“What about Dakota?”
He looked away again.
“I may be old but I’m not blind or deaf. You’ve looked happier than I’ve seen you since you got home and I’ve heard the whispers about her. She’s very pretty and smart too. I hear you two have been seen together quite a lot. Of course people are going to talk. It’s a small town.”
“Mom, we’re friends, nothing more.” As much as he would like that to change. He drained his coffee cup and got up. “Let me get on with the jobs or I won’t be able to go and do my bit at the hotel setting up tomorrow before I leave. I don’t want anything left for Dad to do outside.”
“You’re a good man, Adam, even if you won’t tell your mother what’s going on in that head of yours.”
Chapter Nineteen
Adam brought another box into the hotel and placed it on the table within Dakota’s reach. For the last hour she’d stood focused on unwrapping her decorations, lining them up, ready to place on the tree. Her nerves were churning in the pit of her stomach, her head almost exploding with tension. This was where she would find out if she had failed or won in the attempt to recreate her business. Early figures were positive but she’d never done anything on this scale before.
Sure, the locals had fallen in love with her ornaments but that didn’t equate into enough of a demand to keep her financially afloat yet. It would come soon though, of that she was certain. But what she was hoping for was the chance to fix the chandeliers and get herself a name doing repairs on heritage objects that would take up the slack in the remainder of the year. She could use all of her training, her skills without resorting to the finer work she used to do.
Mari had people coming for the gala, important people. People that could make or break her depending on how they viewed her end work. People that had seen what she was capable of before and probably expected her to reach new heights. One bad review in the press could wreck a small online business before it took flight. She’d put herself out there in the most public way and was now having second thoughts.
All because she wanted to belong and make a new life for herself without her parents looking over her shoulder.
“What can I do?” Adam rested a hand on her back and she jumped, so lost in her own train of thought that he’d scared her half to death.
“Sorry. Miles away.” She scrunched up the tissue paper and threw it under the table in a box.
Adam grabbed her shoulders, turned her around and peered into her face. “Hey, calm down. This is just a tree decorating contest, not the end of the world.” He leaned in and she turned her lips up to meet his. He moved back before the kiss could turn into a full-on session. It hurt but not as much as it should. There were other things going on in her head.
Little did he know how her mind worked. She’d put on a brave face, said it didn’t matter to her if she couldn’t do the finer jewelry work anymore. Truth was, it did. It’d taken her months to figure it out but it mattered more than she could say. Because if she couldn’t be who she was before, who did that make her now? And would she ever be happy in the skin of the new her and would Adam think she was worthy if she failed in her new venture? There was so much riding on this gala event for her personally to say nothing of what else cast a shadow over her.
He pulled her to his chest again and mumbled sweet platitudes as if she was a terrified child. The smell of him soothed her jagged nerves and she relaxed under his touch. “It’ll be okay, you’ll see.”
“I know. I’m just a bundle of nerves.”
Adam pushed her back, looked into her eyes. “I think it’s time we started hanging these, don’t you think?”
“You’re right. The others are probably half done by now.”
A voice came from behind the curtain in the designated area next to them. “Dakota, if you think any of us are finding this easy, think again.” A roar of frustration came from Rach as she dropped a glass ornament, the shards scattering everywhere.
“I’ll grab the broom.” Adam kissed the tip of her nose and rolled his eyes before he hurried away to help.
“Sorry, Rach. I’m not usually so insecure.” Dakota chose the box with the light threads that had only just arrived and opened it, determined to get on with the job. She only had two days with Adam helping her and she would need him for as much time as he was willing to give.
The curtain wavered and Rach poked her head through. “Not peeking, promise. Anything I can do to help?”
“Crisis of the heart. Merely doubting myself and my abilities. Nothing to lose sleep over.”
Rach grinned. “Oh girl, you have no idea how good your tree will look. With that array of glass right there on the table, I can see you’ve done something incredible.” She swaggered over and picked up an angel. “I wish I had half as much talent as you do.” Her finger trailed down the gossamer wings. “When this is all over, we might catch up for coffee. I have some ideas for things I’d like to see on the market but sadly not an artistic bone in my body.”
Interesting. “I’d love to.” Her heart settled and Dakota chided herself for the burst of nerves. It was so unlike her to worry over her work. She put it down to the new line and living in Cherry Lake. A good impression, a steadfast career
