"Are you really supposed to tell me that?"
He shrugged. "It's all a matter of public record. The system will update tomorrow, and everyone will know who the new owners are. Besides, I'm hoping to stay on your good side! I need more sandwiches. You have to promise me this isn't the last Art Café sandwich I ever eat." He grabbed my hand.
"All right, all right! I'll call Ida tomorrow."
Somehow it did give me a little comfort to know that maybe Archer would turn my building into a very chic, very exclusive boutique hotel. I just wanted the building to go to someone who cared about historic architecture, and Archer clearly did.
Terrence had me fill out several forms. I was there for a half hour after closing while he inputted all the information in the system. Then he printed out the forms and had a coworker come in and notarize it.
"There you are. All set," he said, handing me my copies. "You are officially no longer the owner of the Art Café."
64
Archer
Hazel wasn't returning my calls. It was dark when I snuck out of the party my brothers were throwing at the estate house to go by Hazel's café. It didn't look like anyone was there. All the lights were off, and the door was locked.
Where was she?
"Just give her some space," Mace said when I went back to the estate house. "She was under a lot of stress with the competition. She probably needs to rest. I'm sure you kept her up all night too."
"Mace, there are children present," Hunter warned.
"Holy smokes, I didn't mean like that. I just meant because he's a night owl!"
* * *
I went backby the café the next day. It was still locked. I peered through the windows. I didn't see any sign of sandwich making.
Archer:Where are you?
Hazel:Sorry! Went to my sister's house.
Archer:Okay… I'll come see you later?
She didn't answer. I paced around outside her café in frustration. I looked up to see a familiar woman approach.
"There you are!" McKenna said. "I thought you might come by here. Have you thought about my offer?"
"I told you, McKenna," I said in irritation, "I'm not going to date you. I don't want anything to do with you. And don't stand there and insult Hazel."
A car pulled up. The door opened, and my mother stepped out. Why were the two women I despised the most here and the one I loved wasn't?
"Mom, I warned you—"
"I'm not here for money!" she cried. "We're here to help you."
"We?" I asked, eyes narrowing.
"It's an intervention," Merla Vee said.
"I do not want to deal with this," I announced. "I'm leaving."
"But we have information about Hazel," McKenna said. I stopped in my tracks. McKenna had a smug look on her face.
"What about Hazel?"
"Dear, sweet little Hazel has been playing you this whole time," Merla Vee said.
