I’d even shaved my beard. I looked like me again. The old me. The lawyer me who helped out at his parents’ foundation. I didn’tfeellike me, but it was a start. I parked my car after an uneventful drive where I got lost in my depressing thoughts and made my way toward Carla’s new property. Glass windows covered the front, and there were boxes everywhere inside. I pushed opened the door, and two faces popped up from behind the counter.
“Hey, guys.”
“Fritz, hey!” Carla grinned and shoved a box of napkins onto the bar top. “What ya got there?”
“A ‘congratulations on your new business’ plant.” I set it next to her, and her grin doubled.
“That’sperfect.” She picked it up and studied it and placed it where I imagined the register would go. Peter came up and shook my hand, like he had the past three times we met, and his brows came together.
“Things going okay for you, Fritz?”
“Yeah, sure.” I shoved my hands in my pockets and eyed the empty venue. It had that feeling of potential, just brimming under the surface. Carla chose a perfectly small location that wouldn’t cost too much. She’d have room for a few tables, but the goal was coffee. Situated right in the heart of downtown businesses, there were at least seven buildings within easy walking distance. “You chose well, Carla.”
“Thank you.” She moved toward the wall opposite me, and a cute leafy-coffee mug logo was printed onto a poster. It was clean, elegant, and underneath it had the word FAB ‘BREW’ LESS on it. I snorted.
“I see what you did there.”
“Nora came up with it.”
Ah, a punch to the chest. “That’s…great.”
“She was an amazing recommendation, Fritz. Seriously. I heard she’s opening up a greenhouse and is looking for some partners to collaborate with. I loved her energy,” Carla said, my brain slowly catching up to digest her words.
“She didn’t get the money?” I asked, my spine stiffening at the possibility she wouldn’t achieve her dream.And it’d be my fault since I drove her away.
Peter’s frown deepened as his phone rang. He apologized and answered, but I paid him no attention. I wanted to ask Carla a million questions. “When did you talk to her? Was she okay? Happy?”
She didn’t miss a beat. She opened her mouth as Peter greeted the caller. “Hey, Nora. I’ve been doing what you asked and posting those videos as I make progress. I’ve already gained two hundred followers in a week!”
Nora! Nora was on the phone. I spun around and stared. He gave me a weird look, nodding at whatever she said. My heart thumped and twisted, and a swoosh of excitement passed through me. This could be good. Maybe. Hopefully.
“No, I’m with Carla now, about to meet with my silent partner. Yeah, he’s been great to work with. I could pass his information along to you if you want?” He smiled at me, not having a clue of the storm inside me. “Yeah, sure.”
Peter moved the phone from his ear and held it up…like he was taking a photo. The familiar dings of a video call starting filled the room, and I froze in my spot. Nora would be able toseeme.
“The logo you did for Carla is incredible. Look at it!”
“The colors pop against the brick wall, don’t they?” Nora said, her familiar voice wrapping around my soul like a warm hug. I squeezed my eyes shut and took a step back, out of view. This was wonderful and horrible at the same time.
It was so good to hear her, but the pain of missing her had doubled.
“Wait, turn around, Peter.” Nora’s tone changed. Peter spun, the camera going over me for one second, before she said, “What is that on the counter?”
Heather.Her plant.
Carla laughed. “Fritz brought me a plant.”
“Fritz,” she said, the magic gone from her voice, and instead, a deep, sad tone echoed through the phone. “Fritz Carter brought you that plant.”
“Uh, yeah. He’s right here.”
Yes! No! Maybe? I had no idea what I wanted. But Peter pointed the camera at me, and I awkwardly lifted my hand. Maybe it was better that I couldn’t see her. It’d hurt too much. “Hey, Nora.”
“Is that from my place?”
“You mean, the unit across from mine? Yes.”
“It’s still alive?” There wasn’t anger in her tone now, just curiosity.
