Page 74 of Calculated Chaos

Hollister

Two years later

I fold the napkins for about the twentieth time today, hoping the activity will burn off some energy. I still have thirty minutes before the doors open. I should be supervising my staff swirling around me making final preparations, but I can’t focus enough to do it.

“Holl.”

Axel’s voice is an immediate balm to my racing heart. Dragging my gaze from my meticulously folded napkin, I meet his mismatched eyes. Axel’s still my rock and my best friend, but now he’s my husband and business partner too.

“Take a deep breath, gorgeous. You’ve got this. People are already lining up outside.”

“Oh god. Really?”

“Really. Sara’s marketing paid off.”

“What if they hate food?”

“Hate food, Holl? I don’t think they’d come.” Axel chuckles. “Babe, we spent two months finding the perfect chef and another month testing recipes. You know you nailed it.”

“Right. Okay.” I shake my arms and twist my neck back and forth. “I can do this.”

Axel squeezes my arms. “You’re living your dream, babe. Your real dream. We can handle anything that comes our way.”

“You’re right. Thanks for the pep talk.”

Axel presses a sweet but firm kiss to my lips. “Let’s go out front.”

I take his offered hand, allowing the memories of the last two years to wash over me. What a leap I took, quitting my job and eventually deciding to dive into the restaurant idea with tons of support from my friends and family. Now I’m minutes away from opening the doors on Onyx Café, a lunch-only restaurant offering pastas, salads, soups, and sandwiches. Our signature offerings though, are the pastries, designed to draw people in just for those if that’s all they want. I believe in my concept, but that doesn’t mean I’m not a nervous wreck.

When I enter the front room, I stop in my tracks when my mom and stepdad turn to face me. Between them is none other than Benjamin Burke, my dad. His posture is… sheepish? As if he’s actually nervous.

“Dad? What are you doing here?”

He clears his throat, cheeks lobster red as his eyes dart around at all the people watching us. “Uh, well, I saw the announcement online and uh, well, I thought I’d come check it out.”

I don’t even know what to say. I haven’t seen his face since the day I walked out of the office. I didn’t call him to tell him about my engagement, and we didn’t invite him to the small ceremony we had at the courthouse. As far as I knew, I didn’t exist to him anymore.

“Can we talk alone?” he asks.

“No,” I answer before I even think about it. “If you have something to say, you can say it here, but you have five minutes, then I have to open the doors.”

My dad nods, glancing anxiously at Axel. “Fine. I, um… I haven’t been a great dad.”

I almost scoff but manage to hold it back. Understatement. Axel moves closer to me, his arm pressed against mine.

“It took me way too long to realize I was the reason things blew up. My behavior made you leave.”

I nod, but remain silent. Sara appears on my other side, wrapping her arm around mine.

“Things went to hell when you left, and I was too proud to ask you for help or beg you to come back. We lost some accounts and I finally saw how much you did.”

My throat tightens with emotion, but I do my best to keep my expression neutral. I’m not letting him off the hook that easily.

“Hollister, I came here to… to apologize.”

My mom’s gasp is audible. Has the man ever apologized for anything?

“Not only for my failings as a boss, but also as a father. I see now how my tactics backfired.”

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