“The winner gets $5,000, three months of radio and billboard ads, and a plaque to display, letting customers know you’ve been named Best New Business.”
Noah nods, sipping his coffee as he jots the information down.
“The advertising alone is worth its weight in gold,” I tell him. “I’ve looked into the cost of doing radio ads and they’re not cheap.”
Social media has been great for exposure, thanks to Grace’s help, but I could reach a whole new demographic on the radio.
“There’s another competition after that, right?” Noah asks.
“The winner of the competition here in Port Myles will go on to compete with the winners from all of the other towns in Campbell County. The prize for that one is $10,000, a Sunday feature in the regional newspaper and being the guest of honor at the Chamber’s annual awards dinner.”
I try not to get ahead of myself and think about all the things I could accomplish with $15,000. Closing up that window, for starters.
I don’t even know if we’d have a shot at winning the county competition, but I want to win the one here in townbadly.Even if just to rub it in Declan’s face.
“What if I taught some kind of workshop?” I suggest. “Do we think people would want to learn how to put arrangements together?”
It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while now, before I even knew about the competition. But part of me worries thatnobody else actually cares about flowers the way I do, and no one will show up.
“If they’re learning from you? Absolutely.”
“What if nobody shows up?” I say quietly.
Noah leans forward and grabs my hand where it rests on the table. “Elsie,” he says fondly. “I don’t think you understand how much the people in this town adore you. I’ve only been working with you for a week and I can see it. If you host it, they’ll come.”
“You really think so?”
“I know so,” he assures me. “I see it on every customer’s face who walks through your door. But if you’re really worried about it, you can make it an RSVP-only event with tickets sold ahead of time. That way you’ll know exactly how many people to expect.”
“I like that idea.” I jot it down in the notebook that wasn’t nearly so full when we arrived – I glance at the watch on my wrist – nearly two hours ago.
I grab my second iced latte of the morning and take a sip, groaning at how good it is.
“Sounds like a happy customer to me,” Lindsey, one of the baristas, calls out as she passes by our table.
“The happiest,” I tell her. I grab my notebook, writingBring flowers to The Grindat the top of the page. We have our own little coffee station at the shop, but I’ve been coming here more frequently than usual, grabbing Noah and I coffees on a quick lunch break or on my way into work in the mornings. Yesterday the owners, Luca and Jodie, sent over our usual order: an iced vanilla and blueberry latte for me, an iced coffee with cream and caramel for Noah, plus a box of assorted muffins. The note they sent with it congratulated me on opening the shop and thanked us for our business, which was beyond sweet.
Every day, the people in this town remind me how lucky I am to live here.
“Hey, I forgot to ask yesterday,” Noah says, leaning forward excitedly. “Did you ever get those samples we talked about?”
“I did, and they’re stunning.”
Earlier in the week, Georgia passed along contact info for someone in one of her classes who does the most beautiful calligraphy I’ve ever seen. I approached her about designing some greeting cards that we could sell in the shop, and she also drew up some options for business cards, in case I’m interested. I hadn’t thought of it before, but I’m absolutely going to take her up on it.
“Want to go check them out?” I ask Noah.
“Let’s do it.”
We wave goodbye to the baristas and make our way outside. It’s nearing the end of June and the sidewalks are filled with tourists popping in and out of the shops, lugging around beach totes and snapping photos. Sometimes I like to just close my eyes and listen, soaking it all in – the happy chatter, the seagulls squawking, the sound of foghorns when the weather is particularly gloomy. Everything about this town feels like a warm hug, and I can’t imagine living anywhere else.
When we get to the shop, there’s a box sitting outside the Main Street door. I lean over and pick it up, surprised by how heavy it is. I’m not expecting any deliveries that I can think of, but things have been so hectic lately. I check the label and see that it’s addressed to Sean Hughes and Declan Rhodes.
“What did ya get, boss?” Noah asks from where he waits on the sidewalk behind me.
He gets a kick out of calling me “boss.” I certainly never thought I’d be anybody’sboss, and it’s strange to hear. Even as plans to open this place became real, tangible possibilities, I didn’t know if I’d everget to the point where I could hire someone to help me out. In my wildest dreams, I wouldn’t have predicted I’d be needing help – and be able to afford it – so soon.
“I didn’t get anything,” I tell him. “It’s for Sean and Declan.”
