The Shop on Main(16)

This she knew how to do. To set up displays. To find furniture and antique items to sell in her shop. To display beautiful vintage clothing. The thought of starting over and all that entailed poured over her like a pounding rain during a summer storm. She couldn’t bear to lose her shop. It was an intricate part of her now.

She slipped into a chair at the table and looked across at the many displays she’d fashioned in this room. She sat there, alone, facing failure and an uncertain future. Again.

Bella adjusted a plate on the table, making it just right. She shook her head at the whole pity party thing. She would figure this out. She would.

~ * ~

That evening, Jenny stood in the doorway to her house and didn’t even let Bella get inside before she started questioning her. “Okay, what gives? Becky Lee called this afternoon and told me you had dinner with some guy named Owen last night.”

Bella gave her friend a quick hug, not surprised that Jenny already knew about her dinner with Owen. Becky Lee was nothing but thorough in keeping them all informed of what was going on with each other.

“I just happened to run into him. He’s here on some kind of business. He was eating alone, I was eating alone…”

“How did you meet him?”

“I met him the other night at Magnolia Cafe, then ran into him at the park the other day with the boys.”

“Becky Lee says he’s right good looking. I need to stalk him and see what he’s like. See if I approve of him.” Jenny grinned.

“Yes, I guess he is good looking.” Who was she trying to kid? The man was drop-dead yummy handsome.

“Well, it’s nice to see you going out.”

“I didn’t really go out, Jenns. I just ran into him at the cafe.”

“Close enough. Becky Lee said he paid the tab.” Jenny turned and walked toward the kitchen. “I’m going to grab a bottle of wine and we’ll sit on the porch until dinner is ready. Nathan is over at his grandparents’, so it’s just us. Nathan and I needed a break from each other.”

Bella did like Nathan. He was a good kid. But he’d been getting into a handful of messes since Jenny’s husband, Joseph, had died. She figured Jenny could use a non-stress night. Plus, Martha and William, Joseph’s parents, were good people. They were very involved in their grandson’s life, and attended all his sports games and school events. Yes, a night apart was probably what both mother and son needed.

Jenny came back with a bottle of white wine and two glasses. They went outside and sat on two rockers on the front porch. It was a perfect temperature for sitting outside. A warm breeze drifted lazily through the magnolia trees lining Jenny’s long driveway. The heady scent of the flowers in the beds along the porch teased through the breeze.

Jenny let out a long sigh.

“Tough week?” Bella asked her friend.

“I’m ready for school to end. I love teaching, but I love my summers off, too. You know, unless Nathan manages to flunk one of his classes. Then I’ll be hauling him to summer school, because I’ll take away his driving privileges. I swear, the boy is brilliant, but he’s just barely picked up a book since Joseph died. I know he’s upset and misses Joseph terribly, but he needs to find a way to put his life back in order before he screws up chances for college. I think he’s coming around a bit. Maybe. I actually saw him bring home his calculus book.”

“He’ll be okay soon. He just needed some time. Maybe the summer off will be good for him. Is he going to work part time for his grandfather again?”

“Yes, thank goodness William lets Nathan work at his law firm. I secretly think he’s grooming Nathan to want to go to law school and take over the firm. But, Nathan would have to pass his classes to do that,” Jenny said wryly.

“It’s only been this last semester or so that his grades have fallen, hasn’t it? I’m sure his teachers understand.”

“Maybe understand too much. I think they cut him some slack and he just pushes for more and more excused assignments. It’s got to stop.”

“You have any plans for the summer?”

“I was thinking of taking Nathan for a week’s vacation to the beach. If we go to the island do you think you and boys could get away? That would be so much fun to vacation together.”

“A lot depends on what happens with my lease and my store. And if we need to find a new place to live.”

“You guys could always move in here while you look for a new place. It’s certainly big enough.”

“Oh, I don’t want to inflict my boys and their noise on you. You forget how loud young boys are. Constant motion.”