"Sure," Journey says with a raised brow.
"Why don’t you go chat about it with your girlfriend?” The way Journey says the word girlfriend warns everyone, she’s not up for the same dramatic drawn-out conclusion to this evening as she was to the beginning.
"I think we should eat first," Brett tells her.
"Yes, let’s eat before the food gets cold," Elizabeth agrees.
I think everyone was afraid to speak during the half-hour we took to eat. Other than a little town gossip and chatter about more snow in April, there is tension in the air. I haven’t said much to Brett either since I’m curious to hear what’s going through his head about this proposition.
Once I’m through helping with the dirty dishes, Brett takes me by the hand. "Why don’t we take Benji for a quick walk before dessert?”
I agree without much of a response but follow him into the foyer where he grabs both of our coats and Benji’s leash. "We’ll be back in a few minutes," Brett shouts into the family room where Mom is talking to Elizabeth.
"Take your time," Elizabeth says.
"Can you keep an eye on Parker?"
"I don’t need an eye kept on me, Dad. I’m going to help Grandma and Mrs. Quinn prepare the dessert in a minute," she says, poking her head around the corner, her ponytail flopping around as she speaks with excitement.
"Okay then, be good," Brett says, pointing at her with a wink.
"Don’t let them skimp on the chocolate chips," I whisper to Parker. "They’re in the bottom drawer beneath the pantry."
Parker tries to wink and shoots mea thumbs-up. "I got this."
I follow Brett out of the house with Benji tugging him down the driveway. It isn’t until we’re halfway down the street before he begins to talk. "What if things don’t work out with us?" he asks.
Things have been so great between us, and the thought hadn’t entered my mind, though, maybe it should be a factor to consider. It has only been five months since we put a label on our relationship.
"Do you have doubts?" I ask him.
"About the business or us?" he continues.
"I’m not sure I want to know the answer," I respond, feeling a pit grow in the bottom of my stomach.
"I don’t think this conversation is coming out the way I’m intending. Let me start again," he says, taking in a deep breath. "Let’s say everything with us continues to be perfect, and we live happily ever after." I like the sound of that more than what he was asking a minute ago. "Maybe we get married and have this wonderful life together, but then something happens, and you fall out of love with me and can’t stand me, don’t want to look at me, or be in the same room as me?"
I laugh because I think he’s joking. "That’s silly to think that."
"I watched this happen with Brody and Hannah’s mom. Now they can’t even share their daughter properly, never mind a business coming into play."
"You don’t think we will work out?" I ask him, trying to understand what he’s saying.
"On the contrary, I see us growing old together, but we both know life can change in an instant. What would happen to us if we were no longer together and both running your family business?"
I see what he’s saying. I understand the intelligent thought process behind his words.
"I see," I tell him.
"Well, I’ll have to pull the extra one percent card and get rid of you somehow.” I offer a small smile to tease him, but at the same time, make him see—if I own more than fifty percent, I have the upper hand to make decisions on behalf of the business.
"So, you’d kick me out and find someone to buy us out?" Brett asks.
"Yup.” My grin should be telling enough for him to know I’m mostly joking.
"That’s cold, Mel," he says.
I stop walking and throw my hands up. "You just made me answer a terrible question, and now you’re calling me cold?"
