The Shop on Main(32)

“We’ll ask around. We’ll find you something that works. I know we will.” Becky Lee sounded positive, but then she was always a half-full kind of person.

Bella needed to borrow some of that positive outlook.

“Well, I hope so.” She had to find something else she could afford. She wasn’t going to let all her hard work on getting Bella’s Vintage Shop up and running be for nothing. Besides, she loved her shop, loved finding just the right items to sell, loved setting up her displays, loved chatting with her customers. The shop was intertwined with who she was now.

The bell over the door interrupted her thoughts. All three women looked up when the door to the shop swung open.





CHAPTER NINE





Owen walked through the door of Bella’s Vintage Shop and saw Izzy, Becky Lee, and another woman. There was not a friendly look in the bunch. He squared his shoulders and started across the distance of the shop, filled with more unease than he ever had when facing a hostile board of directors.

“Izzy, can we talk?”

“I’m not sure there’s anything to say.”

Well, that answered that question. She knew that he bought the building. He sucked in a deep breath. He had to explain and make her understand.

“I didn’t know that Bella’s Vintage Shop was yours. I didn’t put it together. I didn’t put the Izzy Hardy I knew, with Bella Amaud who was on the lease.” He desperately wanted her to believe him. His heart beat with a glimmer of hope that she would believe him and they could… what? Did he actually think she would ever date him again? He’d be lucky if she didn’t take the antique cane that was sitting on the counter and whomp him upside the head.

Becky Lee turned to the other woman. “This is the man who is throwing Izzy out on the street. Jenny Bouchard, meet Owen Campbell.”

Jenny flashed a look of outrage at him and turned to look protectively at Izzy. “Well, I can’t say it’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Campbell.”

Izzy looked up hopefully. “Can I lease my shop back from you? And the apartment?”

“I can’t lease it to you, Izzy. I’m sorry. I have… other plans.”

Izzy studied him slowly with a look of hurt and anger. “I find it strange that you come to town, turn up where I am, then ask me out on a date. Then you say you just found out that I own the shop.”

“I didn’t know.”

“But you were okay with throwing this unknown Bella out on the street?”

“I didn’t know. I needed this building. Mr. Potter said the renter was month-to-month.”

“I see. It doesn’t matter who you step on to get what you want.” Her voice was cool with an edge of barely suppressed contempt.

“It’s not like that. I offered Mr. Potter a good deal on the building and he seemed pleased to be able to move out of town to his brother’s.”

“I’m supposed to find new space in just a few weeks?”

“Mr. Potter said he told you when I first offered to buy the building. I assumed you were already looking for new space.”

“A lot of assumptions going on there, bud.” Becky Lee chimed in. “I think it might be best if you just leave. You’ve done enough.”

“I’d like to talk to Izzy, if that’s okay.”

“I have nothing to say to you, Mr. Campbell. I’ll be out by the end of the month.” Izzy face was frozen into a hard, unfeeling stare.

He felt his heart tug with an unfamiliar pang. He wanted to protect her. But from what? From him?

“Why don’t you give her more time to find space for the store and a place to live?” Becky Lee walked right up to him, her finger pointing dangerously a fraction of an inch from his chest.

“I… can’t” He felt like he was everything the women thought he was, and worse. But he had promised the building to Jake and his mother. Sylvia was already full of plans. He had a renovations crew scheduled for the beginning of next month.

“Izzy, I didn’t know you and the boys lived upstairs either. I’m so sorry.” He hated the hurt look in her eyes, the look she was trying so hard to hide from him. “Let me help you find a new space. Help you find a place to live.”

“I don’t need your help. You’ve done enough.”

Jenny pinned him with a no nonsense look. “I think it’s time for you to leave.” She had an arm protectively wrapped around Izzy’s shoulder.

Owen looked questioningly at Izzy. She nodded her head. “Yes, you should go.”

He gave Izzy one more look and slowly turned away, his steps echoing on the wooden floor. The very unfamiliar feeling of defeat washed over him. He walked out the door, leaving behind the shambles he had created of Izzy’s life by trying to help out the brother he had never known he had.