Skylar stood behind the counter of the café, disinfecting the smudged keys of the cash register. How many people who’d come in today had a cold? Or worse.
The Saturday crowd had simmered down to a dull murmur of coffee-sipping regulars. Apparently the ridiculous amount of snow lately had caused cabin fever, and this café was a hot spot to go to.
When the bell on the door jangled, her heart sped up, expecting to see Jax lumbering toward her. After their last encounter they needed to clear the air a bit. Because of the sunlight, she saw only the silhouette of a man, but it clearly wasn’t Jax, and her heart seemed to drop a few inches.
It was reasonable for him to have pulled back. She was the pot calling the kettle black to question his issues. He had served his country, was good to his friends, and reached out to help those less fortunate. That was a far cry from how she spent her days.
But Jax would be here soon. He came every Saturday around closing time, bringing whatever supplies Susie had ordered.
The man came to a halt in front of the register, interrupting her thoughts. She didn’t recognize him for a moment, but then his handsome face brought it all back.
“What?” Skylar tossed the cleaning cloth to the side. “Have you uncovered another long-lost biological family member of mine and are here to rip apart my life again?”
Quill seemed unfazed by her sarcasm. “I suppose I deserve that.”
“You think?” She looked at an imaginary watch on her arm. “Oh, look. You dropped me off here almost four months ago.” She tapped her wrist and held it to her ear as if the pretend watch was broken. “And never looked back.” She lowered her arm. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, but Ariana isn’t here. Just me.” She shooed him. “So off you go. No need to linger.”
But instead of backing away, Quill leaned in, propping his hands on the counter. “You’re right, and I’m sorry. I got completely caught up in work and being there for Ariana, and I should’ve made time to come by here.”
“Shoulda, coulda, woulda. It’s the story of my life.”
“Mine too, I think. But I knew you were in good hands with the Brennemans.”
Skylar’s insides relaxed, as if she’d stepped into a warm shower. “You’re right about the Brennemans. I mean, they are bat-crazy religious, and if I ever forget that part, Isaac lowers his iron fist on someone and quickly reminds me. Thankfully I fall into a different category, so as long as I carry my share of the workload, he doesn’t put his iron-fist expectations on me. But the religious part aside, they are real and kind in ways that…” She shrugged, unwilling to be vulnerable with him. But she’d desperately needed the type of kindness and authenticity that defined the Brenneman family. “Anyway, I’m clean. Can you believe that?”
He smiled, and his blue eyes lit up with pleasure. “I believe it. And words can’t convey how glad I am, for your sake. But you’re right, so I’ll say it again, I should’ve made time to come by sooner. You deserved at least that.”
“You’re really good at apologies.”
“Glad to hear it. I need to be.” He looked toward the kitchen. “Where is she?”
“Grounded.”
“Still?”
“Yup.” Apparently when Skylar did something sneaky and underhanded, she did a great job of it.
Quill drummed his fingers on the counter and sighed. “All the same I’ll have a coffee.”
Skylar grabbed a mug and filled it. “My guess is you’ve tried to reach her via texts or phone calls.”
“I have.” Quill sat at the counter directly in front of Skylar. “How are you?”
Skylar put the mug in front of him. “Drink your coffee. I was nice to you once, and you used the information against me.”
Quill put out his hands pleadingly. “I thought you just accepted my good apology.”
Skylar enjoyed being passive-aggressive. “That was for dropping me here and not checking on me. Now I’m focusing on your flirting with me to get info.”
“I did do that, didn’t I?” He shook his head. “Can’t apologize for it. It was necessary to uncover what I needed to know, and based on this conversation, you’d only find something else you’d want an apology for.”
“Maybe. Four months has given me a long time to think.”
Quill bounced his palm against the rim of the mug. “Any idea how Rudy is handling all of this?”
Skylar shrugged. “He seems good. A bit quiet when the bishop says to be, but I haven’t seen him do anything but support her, whether he’s by her side or winking at her from across the room during church service.”
“That’s good. I’m glad to hear it.”
“Are you?” Had he forgotten that when he first “happened” to meet her and was trying to break the ice, he’d told her how he felt about Ariana?
“Yes. Very.”
“Okay.” Skylar refilled his mug. “Just wondering.”
“Any idea how much longer she’ll be grounded?”
“None.” Skylar returned the carafe to its burner. “You’re a weird guy, you know that?”
“How so?”
“You displace my entire life and then sit in front of me, sipping coffee like we’re old friends.”
Quill didn’t react. “Yup.”
“Is that it?”
He didn’t break eye contact or blink. “Yup.”
She propped her folded arms on the counter in front of him. “Really? You actually think the scraps you just threw me were plenty?”
“Apparently smart women don’t like brevity very much.”
Skylar suppressed a giggle. “Ah, have we stumbled on why you’re here and need to be good at apologies?”
“They say silence is golden, but it clearly also gets under people’s skin.”
The door jingled, but she ignored it. “I’ll tell you this much. Ariana has more pluck than I imagined.”
He barely smiled as he stared into his mug. “Pluck to spare of late.”
She laughed, grabbed a dish towel, and threw it at his face. He didn’t react, but when it fell over his coffee, he removed it.
“You’re too calm, Quill. Just too calm.” She glanced up to see Jax hanging back, a folder in one hand and flowers in the other. “Hey, Jax.” Since their uncomfortable conversation more than a week ago, they’d simply spoken when necessary and danced awkwardly around each other. She gestured between the two men. “Jax, meet Quill, a.k.a. the life ruiner.” She picked up the cloth and smacked Quill’s arm with it.
Quill stood and shook Jax’s hand. “Life ruiner isn’t my official title.”
Jax’s usual smile was barely visible.
Skylar leaned over the counter. “Oh, my. Look at those flowers, and here it is stark winter, no floral color peeking through anywhere. Those had to cost you a pretty penny, and Susie will love them. Do you want a vase?”
“Uh…” He looked from the flowers to Skylar. “Nah.” He held up the folder. “I brought the estimates to show you.”
Skylar pointed toward the pass-through. “The people to talk to about all of that are in the back.” She shooed him. “Go.”
Jax left, and Quill took a five-dollar bill out of his wallet and held it toward her.
She shook her head. “You’re good.”
He held on to the money as he put away his wallet. “In my opinion he didn’t bring in the estimates to talk to the others about them.” He tossed the money on the counter. “And the flowers weren’t for Susie.”
“What?” She looked beyond the pass-through, trying to see Jax. “You think…me?”
“Yup.” Quill rapped his knuckles on the counter. “If you like that guy at all, it was a bad call not to tell him we barely know each other.” Quill briefly lifted both brows, a smile tugging on his lips. “But it’s a fixable situation…if you care to.” Quill walked toward the front door.
He was known for being savvy, but he had to be dead wrong about this.
Abram rushed out of the kitchen, causing the swinging door to flop to and fro with fury. “Quill.”
Quill stopped and turned. When the two men were close, Abram spoke softly and pulled what appeared to be a folded piece of paper from his pocket. The two talked for maybe a minute before Abram handed it to Quill, and then Quill left.
As Abram passed her to return to the kitchen, she squirted the counter and wiped it down, pretending she hadn’t seen the interaction. But they both knew she had.
It was easy to understand Quill coming to the café if he wanted to speak to Ariana. It wasn’t as if he could stop by the house. But Skylar liked that, regardless of how taboo contact with Quill was supposed to be, her quiet, hardworking brother had just talked to and passed a note to him. Skylar was sure the note was from Ariana. It was fascinating to watch how a kindhearted group of siblings, who were innocents in many ways, could band together to defy the Old Ways, the ministers, and their parents in the name of love and loyalty.
Jax’s voice rumbled through the café as he laughed about something, causing different questions to come to mind. If he had brought those flowers for her, was he ready to get past the uncomfortable conversation they’d had last week? Thus far they’d swept it under the rug and kept things cordial.
Had she just trampled his effort to smooth things over between them?