“For what it’s worth,” I say, “I think you made the right choice. Not everyone has the guts to walk away from the easy path.”
She’s smiling, and there’s color in her cheeks now. The late afternoon light coming through the window catches her hair and turns it copper, and for a second I forget what we were even talking about.
“What about you?” she asks, tilting her head. “How did you end up in the restaurant business?”
“I kind of fell into it, honestly.” I shift my weight against the counter, grateful for the question because it gives me something to focus on besides her mouth. “Alex wanted to start a restaurant but didn’t want to answer to anyone else. I wanted to build something here in Dark River, put down roots, be part of the community. So we figured it out together.” I run a hand through my hair. “Thankfully I ended up loving it, but it’s been hard at times. Most of my life is there. Sometimes I wonder if I’ve let it become too much of my life.”
“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with caring deeply about your work,” she says, and her voice is softer now. “It’s kind of rare, actually. Most people just clock in and clock out.”
“Yeah, well.” I look down at my coffee. “Sometimes I wonder if Chloe would say I care too much about work and not enough about other things.” The words slip out before I can stop them, more honest than I intended to be.
Emma’s quiet for a moment, and when I look up, she’s watching me with an expression I can’t quite read. “From what I can see,” she says gently, “Chloe knows exactly how much her dad loves her. That kid talks about you constantly. You’re her favorite person in the world, Theo. Trust me on that.”
I have to look down at my coffee for a second. “She’s the best thing that ever happened to me. And she’s been patient with me through all of it and just rolls with everything. Especially back in the early days when I wasn’t sure if the restaurant was going to make it.”
She nods, tilting her head. “But youdidmake it,” she says. “And now the place is a cornerstone of the community.”
“Yeah. The food matters, but mostly I like having a place for people to gather. Being able to donate to the food bank every week, host fundraisers for the schools. It feels good being part of something bigger than just running a business.”
“That sense of community is something I was lacking in Seattle,” she says. “I mean, it exists there of course. Sophie has her own community and friends. But I always struggled a bit. I wanted somewhere I could know my neighbors and run into people at the coffee shop and actually feel like I belong somewhere.”
“Stars Hollow,” I say, smiling.
“Ha! Good memory.” She laughs, and the sound fills the kitchen in a way that makes me want to hear it again. “Yes, exactly. And Dark River feels like the perfect fit for that.”
“It is. But I might be biased.” I set my mug down. “I’ve lived here my entire life and I don’t think I want to be anywhere else. I can see Alex moving on someday. This town might be too small for him. And my youngest brother, Jack, was born restless and wanted to leave as soon as he could. But I’ve always loved it here. Always felt rooted.”
“I hope it works out so I can feel that way too,” she says softly.
“I think you will. You’re already making an impact, getting involved. That’s how it starts.”
She looks down at her coffee mug, then back up at me. “Thanks for saying that. It means a lot, actually.”
We’re just looking at each other, and I should say something or move or do literally anything besides stand here staring at her like an idiot. But I can’t seem to make myself break whatever this is. The air between us feels charged, heavy with something I don’t want to name.
My phone buzzes, snapping me back to reality. I pull it out and see a reminder about Chloe’s art class ending soon. “I should probably get going,” I say. “I need to pick up Chloe soon, and I’ve some work to do at the restaurant tonight.”
“Right, of course.” She sets her mug down on the counter and hops off. “Thanks again for fixing the cabinet.”
“Anytime,” I say, grabbing my toolbox. “Really. You can call me whenever you need something. That’s what landlords are for.”
She holds my gaze for a second, and I feel it everywhere—this pull toward her that I can’t seem to shake no matter how many times I remind myself why I should.
“I’ll walk you out,” she says finally.
I follow her to the door, keeping my eyes firmly on the back of her head because looking anywhere else is a mistake I can’t afford to make.
She opens the door and turns to face me, leaning against the frame. “Well,” she says. “This was nice. I’m around kids so much that it’s fun to have an adult conversation every now and then.”
“Yeah,” I say. “Thanks for the coffee.”
I step into the hallway and she stays in the doorway, not closing the door yet. For half a second I consider asking if she wants to grab dinner sometime. The words are right there, sitting on my tongue. Then I remember all the reasons that’s a terrible idea—her age, Chloe, the fact that she’s my tenant—and I swallow them back down.
“See you around, Theo,” she says, and there’s something in her voice that makes me think she knows exactly what I was about to say.
“See you around, Emma.”
I force myself to turn and head down the stairs without looking back. It takes more willpower than it should. I unlock my car and toss the toolbox in the passenger seat, then check my phone. A text notification sits on the screen.
