“You have been busy contemplating this, haven’t you?”
“I have…and…I’d want to run that part of Parker’s. Decide what gets added to the store there. And run the eatery part. The cafe part? I don’t know what we’d call it. I was thinking we could offer some things to eat, based on Grandmother’s recipes. And her pies, cookies, breads. There’s the whole kitchen there.”
“Oh, that’s a great idea.”
“I know it sounds kind of crazy, but that’s what I want to do.”
“Then you should do it. Put that business learning of yours to work.”
“There’s the financing of it to consider. I’m not sure if Mom would be on board on taking out a loan against Parker’s to do it.”
Heather leaned forward.“Not a problem. How about if I help you out? How about I invest in it?”
“You? I mean, it will cost a lot. I can show you the numbers.”
“I…”Heather shrugged.“I have the money. Let’s just say my business is doing…ah…well, it’s doingwell.”
“Howwell?”She eyed her cousin. They rarely spoke money.
“Well enough to buy the building and give you some start-up money for the rehab.”
“Seriously?”
Heather grinned.“Seriously.”
“I’m not surprised. You’re so talented. I just didn’t know.”Why hadn’t her cousin ever let on how well she was doing, even to her?
“And I think it sounds like a good investment. I can’t imagine wanting to invest in anything more than something that will give you your chance to shine.”
“You’ll have to look at my numbers. See my plans.”
“I will. But I trust you. If you think this will work…then let’s do it.”
Her mind raced with the possibilities. The chance to make this something of her own. Expand Parker’s. Make her mark. Then she frowned.
“What’s wrong?”Heather asked.
“I still have to run all this past Mom. She’d have to agree to combining and connecting the buildings.”
“She will.”
“I hope so…”
“Finish your coffee. Show me the numbers. Then we’re going to go talk to Aunt Donna.”
She pulled her tablet out of her purse and pulled up the spreadsheets she’d made. She and Heather pored over the numbers with Heather asking smart questions and offering a few ideas of her own.
“This is going to be great working with you, Heather. Do you think you can stay around for a while and help get this going? Please?”
“I probably could.”Heather nodded.
She’dfinallyfound a way to persuade Heather to stay around Moonbeam longer. Her idea was looking better and better. Well, except for getting her mother to agree to it…
Donna lookedup to see Olivia and Heather headed over to where she was busy restocking various cleaning supplies along the back wall, cramming them into the tiny space they’d allocated to cleaning. They needed more light back here, too. She’d put that on her ever-growing wish list.
“Morning, girls.”
“Aunt Donna, we…Livy…has something she wants to discuss with you.”Heather stood with her hands on her hips.
