Page 31 of Winter Break

Dalton filled it with a laugh. “The Chamber of Commerce?”

“Um, yeah. Martin is trying to find ways to drum up offseason business, so we started this committee.”

“You and Mr. Martin are running a committee?”

“Yeah, of business owners around here.”

“I’m guessing my dad …”

“Yeah, no, your dad’s not participating. Says his corporate office has their own plans for marketing or whatever. I just don’t understand why he can’t see that it would benefit us all if we worked together, instead of ...”

Dalton opened his mouth to respond, but I beat him to it. “Shit, sorry. I shouldn’t be talking about your dad like that.”

“Oh, no. You definitely should. You know he wants to buy the building, right?” I was relieved when Dalton said the thing I’d stopped myself from saying.

“I do. Anita will never sell.”

He looked right at me, and for the first time, I didn’t feel strange looking back at him. This was something we could talk about, something we both loved and wanted to protect—Anita and the store.

“Anita’s not the only owner, though, is she?” he asked.

“Yes, technically she is.” Though people around town had guessed the details of what I said next, Anita and I had shared it with very few people, and most of them were lawyers.

“When I got here, we worked out a plan.”

He smiled again. “That day you showed up back in Breakwater, she didn’t know you were coming, did she?”

“No. No one did.”

“And by the time you showed up at our house for Christmas …”

“We had it all worked out. She had it all worked out. It’s a ridiculously generous plan. But she insists it’s the same one the former owners offered her. She holds back a portion of my wages, and eventually, that’s supposed to equal the price of the building. You and I both know that, one, she’s not setting extra wages aside, and two, this place is worth millions. But, yeah, the plan is that eventually I’ll take it over or own the place or whatever. You can’t tell anyone, Dalt. I haven’t even told your brother and Mal the specifics, you know, because they work for At Home too. Anita doesn’t want anyone to know. I think she thinks she’s protecting me, or that people will think I’m trying to hoodwink the building away from the crazy old lady.”

Dalton’s eyes shot up, and a smile brightened his face, brighter than any Christmas tree could ever shine. He looked beautiful in the moonlight.

“Crazy old lady, huh?” He laughed.

“What? Those are her words!” I said.

“I know. Sounds like her. The whole thing sounds like her. And it is how she ended up owning the building. She’s told me that story. So … it’s perfect, Turner. I know you love the store, and Anita knows she’ll be leaving it in the hands of someone she trusts. I love the store too. It was my first job and all, and … well, it holds a lot of memories. I would hate to see this building torn down. I hate that my dad is the one who wants to do it. I won’t tell anyone.”

“Thank you.”

“Hey! You know what I was thinking?”

“What?” I laughed at his enthusiasm, the air around the boardwalk feeling lighter as Dalton turned toward me, and I turned to meet him.

“You should sell coffee!”

“Coffee?”

“Anita said the clothing store is moving out, and you’re thinking of expanding?”

“Yeah. I mean, eventually.”

“So, hear me out. You get one of those fancy machines and stock that area with stuff for older kids and teens. They love a frozen mocha or whatever and would come in for the drinks and leave with a YA novel or an expensive brick-building set or a comic book. And harried parents and babysitters could come in and have a caffeine boost while the kids play with the trains or go to story time.”

He had turned and was leaning on the railing again. In the other direction this time, looking at the building. Envisioning it, his arms wide, taking in the scene.