Page 29 of The Fake Girlfriend's Billionaire Match
“Really?” Her pulse raced. “You think so?”
“Absolutely. I think you’d make a fine lawyer, but you are a brilliant chef. Your talent would be completely wasted if you joined me.” He sat forward, covering her hand with his. “The only time I want you working with me is if you’re teaching me some of your recipes, especially the one for tonight.”
Laughing, Winnie moved from her chair and sat next to him, hugging his neck. “Thank you, Dad.”
Until that moment, she hadn’t realized just what his support would mean to her. How it would boost her confidence. But for the briefest moment, she reconsidered her desire to open a restaurant. If she didn’t, there was a chance she could…but, no, Bear didn’t want that. She wanted more, not him.
Besides, the fulfillment of her dreams wasn’t based on her dad’s approval. She’d wanted it, needed it, but she also wouldn’t give up on what she wanted. The thought didn’t stop her heart from giving her a moment’s pause. What if her dream changed?
She shook the silly thought away. No, she had a goal. She knew what it was, and it was so close she could taste it. Just a couple of weeks…that’s all and she’d be cutting the ribbon and beginning what she’d worked so hard for.
* * *
Walking arm in arm,Winnie and her mom had decided to take her dad home after dinner and then go for a walk. They’d invited Bear, but he’d declined, saying Winnie needed some time with her mom.
“You think Dad will listen to the doctor?” asked Winnie, unable to picture her dad taking it easy.
Shaking her head, her mom exhaled sharply. “No, but I’ll call Uncle Clay and rat him out. Clay will make him do it if he has to strap him to a motor home and drop him in the middle of a national forest.”
Clay was an adopted uncle. He wasn’t related by blood, but he and her dad had been best friends since before she was born. His idea of work was Monday through Friday, unlike her dad. “Yeah, Dad will listen to him.”
“I’ll call your Aunt Becca too. If there’s one person that will get his attention, it’s her. She practically raised him.”
That was true. Winnie’s Aunt Becca, a redhead also, was six feet of attitude, and she wasn’t one to mince words. Dad would listen to her or else. “Yeah, if she finds out, he’ll have no choice.”
They walked nearly the entire track twice in silence before her mom cleared her throat. It was a sign that their conversation was about to center on Winnie. “I think you should tell your dad about the deal with Bear. He deserves to know.”
Shaking her head, Winnie said, “No, I’m not telling Dad about the deal.”
“He could help with the rest of the money. You could get started on remodeling the building.” She shrugged. “I thought you wanted to open it as soon as possible.”
Winnie nodded. “I do, but I still want to do this on my own.”
Her mom was quiet a little longer than normal. “Bear is a good man. I like him.”
“Well, I do too, but I have to finish what I started.”
“Do you? Just because you’ve been doing something doesn’t mean you can’t stop when it isn’t what you want anymore. You can be a chef without owning your own restaurant.”
Winnie stopped midstride. “Are you telling me to give up?”
Her mom turned to her. “No, I’m giving you permission to change. You had this dream when you were young. Your frontal cortex wasn’t fully developed at that point. This is eight years later.”
Scoffing, Winnie asked, “So, just drop everything I want for a guy?”
“Absolutely not. This isn’t about a guy at all. This is about you and what you want.” Her mom tapped the spot above Winnie’s heart with her finger. “What do you really want?”
“I have obligations. I’ve paid three months of rent in advance, plus a security deposit. I’ve ordered linens, talked to contractors and suppliers. I can’t just shift gears.” Winnie was almost offended her mom would even suggest her dream had changed. “I won’t give up.”
Her mom closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. “You and your father are so much alike. Iam nottelling you to give up.” She dropped her hand and lifted her head. “I’m telling you it’s okay if the dream changes. And that doesn’t mean giving up; it means coming to the fork in the road and deciding what will make you the happiest.”
Opening the restaurant would make her happy. But even as the thought floated through her mind, it didn’t come close to touching her heart. What made preparing the meal for Thanksgiving wasn’t the food; it was the joy she saw in the family who had welcomed her like she’d always been one of them.
She’d spent most of the money working to open the restaurant, though. Signed a yearlong lease. She was a decision away from how she wanted the remodel to go. There were things in motion she couldn’t just stop. Not without spending another load of money. And then what? She’d have nothing to show for it. At this point, she’d just have to choose to be happy with the direction she was going.
“Iamhappy, Mom,” she said and smiled. “I really am. I like San Antonio. The location is perfect for foot traffic, and I can see the River Walk from the front door. The restaurant that folded failed several health inspections. I won’t do that. It’s going to be successful. I’m confident of it.”
Her mom hugged her. “That’s all I wanted to hear. If you’re happy, I’m happy.” She leaned back and grinned. “Bear is sure cute without that beard, isn’t he?”
