When Jessie nodded, Sam attempted to calm the situation. “Look, I don’t want any trouble. I’m just here for a pleasant evening out. Our other negotiations are strictly business, not personal. Let’s try to keep our feelings out of it.”

“Negotiations? What negotiations? You mean how you are forcing me out of business and expecting me to be grateful for your ‘generous’ offer?” Joe glared at Sam as he said the words. “I can’t keep my feelings out of it because this restaurant has been my whole life for a long time. Now I have Jonah, and he makes it even more important that I have a reliable livelihood. It is personal to me, and personally, I don’t want you in my establishment. Get out!” he said firmly as he pointed to the door.

Sam nodded, then calmly stood up. “Have a good evening, everyone. It seems that I’ll be calling it a night a little early.” With that, he turned and left.

Joe turned on his heel and stormed back into the storeroom. Our table sat there in stunned silence for a moment, reflecting on what had just happened. Jessie was the first one to speak. “Well, Sam is kind of an asshole, but I don’t like it when non-relatives point it out.” Her comment must have been the comic relief that we needed because we all chuckled.

Once I had gathered my thoughts, I realized that I needed to go after Sam. I left the table without an explanation. They all knew where I was going anyway.

When I got outside, I was surprised to see Sam standing just outside the doorway. I wondered if he had been waiting to see if I would follow him.

“Guess I kinda ruined girls’ night?” It was a rhetorical question, so I didn’t bother with an answer. When I got close enough, Sam pulled me into his arms.

I rested my head on his shoulder sadly. Finally, I worked up the courage to say what I had been thinking. “I don’t know how we can make this work between us, as much as I want it to.”

Sam pulled back to look into my eyes. “Hey, no one said it would be easy, but nothing worthwhile ever is.”

“I don’t expect it to be easy.” I had tears welling in my eyes. “I just don’t see how we can get past some of the obstacles that we are facing.” I started ticking them off out loud. “You’re mother thinks I am the devil. Joe thinks you’re the devil.”

Sam interrupted me. “We can’t worry about what everyone else thinks. It’s what we think that matters.”

I knew that was true, so I voiced my real concern. “I don’t know if I can accept what you are going to do to my town.”