Page 68 of The Charming Checklist
Old and weathered signage hung on one of the doors, so worn it couldn’t even be clearly read.
“Believe it or not, this used to be an old surfboard manufacturing plant. They closed up years ago to move overseas and this building has been available for lease since then.”
“Don’t you think it’s too far out of town for a coffee shop?”
“Yes, absolutely. Now, here’s where I need you to use your imagination.” He came around to her side of the car and opened the passenger door. He led her to the front of the plant, and stopped her just in front of it, hands on her shoulders. “As you’ve told me, you start with the beans, right? A superior product. Right now, you’re a one-woman operation, and you couldn’t keep up with the demand for coffee at the Salty Dog, much less other places.”
“The Salty Dog?”
“Yeah, I wanted to offer you the contract, but I need to know you can produce at least enough for our needs.”
“Max...”
“Look. You’re going to need an influx of cash, but this building is, as you might imagine, a steal. So, I suggest we start here. Lease some equipment, hire a few seasonal workers, get the roasting plant up and running. You create your brand here, from the bottom up. With quality control and production. And after you’re up and running, phase two begins.”
“Phase two?”
“Phase one pays for phase two. The coffee shop phase. You can either continue to roast the beans here or move a smaller operation to the storefront. Or maybe a little of both.”
They’d talked about this, of course, but her head was spinning because once Max got behind her ideas, everything had come together. Fast. She’d been floundering for years, and now it could all happen. No longer a dream. She hadn’t said a word for several long minutes, simply staring at the building, clutching Max’s hand.
“Ava? There’s still plenty to do. You’ll need to create the brand. The name, the packaging, everything. This is just a start. The bank loves the idea because they happen to own this building and would love to put it to good use. Win-win.” He waited several long beats. “Say something, baby.”
“I... I would have never thought of this. But it’s great. Just amazing.”
“The building is ugly, I know. But that’s just cosmetics. That can all be easily—”
She didn’t bother listening to the rest, because she couldn’t wait another minute to kiss him. Her lips were on his, hands sunk in his thick wavy hair, simply drinking him in.
When she finally broke the kiss, his eyes were smiling. “I take it you like the idea of phase one.”
“I love it.”
And I love you, she almost said, but kept the words silent. For now.
Nothing in Max’s life had ever gone this smoothly and felt so right. He’d started to understand the concept of love sometimes “just happening.” Who would have thought his grumpy self would have fallen for the happiest woman in Charming? Who would have thought she’d be the one for him? He wouldn’t have ever considered that the man who planned everything would be a good fit for the woman who planned little. But yet somehow, there it was. He’d fallen in love for possibly the first time in his life. This didn’t feel messy or unsustainable at all. It felt real. Peaceful.
The same way his backyard garden did, a place where he’d managed to blend in only the best parts of his childhood memories. All without the hard physical work of picking in the fields. Gardening now reminded him of home, family, and love.
Just like Ava did.
While he’d started out with a list of qualities of the ideal woman for him, he’d now reversed his approach. A total one-eighty. Instead, he could write every single quality that made up the wonder that was Ava Long, andthatwould be his list for the perfect woman. She was beautiful and warm, loving, and completely giving. They laughed together often mostly at themselves, and he found her sense of humor far drier than he would have imagined. He’d already personally witnessed that her bright and bubbly wattage could be dimmed by thoughtlessness. Or—he chuckled—before her first cup of coffee.
And now he’d done something for her that he didn’t think anyone else could have done in quite the same way. Because he understood what satisfied his woman, and he wasn’t talking about his finger. She loved the very idea of helping others and she’d settled into the business community like a brilliant light that couldn’t be squashed. Yeah,hiswoman. His.
It hadn’t happened like he’d pictured. Love had punched him with a right hook when his face had been turned the other way. When he’d been looking for someone to have on his arm to prove that he’d arrived, prove he’d pulled himself out of poverty, and would never go back to it again. He didn’t need anyone else to prove his worth. He’d proved it to himself.
After a long celebratory lunch, he dropped Ava back at the Chamber office, then arrived to the Salty Dog for his bartending shift. He’d close tonight. Cole wanted the night off to plan a special surprise for Valerie and none of their regulars could fill in. After all, the holidays were approaching. People were making plans, taking time off to leave town and visit family. And, true to form, all of the food barrels were overflowing with canned donations. This holiday would be a great one with his friends. After Christmas, he’d take a little time off to head back to Watsonville and see his family. Maybe even with Ava in tow if she’d be willing to come along. His family would adore her, and she’d fit right in with their abundant love for life.
While he expected a slow afternoon, the lull began to dissipate shortly after five, and he was mixing cocktails and serving up wine and beer. He’d turned to place a mojito on Debbie’s tray when he noticed that Dr. Katherine Long had taken a stool.
“Dr. Long,” he said, sliding her a cocktail napkin. “Welcome. What can I get for you?”
“Do you have a good chardonnay?” She wrung her hands together.
“We do. Let me get that for you.” He poured, his worry growing as he watched Dr. Long.
“Thank you. My little break is at an end and I’ve got to get back to my medical practice.” She held up her wineglass in a mock toast.
