* * *
After the committee meeting,I went over to my café. I looked around. I had already started hanging the best of the art-retreat paintings and pottery, with little signs about the students.
Hazel:I can't believe Chloe is coming. This is terrible!
Jemma:Archer didn't mean anything by it I'm sure.
Hazel:I know. It's not like I told him about how my business is failing. At least I paid the gas bill for this month so Chloe will actually be able to cook.
Olivia:Just focus on winning the grant. That's all you need. Then you can pay off the mortgage on your building and renovate it. Even if you can't have a café, there are a lot of tech startups here because of Svenssons PharmaTech. You could at least rent out the space as an office.
Hazel:But where would I live? I can't move back in with my sister.
Jemma:Duh move in with the hot guy you've been banging.
Hazel:I don't want to be his charity case.
Olivia:If you help him win the art grant you just handed him a billion dollar conference center on a silver platter. He wouldn't be able to win it without you.
Hazel:And all of you.
Olivia:*heart*
After taking out cleaning supplies, I scoured the stove and tried to calm down.
"For every time there is a season," I told myself. "Sometimes your business fails. A true girl boss picks herself back up. This is a minor setback. Maybe this will be a good thing. I'll win the grant. Maybe I won't have a café, but I can do something else with this space. Everything will be fine. I have to believe that."
After spending several hours cleaning, my café sparkled. I wished it was better decorated. I had seen the to-die-for pictures on Chloe's Instagram from her impeccably decorated restaurant in her boyfriend's tower.
Archer:Chloe's here. We're on our way. Also had to bring some of my brothers. Don't worry they are the small ones. You'll barely notice them.
Hazel:Okay I'm here.
I made popcorn and Magritte Martinis. Then I fretted as I walked around the café, swiveling the tables if they seemed a little wobbly. A black SUV pulled up in front of my café. Josie climbed out, followed by a short blond woman in sunglasses.
"Hi, you must be Hazel!" she called when I opened the front door. "I'm Chloe. We're going to be neighbors!"
Archer sauntered in. "This, Chloe, is my home away from home. Hazel is the woman who makes the pancakes and sandwiches."
"They're amazing pancakes. I saw them on your Instagram. They're gorgeous!" Chloe cooed. "Oh, look how cute it is in here! I love the exposed-brick walls. That's what I wanted in my restaurant in Manhattan, but of course the building was all concrete. I love these historic buildings."
"I have drinks and some popcorn ready if you guys want a snack," I said, trying to sound upbeat. "As you can see, the setup is pretty straightforward. Hopefully this will work for you."
Otis and Theo went upstairs to work on their paintings, taking cups of the popcorn with them. Henry clung to Archer.
"You want some popcorn?" he asked. Henry nodded. Archer fed him popcorn while Chloe, Josie, and I discussed the menu.
"So there is the lunch when the representatives arrive then breakfast the next three days," Chloe said. "I love making breakfast food. I hear you make a mean crepe, Hazel. I think we should have crepes one day. We should do pancakes another day; the Japanese ones you make are great. Let's serve them with eggs benedict so it's like a fun little sweet treat to go with the savory meal. What do you need for the dish? Berries? Josie was saying you guys have a great farm co-op out here."
"Wait, you actually want me to help you?" I asked.
"Of course!" Chloe said, taking a handful of popcorn. "I can't spare anyone from my restaurant. I'm a little worried about the franchise out here. My friend Nina was supposed to run it, but now we're opening one in Brooklyn and another one downtown that she is going to run. So I don't know what I'm going to do here. I'm a little short-staffed. Besides, your food looks awesome! The judges will love it."
"What about lunch?" Josie asked.
"You should just have sandwiches," Archer said.
"I had one of your sandwiches. We stopped by Ida's," Chloe said.
