“Gil, I don’t think you know what you’re offering when you say move in for a bit. The boys are… well, loud, full of energy and… well, boys.”
“I’ve been around them enough to know that,” Gil said dryly.
“It’s different being around them and living with them.” Bella sighed. “It’s all happening so fast. I don’t know what to do.”
“Okay, it’s decided. You and the boys will move in with me. I have all that space in the house. Well, the rooms are a bit torn up right now with the remodel, but we’ll make it work. You can have your old room back.”
She knew that her brother had moved into their parents’ house, but it was his home now. She looked across the table at her brother, unable to make a decision.
“Look, I know you don’t like to accept help. Let me do this for you. It will only be temporary. Until you get the shop opened somewhere and get back on your feet.”
“I hate to impose on you.”
It’s not an imposition. We’re family. I know you like to go it alone, but say yes to help this time.”
“Yes.” Bella wasn’t happy moving in with Gil, but didn’t know what else to do. She had to have a place for the boys to live. They’d probably be thrilled to move in with their uncle. “Thanks, Gil.”
“You could sound a bit happier about it. And I love to cook, unlike you, little sister.” He grinned at her.
“Okay, but it’s just temporary. But if you’re cooking, can you make your lasagna? Oh, and your meatloaf. Oh—“
“Got it. You move in and we’ll have all your favorite foods. I’ll make you fat. It’ll be great.”
“Really, Gil. I appreciate it. I’ll try to find us other living arrangements as soon as I can.”
“No rush. Now how about I go with you to the ballpark? I hear the boys have games tonight.” Gil rose from his chair.
“Sounds good. Want to walk to the park? It’s really nice out.” She could use the exercise and a few minutes to unwind.
“Yep, just let me lock up the store.”
They walked outside and Gil turned to lock the door. A light breeze blew, chasing a bit of her earlier panic away as the wind drifted past her. Things were still a mess, but at least she had a place to live and a place to store her shop merchandise. Now, all she had to do was find a new storefront and a new home. The panic began to creep back, but she pushed it firmly aside.
“You okay?” Gil looked down at her.
“I’m fine. I will be.”
“I know you will, Bella. You always are, no matter what life throws at you.”
She wished that were true. She would work her way through this and sort out the new store and new place to live. The one thing she didn’t know how to sort out was her feelings for Owen. The man she should hate since he was callously tossing her and the boys out, with no regard for the implications it would have on their lives. The man she was so angry with. But also the man with the brown eyes the color of richly-stained walnut. The man with the kisses she couldn’t erase from her mind. Yes, that man.
CHAPTER TEN
“Hi Keely.” Bella walked into Magnolia Cafe and said hello to the owner. Becky Lee was due to be off soon and they were going to grab some lunch.
“Hi, Bella. Just grab any table. Becky Lee said you were coming in at the end of her shift. She’s just checking out her last customer.”
“Okay, thanks.” Bella took a table by the window. She looked outside at Main Street. Another nice sunny day. A handful of tourists walked down the sidewalks on this Friday afternoon. It would probably be a busy weekend, which was good. She’d like another decent week of sales before she had to close down and store her merchandise. So far, she had only found one spot to lease on Main Street, and it was tiny with no character. It also was double what she paid now. She was probably going to have to move off Main Street and she hated that.
She was going to look on Rosewood Avenue. The area was starting to have a resurgence of shops. A handful of old Victorian houses had been converted to retail space. Maybe she could find something there. Something with more reasonable rent. It was a pretty area with a cobblestone street, divided by a tree lined median. If she could get a place near the corner of Rosewood Avenue and Main Street, maybe that would work.
“Hey, Izz.” Becky Lee dropped into the chair across from her. “You doing okay?”
“Yes, I’m okay.” She was going to be okay. Just a lot of changes. She dreaded telling the boys they would have to move. It seemed like they had all just fallen into a good routine with the apartment above the shop. It was easy to keep an eye and an ear on them. Maybe she’d have to hire a high school girl to watch them now. She just didn’t think they were old enough to be on their own. Not nearly. But that would be one more expense. It was going to be quite a while until she was back feeling financially stable.