Page 58 of When We Are Falling

“Thank you. Appreciate it, fella.”

He comes around from behind the counter and gives me a hearty pat on the back before passing me a paper bag holding pastries. “Here, take a couple of croissants for the road. One for Blake in there, too.”

With the pastries in hand, Bandit and I continue down Main Street. We stop at Joy’s boutique, where the storefront is adorned with colorful, sustainable fashion pieces, and Ruby’s gallery, filled with her distinctive landscape oil paintings and handmade jewelry. They’re both equally enthusiastic about my plan.

With Bandit trotting beside me, we finally head to the Tavern. The place is quiet, Blake cleaning up by herself. When she sees me, her face lights up.

“Hey there,” she says, leaning over the bar to give me a kiss.

“Hey yourself,” I reply, passing her one of the croissants. “That’s from Tom. And I’ve got a surprise for you.”

“Oh, really?” She raises an eyebrow.

I sit down at the bar, my mind buzzing with a bit of nervousness, which is stupid. I’ve put a lot into this, and I just hope Blake sees it for what it is—a genuine effort to help her and the Tavern—I know how much she likes to handle her own business.

“Yeah. I’ve been busy all afternoon. Let’s just say the Tavern’s going to be packed soon.”

She looks confused. “Oh?”

I pull out the detailed plan I’ve been working on. “I’ve organized a special event for the bar on Friday night. It’s a live music night to attract locals and tourists. I’ve got everything covered—your schedule, promotions, and all the resources you’ll need to make the night a success.”

Blake’s eyes widen in surprise as she scans the papers. “You did all this… without telling me?”

I scratch the back of my head, feeling an unfamiliar flash of anxiety. “Yeah, I just wanted to help. I know how much pressure you’ve been under, and I thought this could lighten the load. I hope you’re not upset.”

For a moment, she looks taken aback, and I worry that I’ve overstepped. She’s so used to handling things on her own, and I wonder if she feels like I’ve undermined her. Her brows furrow, and she bites her lip, clearly processing everything.

“This is... a lot.” Her voice is carefully measured. “You organized an entire event without even telling me first. And this is my place.”

Swallowing hard, trying to gauge her reaction. “I’m sorry for not including you in the planning. I know how much stress you’ve been under, and I thought this might take some of the weight off your shoulders.”

She sighs, looking off into the distance. “I know you mean well. And I don’t want to sound ungrateful. It’s just a little hard for me. I’ve always had to stand on my own two feet. It’s how I’ve survived.”

“I get that,” I reply, stepping closer and taking her hand. “But you don’t have to do everything alone anymore. I’m not here to take your independence away from you. I’m here to be your partner, to support you in any way I can. We’re in this together.”

“But we didn’t do this together. You did this alone.”

She’s staring at me, her green eyes so wide. Maybe she’s right. I probably should have spoken to her first. But I really wanted to surprise her, maybe even impress her. “I’m sorry, babe. I really thought I was doing a good thing.”

Her eyes soften, and she squeezes my hand. “I really care about you. And I’m trying to open up, to let you in. But you can’t just take over.”

“Got it. No taking over. No organizing awesome fundraisers without you.”

She leans into me and we hug, before she pulls back slightly, tentative. “And thank you for doing this. I know you meant well. But next time, speak to me first, okay?”

“I will. I promise.”

A genuine smile spreads across her face as she rereads the flier I printed. “And you really went all out. Thank you.”

I relax a bit, the tension easing from my shoulders. “I just wanted to make things a bit easier for you.”

She reaches across the bar and squeezes my hand. “Thank you. This means a lot.”

She still looks a little taken aback, but she’s smiling and seems to be getting used to the idea. And maybe even really liking it.

I reach out and stroke the smooth freckled skin of her cheek. “Alright. Let’s make this event the best the Tidal Tavern has ever seen.”

Chapter 26

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