hated to see it, but he had made his own bed. “I didn’t know about any of this happening here until they sent me the day I met you again. I didn’t want to be a part of this. I didn’t want to even come back.”
“And that makes you someone who should have any say about what happens in this town?” I stepped towards him. “Will you fight for us, Ben? Will you tell your bosses that if they are going to build a resort here, they should offer the high-paying jobs that they will outsource from somewhere else to the people of this town?”
He walked up to me and took my arms in his hands. “I don’t have that kind of power, but you are something special, Percy. You’ve worked for Michelin-starred restaurants. BHB would totally offer you a prime spot at the resort so you can make all of the fancy desserts that you desire. You could even keep the bakery name. I know I could make that happen.”
“What about everyone else?”
“You’respecial. A pastry chef of your caliber isnotan easy find.”
“A town like Foggy Basin isn’t either.” I pushed down the tears that I knew would come.
“I’m…”
“You tell me you're sorry again, and I swear, Ben, I will throw this pan at you. It’s not just about me. Small towns like ours sticktogether. You used me, and you don’t even understand why.” I shrugged, and his arms fell to his side.
