“I do. Have a good night with your man.”
“Thanks.” I decided two hours ago that a date with my boyfriend is exactly what I need after the day I’ve had. My eyes jerk to where the drama occurred several hours ago. To the empty spot where the broken chair once stood. I’ll need to find a replacement for it. ASAP. I’m hoping to expand Picnic & Treats—notloseavailable seating.
It helps the chair wasn’t part of a matched set. That’s one advantage of P&T’s eclectic aesthetic. I found most of the furniture at garage sales and in flea markets. I then sanded and whitewashed the individual pieces.
There’s so much to do between cleaning up this mess—and thinking about the expansion, if I want to make it happen.
And I do.
I grab my things from the staff room and change into my bootie-hugging jeans, tank top, and cardigan. Sabrina is at the counter, assisting a customer, when I walk into Mountain Lore. I casually study the space, as if I’m not drooling over the possibility of it one day being part of Picnic & Treats. The interior is dark, a contrast to the café’s light and airy feel.
I wander through the store, checking out the merchandise. Sabrina approaches several minutes later as I’m examining a jar of preserves from a local small business.
“Hi, Zara. I heard about what happened earlier next door. How are you doing?” Her mouth tilts up, but it’s worry that reaches her eyes and not her smile.
“Better now.” I return the smile, mine a lot brighter. “Jess mentioned you’re planning to move to Texas.”
“That’s right.” Excitement slips into her voice. “I figured now’s a good time to retire and be closer to my grandbabies. They’ll only stay little for so long. I’m in the process of selling the business to a couple of sisters.”
“That’s great.” I infuse my tone with a happiness I don’t entirely feel. I’m happy for her, since this is what she wants. But I guess it means I won’t be expanding Picnic & Treats after all.
“It is. They’re just deciding if they’re going to keep the business in Maple Ridge or move it to Spring Falls, where they live.”
Hope pops up its head, but I keep it reined in. The emotion has burned me on more than one occasion. “They might move the business?” The space next door to P&T might be up for lease?
“The last I heard, they’re figuring out the numbers and pros and cons of staying here versus moving it to their town. They’ve got a month to make a decision.” Sabrina is practically vibrating with joy, her smile wide.
The sun is low in the sky, casting long shadows on the quiet sidewalk as I walk to my car. The soothing pine-scented breeze clears my head of what happened a few hours ago.
Call him now.
The silent words float on the breeze, insistent. Nudging. Powerful.
Why wait for the future when the moment is in front of you, biding time until you grasp hold of it?Mimi’s favorite saying.
She didn’t believe in procrastination. She felt it was nothing more than fear of facing the unknown. A wilted excuse.
I dial Mr. Cartwright’s number. The least I could do is tell him I’m interested in taking over the lease should the sisters choose to move Mountain Lore elsewhere.
The line rings several times before he picks up. “Hello?” The voice of my fourth and fifth grade teacher has the low, gruff edge I’ve known most of my life. He was the man who got me excited about science. He wasn’t the teacher who taught me to believe in myself, but pretty damn close.
“Hello, Mr. Cartwright. It’s Zara Thompson.”
“Hello, Zara.” The gruff tone switches to his exuberant voice that he used for all things science. “What can I do for you this fine evening?”
“Sabrina Duncan mentioned she’s selling Mountain Lore. And the new owners might not be taking over her lease.”
“That’s right. I’m waiting to hear back from them on their decision.”
“Do you have anyone else interested in the property?”
“Not yet. I haven’t told anyone the property might be available. I’m waiting to see what the sisters decide. Why? You know someone who wants to lease it?”
I click on the key fob, unlocking my car door. “Yes. Me. I’ve been thinking about expanding Picnic & Treats. I only found out this afternoon Sabrina is selling her business, so I haven’t looked into the numbers yet. But I’m interested in talking to you about the possibility.”
“How ’bout you look into the numbers. Create a proposal. And we can discuss it in a few days.”
“Thank you. I’ll do that.”
