He opened the lid to the barbecue and began brushing the grills.
“What are their plans?” Matt asked Noah as Noah returned to the deck.
“Move back to Portland.”
Caleb stopped brushing. “What?” He turned to look at Noah. “I offered them jobs.”
Noah gave a shrug. “Jules was adamant.”
“What about Melissa?” Caleb had been certain Melissa would want an opportunity at Neo.
“She’s staying with Jules.”
“What about you?” Matt asked Noah.
“About the job offer...” Noah began.
Matt gave a knowing grin and lifted his beer in a toast. “You’re going to Portland.”
Noah gave a sheepish smile. “There are construction jobs in Portland. And her father doesn’t hate me.”
“I’ll hire them both,” Caleb said.
“You can offer,” Noah said, taking a seat. “But I wouldn’t put money on it happening.”
“It’s the perfect solution.” Caleb looked to his friends, expecting their concurrence. “Their money problems are solved. They can stay in Whiskey Bay. They love Whiskey Bay.” Caleb was itching to go talk to Jules.
Noah seemed to consider. “I’m not sure it’s about the money. I think the Crab Shack was Jules’s dream for an awfully long time.”
“But...” Caleb tried to come up with a counter-argument. But unfortunately, he understood.
The Whiskey Bay Neo location had never been about money for him, either. If it had only been about money, he’d have found another location in Olympia. For years, he’d pictured the exact restaurant in that exact location. It was the thing he’d built toward from the very beginning.
He dropped into the fourth chair.
Jules was abandoning her dream. A month ago, he’d have been celebrating. But now that was unacceptable. Sure, it was important to save Neo. But it was equally important to support Jules.
“Caleb?” Matt prompted.
Caleb looked up. “This can’t happen.”
TJ cocked his head. “Since you just got everything you wanted on the business front, I’m assuming you mean Jules.”
“I mean Jules.” Caleb saw no point in denying it.
“You mean because you’re in love with her?” Noah asked. “Complicates things, doesn’t it.”
“I’m not... Yes,” Caleb said to Noah, giving in to what could be the only truth to the situation. He loved Jules. “It does complicate things.”
“What are you going to do?” Matt asked.
Funny, when it came down to it, the question wasn’t even hard for Caleb. “I guess I’m going to lose a million dollars.”
“Ouch,” TJ said.
Matt laughed.
“It’s about time,” Noah said.
“What do you know about love?” Matt asked Noah.
“Nothing yet,” Noah said. “But I’m trying hard to find out.”
“I can still get you some new investors,” TJ said.
“I don’t need them,” Caleb replied.
For now, seventeen Neo locations were enough. His immediate plans had a whole lot more to do with his personal life than with his business.
He realized he could lose the Whiskey Bay Neo and still not win Jules. She might not love him back. She might already hate him, and his eleventh-hour gesture might mean nothing to her. But he was still going to do it. If nothing else, she’d have her dream. She’d be here, and she’d be happy, and that would have to be enough for him.
* * *
Jules was beyond numb. It had been three days, and her mind still couldn’t comprehend the truth. The ocean roared in her ears as she made her way down the stairs from the driveway to her grandfather’s house. Or maybe it was panic roaring in her ears.
She’d wanted medical confirmation. And a tiny part of her had still held out hope the test had been wrong. It wasn’t wrong. In fact, her hormone levels were so high the doctor had done an ultrasound.
Jules was pregnant all right. She was very pregnant. She was twins pregnant, and she had no idea how she was going to explain it to her family. She could never tell her father this was Caleb’s baby. Babies. The knowledge would kill him.
She should have listened to Melissa a long time ago and given up on the Crab Shack. She’d put her sister through so much unnecessary work, so many wasted expenses. Now Jules was going away forever, and Caleb was sure to bulldoze the place.
“You got what you wanted.” Melissa’s voice carried from the porch up the stairs. “You won. You don’t need to rub it in her face.”
“I’m not rubbing it in her face.” The sound of Caleb’s voice stopped Jules cold.