~ * ~
Jenny saw him standing at the edge of the park. Owen. The man who was doing his best to ruin one of her best friends. She picked up her pace and stalked over to where he stood looking off down the street, obviously lost in thought.
“Mr. Campbell.” She interrupted his thoughts.
“Yes, Mrs. Bouchard. I met you at Bella’s shop.” The man had an almost guilty look on his face.
Good. He should feel guilty. “I thought you would have left town by now.”
“I’m staying to oversee the start of the rehabbing of the building. It shouldn’t take too long.”
“It would be easier for Izzy if you left town.” Jenny was in no mood to mince words with the man, the man who was making Izzy’s life so difficult right now.
“It probably would be.” Owen nodded. “But, I’m not leaving. I’m actually trying to figure something out. A way to help Bella.”
“I doubt if she’ll take any help from you.” If Izzy wouldn’t take help from her, she sure wouldn’t take help from Owen.
“I know she’s proud of all she’s accomplished and how successful she’s made her store. She has a right to be. It’s a lot of hard work to open a business like that.”
“It was very hard. Now, you’re taking all that away from her.”
“I didn’t mean to. But, that’s no excuse, really. I’m going to fix this mess I made of her life.”
Jenny eyed the man suspiciously. “What do you mean, fix it? Izzy doesn’t really like people to fix things for her or tell her what she should do.”
“I’ve gathered that from the short time I’ve known her. I’d like to come up with a solution that benefits both of us.” Owen raked his hand through his hair. “I’ve got a couple of ideas. I have my business team looking into a few things for me.”
“Just what are you planning?”
“I know she won’t take outright help, so I’m working on something that will help both of us. Her business and my business.”
“Well, if you can pull that off, then maybe I’ll quit thinking you’re such a scoundrel.”
“Scoundrel? Do people really use that word any more?” Owen smiled at her.
“Well, it seems to fit you. Unless, of course, you figure a way out of this mess you made.” Jenny was beginning to have hope for her friend.
“I care about Bella. I know we just met, but she has… I don’t know… touched my life in a way I wasn’t expecting.” Owen’s face held an almost sheepish expression.
Jenny was good at reading people, and right now she’d say that Owen Campbell was actually smitten with Izzy. She could see it in his eyes when he talked about her. Which was good, because she knew Izzy had feelings for Owen, whether she’d admit it or not. If they could find a way out of this mess, maybe there was some hope for the two of them.
“I hope you can figure something out. I’ll help in any way I can. Jenny pinned him with a listen-to-me look. “But, Owen, don’t hurt her again.”
“I’ll do my best. I promise. I’m going to try and make things right.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Bella was determined not to spend the evening talking about her troubles. Becky Lee had invited her and Jenny over for dinner. She wanted nothing more than an escape from… well, everything.
She knocked on the screen door to Becky Lee’s cottage and went on inside. “Bec, I’m here.”
“In the kitchen. Come on back.”
Bella crossed through the front room and into the short hallway to the kitchen. Jenny sat at the kitchen table while Becky Lee was stirring something at the stove.
“Hey, Izzy. Want some iced sweet tea?” Becky Lee motioned to a big pitcher on the table.
“Sounds great.” Bella sank into a chair at the table. “What are you cooking? It smells wonderful.”
“Gumbo. And we’re going to have a nice salad with it. Strawberry vinaigrette dressing. Then I made you that strawberry pie that you like so much.”
“You spoil me, Bec.”
“I’m trying. Besides, you know I love having people over to cook for.”
“You counting down the days until school is out?” Bella turned to Jenny.
“I am. Almost over. And it looks like Nathan has pulled his grades up enough that there won’t be summer school in our future. Hoping for a slow, lazy summer.”
“That’s great news.” Bella took a sip of the tea. Becky Lee even made the best tea in town.
“Any luck on finding a place for the shop?” Jenny asked.
So much for not thinking about her problems tonight, but of course her friends would ask about it. “Not yet.”