“How many stories begin that way?”
I blinked, stunned. “You don’t believe me.”
“He was there, wasn’t he?”
He had been. “He lives across the street.”
Kyle had answered my phone? Scenes from my life flashed across my brain, starting with my parents dying and leaving me with Aunt Theresa and Uncle Jerome. My best friend, Cordell, leaving me behind when I wasn’t “old enough.” My high school boyfriend walking out on me in a Denny’s when he learned I was going away to school to escape my aunt and uncle after graduation. “You’re throwing me away, too,” I whispered, barely able to breathe. I stared at my phone and disconnected the call.
“Brynn? You’re pale as a ghost.” Nora took hold of my arms.
I should have known better. “Some things never change.”
The tears ran unchecked down my cheeks.
Chapter 29
Barry Waterman walked into the shop Monday morning with a smile. “Congratulations, ladies. I’m not expecting any bumps with the financing. The two of you should be free to pursue your dreams in no time.”
Cassandra and I exchanged glances. Windfall had been our dream.
“Your mother says you’ll be doing tailor work at the mall again,” he said to Cassandra. He took a step toward me. “Do you have plans for what comes next?”
“I still have the internet shop,” I told him. “Beyond that, I haven’t decided yet.”
“Let me offer you something to think about. Someone stopped in the real estate office the other day looking to buy a house. They specifically requested one of the older-style, original homes. Any thoughts of selling? Relocating?” he asked.
Cassandra fisted her hands on her hips. “Are you trying to run her out of town, too?”
Barry raised his hands. “That’s not what I’m doing here. I thought I’d mention it, in case Brynn was thinking of moving. I thought she might want to be closer to Nora with the shop closing.”
I touched Cassandra’s arm. “I appreciate you standing up for me, but I’ve got this.”
“I’m not sure you do,” she said. “Sometimes you’re too damn nice to these people who are so rude to you.”
“It wasn’t my intention to be rude,” Barry said.
“Escalating matters doesn’t help anyone,” I told her. “Life has a way of turning out the way it’s meant to. I arrived here on a string of bad luck and found my family.”
Cassandra huffed and turned her back on Barry.
“In answer to your question,” I said to him, “I haven’t thought too far ahead. One hurdle at a time. Who knows? Maybe your buyer for the shop will fall through. Maybe the townspeople will stop judging me for a failed relationship with their golden boy and discover they like my products enough to keep me around.” And pigs might learn to fly. “Or maybe the next opportunity is waiting right around the corner.” Or in an Indian market. No, I’d blown that opportunity. The easy conversation I’d had with Ian, the red-hot physical connection we shared, the talents we had in common had allowed him past my defenses. We’d only known each other a week, but he’d taken a part of me with him when he’d backed away.
“You’ll let me know if your situation changes?” Barry said, interrupting my personal pity party.
“I’ll do that.”
He handed me a business card and left the shop.
Cassandra shook a finger at me. “Don’t you dare scold me for standing up for you.”
I laughed. “I wouldn’t dare.”
“I’m serious, Brynn.”
“I have a long history of people not listening, not caring. I don’t even notice when people are rude anymore. Well, mostly. Which makes me appreciate the people in my life who do care about me, like you. Thank you.”
She started to cry and grabbed a tissue, wiping the dark trails of eye makeup off her face. “Well, at least you have a smoking hot new guy, at least in your eyes.”
Her tears triggered mine. “Who knew selling the shop would turn us both into emotional wrecks?”
Sally Miller walked into the shop and stopped at the sight we presented. “I can come back.”
I mustered a smile and waved her in. “Don’t mind us. What can we do for you?”
“About our contract...”
I stiffened. “I don’t intend to default. Do you?”
“No, Brynn, and that’s why I’m here. I know I’ve been trying to renegotiate your prices, but the truth is it’s a fair deal, and my guests love your products. I wanted to be sure you would continue to supply me.”
I nodded once.
“If you’re willing to hold the prices you currently sell at, we could discuss a contract extension.”
“Oh, hell, no,” Cassandra said. “You know you can’t get a better deal anywhere else.”
Again I rested a hand on Cassandra’s arm. “I’ve got this.”
Sally pursed her lips. “You won’t have the overhead here anymore. It isn’t as if you’ll have other operating costs to cover.”
“I still have a mortgage to pay, and a business to run,” I replied. “My time and materials are valuable. If you don’t think so, then we don’t have anything more to discuss.”
She scowled. “I thought a contract extension might help you out, but if you don’t want one...”
“We can discuss it,” I said. “But not as a favor to either one of us. We’re both businesswomen. Our contract is mutually beneficial. You need to decide what it’s worth to you.”
“We’ll be in touch.” Sally threw her shoulders back and walked out.
Cassandra chuckled. “Now that’s what I’m talking about.”
I shrugged. “If she decides she doesn’t want to extend or renew, that’s life. I’ll be okay.”
I had to keep telling myself that. I’d survived other tough times.
“Especially now that you have a new man to focus on.” She gave me a wink.
My nose tingled and my eyes watered.
“Uh-oh. What happened?” she asked.
I explained how Kyle had helped me inside when I got home after our night out, and then how he’d answered my phone.
Cassandra stared at me a long time. “This guy really got to you, didn’t he?”
“He did.” I closed my eyes to block out my disappointment. “Life goes on,
