Chapter 2

I stopped.

Wade blocked my path. "You've paid for today. What about all the other meals?"

Marla's expression changed. "Wade, enough!"

"Why? You're too nice, Marla. That's how she's got away with eating for free all these years. You still won't say a word."

He turned back to me.

"I've done the math. This place has been open ten years. You come in every year, every month, eat your fill, then call it ‘on the house.’ You think running a business doesn't cost money? Marla let it slide because she didn't want to embarrass you. Because she's kind. Not because she owed you anything."

He leaned into his argument.

"Now that we're clearing the air, fifteen bucks isn't going to cover it. Ten years of meals, favors, and lost business. Let's settle on a nice round figure."

The room fell silent.

I looked at Marla. She immediately looked away.

My heart sank.

"Marla. Those three times I came this month. Have you forgotten why I was here?"

"I..."

Wade cut her off. "Doesn't matter why you came. You ate and didn't pay. That's wrong. Look at us. We run small businesses. How much do you think we make in a day? Fifteen dollars might not sound like much, but ten years of it? Who can afford that?"

He gestured toward his sister.

"This isn't about food. She's taking advantage of your kindness because she knows you won't stand up to her."

Marla grabbed his arm. "Wade, stop!"

He shook her off.

"You're still defending her? Look at your hands. Your nails are splitting. And look at her. All dressed up. She walks in, sits down, eats, then gets up and leaves. What does she think this is, her own kitchen?"

More people gathered to watch.

"Even your best friend should pay for a meal."

"She's a good person, the owner. Doesn't mean she has to be a doormat."

"Years of free meals? She ought to answer for that."

Wade grew more confident.

He grabbed the calculator from the counter.

"Three visits a month. Fifteen dollars each. Five hundred and forty a year. That's fifty-four hundred over ten years. And every time, Marla gives you extra food, saves you a seat, and smiles like she's happy about it. Add the business she's lost, the favors she's done you, and all the times she's had to swallow her pride, and you owe her a hell of a lot more."

I gave him a cold look.

"How much?"

He slammed the calculator on the table.

"A hundred grand."

The room erupted.

Marla stared at him. "Are you out of your mind? You can't ask Callie for a hundred thousand dollars!"

Wade stood his ground.

"You've been running this place on your own for years. Up before dawn to prep, still doing the books after closing. You've worked yourself sick. She's eaten free all this time. Why shouldn't she pay you back?"

Marla clutched her apron.

"Toby's starting school soon, isn't he?" Wade pressed on. "Tuition, after-school care, tutors down the line. None of that's free."

Her eyes filled with tears.

He didn't give her time to respond.

"You care about your history with her. Has she ever cared about you? Every time she comes in, you waive the bill. Ten years, Marla. You haven't just given away meals. You've given away Toby's tuition. Mom and Dad's medical bills. Years of your own life, working yourself to the bone."

He looked around the room.

"We're all here today. We've got your back. She's going to pay you what she owes."

I kept my eyes on Marla.

"Is that what you think, too?"

For a few seconds, she struggled to answer. Then she turned away.

"Callie, Wade's being harsh, but... things really haven't been easy for me."

I nodded.

"So I owe you a hundred thousand dollars."

"I didn't say that." Her voice was almost a whisper. "I just think... we should settle up for all those years."

I laughed.

Then I took out my phone and opened my banking app.

In the silent shop, the payment notification chimed. One hundred thousand dollars received.

Wade looked triumphant.

"Now that's more like it. Was that so hard? You do something wrong, you own up. You take advantage of someone, you pay them back."

I put my phone away and turned toward the door.

He stepped in front of me again.

"That settles the meals, Callie. Now let's talk about the cut you take from this street every year."