He always knew that van was going to bring him trouble, but Willow being responsible for it made it a million times worse.
Now they were totally stuck with each other.
Why did he agree to let Jenn use electricity and water from his place? Lucas was regretting his choices now, as he stomped around The Diner getting ready to open up. He should have known that Jenn would do something crazy, like sell it to someone that he couldn’t stand. Now he was going to have to face Willow every day, and even worse, she would be using his utilities for a bargain price, so he couldn’t even profit from it.
Lucas slammed his cloth against the counter. Why was she back anyway? And where was Jake? Would he eventually be heading back too? That really would be the last straw. None of this was making any sense.
He looked up as the bell on the door jangled and the two women walked in.
‘We hope it’s OK to grab a coffee,’ Jenn said brightly. ‘And maybe some pancakes or something. I need to go through some more details with Willow before I go.’
Lucas frowned but handed them a menu and took their coffee orders. ‘What are you planning to sell in that van anyway?’
‘Matcha,’ Willow replied. ‘It’s really nice.’
‘Matcha?’
Wasn’t that some kind of grass-like drink everyone seemed to be drinking in New York when he was there? Lucas suppressed a laugh.
‘Oh yeah, I can just see the Parker twins slurping that up. And old Ernie.’
Willow glared at him. ‘It has health benefits you know, and it can be drunk hot or cold. I think you’d be surprised.’
‘Besides, the tourists will love it,’ Jenn added. ‘They like anything like that.’
‘Tourists? What tourists?’ Lucas made a deal of lookingaround the place as if seeking them out. ‘They’ve all been heading over to Westpine Ridge. There’s more for them to see there.’
Willow’s eyes widened. ‘Seriously? This was always the main town to come to before. It’s far prettier. What about the Falls?’
Lucas shrugged. ‘I dunno, folk seem to have forgotten about them. They just want the shops and all that. The Ridge offers them more bang for their buck, I guess.’
He was trying to sound casual about the whole thing, but he didn’t add how worried he actually was and how he spent most nights churning over the day’s sales, wondering what he could do to improve things. He wasn’t even sure how long The Diner could carry on with such limited customer traffic.
‘Maybe my matcha van will help bring in business,’ Willow said. ‘It could be just what the town needs.’
Or it could be the final nail in its coffin, Lucas thought as he handed the women their lattes. He kept his mouth shut though. What was the point of complaining now?
But Willow was badly misguided if she thought matcha alone was going to save this diner.
Or this town for that matter.
He served them a simple breakfast of maple pancakes with bacon and stood back and watched as they talked over their plans. Willow looked so glowing and excited; it reminded him of what she was like when they used to hang out – before the days of Jake. Back then, Willow had been a real tomboy and so full of life. They had had so many adventures together: climbing trees, building forts, hanging out by the Falls …
Willow’s laugh broke through Lucas’s thoughts and he turned towards the backroom, trying desperately to ignore it. He didn’t like how the sight and sound of her was making him feel. It was like the coldness that he had fought hard to melt away had come back inside him. He knew he was better off trying to ignore it.
He managed to keep himself busy while the women chatted, trying hard to tune the noise out while he cleaned the coffee machine. He heard fragments of the conversation – ‘so exciting’ and ‘the change I needed’ – but none of it was making him feel any better and it wasn’t answering any of the questions that he longed to ask.
Where was Jake? Were the two of them even still together?
Was she planning to be back for long, or was she just setting this van up for someone else to eventually take over?
And how did she feel, seeing Lucas again? Did she remember the good times as well, or only the weird, awkward way things had ended up?
Of course, he could have just asked these things. But that would have been weird and shown that he cared about her, which he didn’t at all. Not now anyway. He just wanted to know what the hell was going on, that was all.
He couldn’t help but sink with relief when they both pushed their plates away and got up to leave.
‘See you later!’ Jenn called over to him loudly. ‘I’m sure Willow will catch you up on everything you need to know soon.’
