Cole was a clever guy, smarter than I'd given him credit for, but I couldn't admit he was right. Macy, luckily, stepped up to fight for me.
“You're being crazy. Asher's so in love with Sarah that it makes me sick. All that holding hands, pet names, kissing and hugging. Blech.”
“You stay out of this,” he snapped. “I don't care if Curiosities gets shut down, but I don't want Sarah marrying the wrong guy for the wrong reasons. I've always done my best to protect her. I'm not planning on quitting now.”
“She's a grown woman who can make her own choices.”
“Yo, kids!” The shop owner shot us a nasty look from behind the register. “No fighting in my shop. You're bothering the customers. Take it outside.”
I was almost grateful for the distraction of my ringing phone. Not so grateful, though, when I saw who was calling.
“Not a good time, dad.”
“I apologize for interrupting your oh-so-important day, but I need an answer on that deal I've made you. My partners are pushing to begin construction soon.”
Cole and Macy had moved on to bickering about something else. I left them alone and went to a quiet corner near the restrooms.
“There's only one possible way I'll accept your deal: if you agree to spare Sarah's store.”
“...Come again?”
“We talked about it, and she agreed to call off the wedding if you left her store intact. It's such a small parcel of land; I see no reason why you couldn't build the mall around it.”
He was quiet for a while. I could hear him typing something on his computer, probably trying to figure out yet another way to screw me.
“You do realize that would require significantly changing plans and blueprints. It would be difficult, time-consuming, and cost me quite a bit of money.”
“Well, I guess it would, but then it really depends how bad you want that wedding canceled. Is me finding love and happiness with a nice girl like Sarah really such a big deal?”
He sputtered for a moment. How tempting it was to blast him with questions, but I had to be patient. That was the only way to gain the upper hand.
“All right.”
I nearly dropped the phone. Did he seriously just agree?
“What did you say? I didn't quite hear you. It's awfully noisy in this building.”
“I said if that's how you're going to play things, then fine. You win. I'll alter the plans. Knock down Slicker Image, but Sarah can keep her pathetic little store.”
I hadn't expected him to give in so easily. Something about it felt off – maybe because I'd just agreed to hand over Slicker Image to him, but as long as Sarah was happy, that was what mattered most.
Or did it? Since when had I become so invested in her feelings?
“Then it's settled. I'll have the new paperwork delivered to you today. Hopefully, you can still cancel the catering and reception without too much hassle.”
He hung up, leaving me dazed. It took a while for me to notice Cole and Macy had stopped fighting, and instead were looking at me with shock.
“Did you really just do that?” Macy hissed. “You seriously called off the wedding?”
“At least Sarah keeps her store. And to avoid a war between the families, it's worth it.”
“But Asher!” She tugged at my arm. “This is stupid. We both know dad's lying. All we gotta do is figure it out.”
I sipped my coffee, which was now cold as ice, and wished I had a shot or two of something alcoholic to pour in it.
“Besides, Sarah won't be happy because of this. This might be hard to believe, but you giving up Slicker Image isn't what she wants.”
“She's got a point,” Cole added. “My sister never liked it when someone makes sacrifices for her. Says all it does is make her feel guilty.”
My heart sank. Had I made the wrong choice? Even so, it was for the best. She'd thank me later.
Macy put her arm around me. “It's not just that. Sarah really does have a thing for you, for whatever reason. I think she wants to marry you for real.”
Anger flashed in Cole's eyes. “For real? So I was right. The wedding was a scheme from the beginning. You never cared about Sarah.”
I shoved him away. “Shut up. I've cared about her for years, and I don't give a damn whether you believe it or not.”
The store manager loudly cleared his throat. He'd had enough of us, I guess. Cole took his order and out we went into the cold.
I went to the car, ready to be done with this whole mess. Macy hung back with Cole.
“I know you and I don't get along, but there's something big going on here,” she said. “Bigger than the wedding, or the property battle. It involves your grandma.”
“Macy, don't you start. It doesn't matter anymore, okay?”
“I don't know about you, but I don't want to keep living in ignorance forever.” She fixed her stare on him. “We think our grandpa, Charles, might be your aunt Emma's father.”
Cole made a choking sound. Oh, great. Macy couldn't go five minutes without starting drama.
“Emma? Mom's sister?” He rubbed his temples and frowned. “That's the most nonsensical thing I've ever heard. My grandpa, Randall, was their dad. Why would you even say something like that?”
“The other night, when Asher went to dinner at Pam's house,” she began.
“Don't do this, Macy – ”
“Hazel started talking about how she missed Charles. Said she was seeing him when she was a younger woman, in her early twenties. Your aunt Emma looks just like him.”
“But she's never mentioned anyone by that name to me before.”
“Why would she, if she was involved in
