Justin chuckled and said, “I remember going in there with my dad when I was a kid.”
“I’m expanding the emporium and opening the rest of the space to vendors on consignment and I’m looking for fine antiques, artisan pottery pieces, art, collectibles, and that sort of thing.” She clasped her hands in a hopeful gesture and said “I was wondering, Justin, if you would please consider being my first art vendor. I would provide you with lighting, displays, and a space in the center front portion of the store.”
Charity nodded. “Her place is going to be the place to shop in Divine, babe. Everyone would see your work.”
Violet nodded and said, “If you have any pieces left once today is over with, I’d be happy to display them for you in the bookstore until the rest of the emporium is finished and ready for customer traffic.”
“That won’t crowd you?” he asked, recalling shopping for Charity there during the Christmas season when it had been teeming with customers.
Violet got big eyes and shook her head, making her curls bounce again. “I’ll make room, Justin. It would be a great way to introduce shoppers to the sorts of things the emporium will be offering in the future. The larger space will be available later this summer and you’ll be able to display all your new pieces. I could provide exposure for your work, sell them for you, and add on a little consignment fee for my trouble. They’ll draw attention, no matter where they’re displayed. You could bring me new ones as you finish them. But no pressure. Please say yes,” she added with a big smile and hopeful eyes, and Charity nodded behind her.
If she wasn’t opening the expansion until the summer, that would give him time to get a few more pieces completed. Justin looked down at the card and then smiled. “Absolutely, Violet. I’ll let my manager here work out all the particulars with you.”
Charity squeezed his arm and she and Violet walked off as they talked about the details. He turned to one of the display tables and straightened a couple of pieces as he laughed to himself.
Wow. We’ll see how long this lasts, I guess.
“Mr. Connors?” a deep voice said from behind him.
He turned and made eye contact with a familiar face, and nearly at eye level. Considering he was six foot seven, that was saying a lot. He raised a hand to shield his eyes from the sun and squinted at the young man, who removed his baseball cap and held out his hand. Recognition dawned and he smiled as he shook hands with him. “Noah Cassidy, is that you? Damn, son, you grew. What’s your mom feeding you? Seems like I just saw you only a month or two ago.” His dark hair was also longer and he looked like he was shaving regularly.
The young man chuckled and nodded. “I’ve been getting that a lot lately, sir. Dad says the grocery bill is gonna kill him.”
“What can I do for you, Noah?”
Noah’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed and he rolled his ball cap in his hands. “Well, sir, I asked Justine to the prom and she told me I needed your permission. I know you’re pretty protective of her, and even Beau told me I’d need to ask you if it was okay.”
Justin had looked forward to moments like this one ever since his little princess was a baby. Noah was right. He was hellaciously protective of Justine. She didn’t date often because his girl had goals, and dating horny boys didn’t figure much in her plans, for which he was grateful. Any boy who wanted to date his daughter had to ask his permission first and that was just the way it was.
Justine had grown up knowing this and had laughed, blushed, and told him it was fine and to have his fun, just to not terrify her dates too badly or she wouldn’t have any. He hadn’t met any boy at the door with a gun yet, but he wasn’t opposed to a little intimidation. They needed to know that he cared, he didn’t mind going to jail for her sake, and he knew all their dads.
As if on cue, Val and Ransome appeared, skewering Noah with dark stares as they flanked Justin, arms crossed over their chests. Noah looked from one to the other. Val held the boy’s gaze and lifted his chin in a minute greeting.
Shit, this is fun.
Justin glanced over Noah’s shoulder and saw Beau and Justine standing nearby watching. Beau was barely containing his laughter, while Justine waited with her arms crossed, too, standing next to her mom. Charity scrunched up her nose and nodded in approval at him and he turned his attention back to Noah.
Noah said, “She told me that I also needed to get…their…approval, too.” He gestured at Val and Ransome, who he very bravely offered a hand to shake with.
Ransome didn’t smile, just stared at Noah while chewing on the toothpick in the corner of his mouth. “Saw you score that touchdown that won the homecoming game last fall. How long you known Justine, son?”