The Shop on Main(12)

“Bella, I have some news. I know it's sudden, but someone has put an offer on the building. A good offer. I’ve decided I’m going to move to South Carolina near my brother.”

Bella’s heart plunged.

“I know your lease is month-by-month. I’ll be sure to tell the buyer what a great tenant you’ve been, but I can’t guarantee that they’ll still rent it to you. I should know in about a week if the deal will go through, but I’m fairly confident that it will.”

The euphoria of just brief moments ago mocked her.

Mr. Potter looked at her expectantly.

Bella swallowed hard, trying to squeeze out some encouraging words, unwilling to let him see her distress. “I understand. I’m sure you’ll like living near family.” Mr. Potter’s wife had died a few years ago, and his children were scattered across the country.

“Well, my brother and I are both widowers now, and figured we’d move in together. Gets kind of lonely living alone. I’m sorry about how this might affect your business though. And, of course, your living arrangements.”

“Don’t worry about us, I know it’s business. Maybe the new owner will let us rent from him. Or I’ll look for a new place for the shop. Thanks for letting me know.” Bella forced a smile, not wanting him to know what a blow this was to her carefully carved out life. Her mind whirled with thoughts. What were rentals going for now on Main Street? How would she be able to afford a new shop space and a new place to live? Why was her life always spinning out of control based on someone else’s decision?

Mr. Potter turned to leave. “Bella, I’m really sorry. I know this was a shock. Like I said, I’ll mention what a great tenant you’ve been.”

“Thanks, Mr. Potter.”

A month-by-month lease had always been a gamble. It was one that she’d been willing to take. She’d felt secure that Mr. Potter would continue to rent to her, month after month. She hadn’t thought ahead to the reality that Mr. Potter might sell the building and move away. Bella walked back behind the counter and sat down. She stared at the computer screen informing her that her banking session had expired due to no activity. She logged back in and stared at her account balances. The meager savings account wouldn’t even be enough for a deposit on a storefront, much less a deposit on a place to live.

How was that for the shortest time in history for reveling in hard-won security? It had lasted all of about ten minutes of her life. She gave herself permission to panic now.

~ * ~

Bella spent the evening at her computer, searching for a place for the shop if the new owner didn’t want to rent this one to her. And a place to live. She couldn’t forget she’d need to rent two places now.

She’d worked so hard for her independence, to be able to support herself and the boys. She’d done it all on her own and was darn proud of it. Her brother, Gil, had given her a small loan to open the store. He’d insisted she accept the loan, since he’d taken over the family business and always felt that half of it should be hers. But she’d slowly paid back the loan, against Gil's wishes, and was debt free now. Gil wouldn’t have any money to loan her now though because he had sunk his savings into expanding the Feed and Seed and remodeling his home.

She couldn’t afford much more in rent. She didn’t want to move off of Main Street with its great visibility, but she wasn’t finding much available there. At least not in her price range.

Bella fought off the overwhelming thoughts of helplessness. Well, not so much helplessness—she never pictured herself as helpless. But once again her future was being determined by someone else’s decision. She had worked so hard the last few years to bring order back to her life. Stability. Independence. Control.

She got up to peek in on the boys. They were both sound asleep. Timmy, as usual, was sleeping sideways on the bed. She crossed over and slid him back on the pillow and pulled up the covers. He sighed in his sleep. The moment washed over her with just how perfect her life had become and just how fragile it was now. She leaned over and kissed his forehead.

She would figure this out. There was always the chance the new owner would let her rent from him, though she doubted it. She knew Mr. Potter had given her a below market deal on the rent because he’d been a close friend of her father’s.

Bella wanted to figure this all out before people started asking her questions. She didn’t want to start accepting help now. Not after she’d come so far on her own.

She closed the door slightly to the boys’ room and went back to her computer. The hours slipped away as she searched for rental spots for her store and a place for her and the boys to live.