The Shop on Main(42)

“The offer still stands to lend you some money if you need it.” Jenny looked across the table directly at Bella. “No strings.”

“Thank you, but, no thanks.”

“You know, Izzy, it’s okay to accept help. None of us make it through this life without a little help from our friends,” Becky Lee added.

Her friends were right. She could accept help, it would make things so much easier. But she really wanted to do this on her own. Maybe it was pride. Maybe it was stubbornness. Maybe it was foolish.

“You do what you think is best. You know we’re behind you one hundred percent.” Jenny said.

“I really do appreciate the offer. Really. Maybe I should just get a job for a while. Rick is threatening to take the boys away because I don’t have an income to support them.”

“He can’t do that. Rick is a selfish jerk. He just wants to control you. He never liked that you opened your shop.” Becky Lee crossed over and sat beside Bella. “There is no way a judge would take those boys away.”

“I could talk to Joseph’s father, William, about it. Maybe get someone in his law firm to work with you?”

“I don’t have the money to fight Rick in court. It would be easier to just get a regular job, so he doesn’t have the whole she-is-worthless-doesn’t-make-money thing.” Bella sighed. It scared her witless to think of going back to court. She thought that was so behind her, the bickering over custody, all of that.

“You are not worthless and don’t let Rick beat you down again. You are not going to get a regular job. The shop is your life now. You love it. It has made you just come alive.” Jenny’s eyes flashed with anger. “Rick is just being Rick. At least he never disappoints us these days… he’s always a jerk.”

“I can’t risk losing the boys. I just can’t.” Bella blinked, trying to fight back the tears that seemed to hover right on the edge for the last week. She was not going to break down in front of her friends. She wasn’t.

“We’re not going to let Rick do this to you. I’m going to talk to William and see what he recommends. We’ll worry about paying for a lawyer later, let’s just get some legal advice. William won’t charge for talking to me about this. Let me do this for you.” Jenny said.

Bella nodded. She’d get over her pride and accept help if it meant keeping the boys. She’d do anything for them. Even get a full time regular job.

“Jenny is right. We’ll sort this out. This is Rick rattling his cage. He does that so well. He just wants to scare you into doing what he wants you to do. Classic Rick. Let Jenny talk to William.” Becky Lee put her hand on Bella’s.

Bella looked at her two friends. Life-long friends. The ones who were always there for her. How did she get so lucky? Some people go through their whole lives without even one friend as special as Jenny and Becky Lee.

“I love you guys.” Bella felt the tears recede. “Thanks for always being there for me.”

“There is no place we’d rather be.” Becky Lee wrapped her arm around Bella and squeezed. “The three of us can get through anything life throws at us.”

~ * ~

Owen had accepted Sylvia’s invitation to dinner. He hoped Jake was okay with him coming over. Sylvia had said her sister was out of town for a few days, and she had taken over the kitchen, trying out new recipes. She was going to do a sampler dinner of some of the dishes she was thinking of putting on the menu.

He arrived promptly at six, with a bottle of wine in his hand. Sylvia answered the door with flushed cheeks and an apron dusted with flour.

“Come in. Come on back to the kitchen. I’m just finishing up a few things. Jake is out. He should be back any minute.”

Or maybe Jake was planning on just not coming home after he had heard that Sylvia had invited him over. Owen wouldn’t be surprised. He followed Sylvia to the kitchen. Jake was coming in the back door as they got to the kitchen. Okay, so he was going to join them.

“I brought some wine.” Owen held up the bottle.

“My mother doesn’t drink.”

“Oh, well…” Owen shifted back and forth, lowering the bottle of wine. Another screw up on his part.

“Actually, I’d love to try your wine.” Sylvia turned, opened a cabinet, and took out three wine glasses. “You going to join us, Jake?”

“I’ll stick with a beer.” Jake walked to the fridge, pulled out a can of beer, and popped the top. He lounged against the counter, eyeing Owen.

“I know my sister has a wine opener somewhere. Can you look in that drawer behind you, Owen?”