Page 29 of That's a Wrap

I slam the scraper down, causing mustard to splatter on my apron, then raise the bottle in a threatening manner. “Why don’t you take this and shove it up?—”

“O-kay!” Mom swoops in, cutting me off and gently scooting me out of the way with her hip. “Seems like it’s a party over here, hmm?” She laughs nervously. “Ella Kate, would you be a dear and take out the trash for me? I’ll finish up with this handsome gentleman.” She gives him a wink and he returns her gesture with a smile before shooting me a smirk.

It takes everything I have not to roll my eyes at the annoying little man.

I drop the utensils onto the counter and head to the back to take out the trash. After opening my umbrella, I step around muddy puddles and toss the black bags into the dumpster behind the building. When I step inside again, the customer is gone and it’s just my mom in the cafe, standing assertively with her palms on her hips.

“What?” I ask, washing my hands at the sink before tying my apron back on.

“Don’twhatme, young lady. What was that about?”

“It was nothing. I just lost my temper for a second. I’m sorry.”

She gives me a knowing look. “You’ve been snippy with everyone for days, Ella Kate. Now, what’s going on?”

“Nothing,” I reiterate, trying to think of some way out of this conversation.

“Nothingshe says,” Mom mutters under her breath. “And I’m sure it has nothing to do with the fact that Peter hasn’t come by this week, huh?” When I grimace, she claps her hands together. “I knew it! Thisisabout Peter. What did Mister Dimples do? Did something happen between you two?”

I curl into myself, wrapping my arms around my middle. “It doesn’t matter. It’s not important.”

A gentle hand rests on my shoulder and I look up to see my mom giving me a subtle smile. “Oh, honey, of course it’s important. Talk to me. Maybe I can help.”

I wanted to keep everything from her and Dad because I know how much they like him.Reallylike him. But when she looks at me like that, silently imploring me to share, I just can’t hide anything from her. I never could. So, I spill it all, right here in the middle of the cafe.

I tell her about my brand-new camera and our perfect day together, and how we even admitted we were falling in love with each other. But I intentionally leave out all the sex stuff because no one wants to discuss that with their mother. Then, I mention that Peter arranged for me to go to California to try out being a professional photographer, and how that led to a fight since he made that decision for me all on his own, completely ignoring all my responsibilities here at the cafe. He didn’t consult me or even consider the people who depend on me, or how I can’t just up and leave anytime I want.

My emotions start spewing out of me, and I’m breathless by the time I finish talking. Mom stays quiet the whole time, letting me word-vomit everything out. When I’m done, she starts laughing. And not a quick littleha-ha, either. No, she’s full-on belly-laughing at me. I’m shocked, flabbergasted.

How could she laugh at my pain like this? It’s certainly not very mom-like when her daughter is clearly in distress.

“Why are you laughing?” I demand.

She wipes a tear from her eye and settles down. “Because you’re being a dummy!”

“What?” My face contorts with shock.

“Youshouldgo to California, Ella Kate,” she tells me between chuckles.

“B-b-but I can’t!” I insist, confused at her response. “I can’t leave you and Dad for that long to run the business by yourselves, especially since it’ll be closer to the holidays and we usually get an uptick in tourism. This place will be a madhouse!”

“You do realize your father and I have been running this cafe long before you were born, right? And we’re not decrepit and feeble and unable to handle the day-to-day operations without you?”

“Are you saying you don’t need me?” I’m not going to lie, but my feelings are kind of hurt right now. This conversation is not going at all like I expected.

“Of course, we need you, honey. But we can certainly manage for a week or two. It’s not like we don’t have additional staff who could easily pick up your hours, if needed.” She’s trying to reassure me, but it still doesn’t feel good. Mom looks at me and sighs. “Ella Kate, what’s this really all about?”

I bristle. “What do you mean?”

“You and I both know you had absolutely no reason to blow up at that sweet man. It’s obvious he’s completely smitten with you and was just trying to do something nice. So tell me why you sabotaged things with him and stuck your big, fat foot in your mouth.”

I huff, practically pouting like a child. “I don’t have big feet.”

“Ella Kate.” Her voice is stern as she raises a single eyebrow.

“Fine.” I exhale with exasperation. “The truth is, I know you’re going to leave the cafe to me in a few years when you and Dad retire, and I want to help you as much as I can now and learn everything I need to know so I can do a good job running the business. This place is so important to our family, and I want to be able to maintain that legacy long after you’re gone.”

Mom has the gall to laugh again and I puff out my cheeks in frustration. How can she be laughing at me again?

---