“Who knows? When it comes to the Jam Squad, anything is possible. The nice thing for them is their sales are way up. People can’t get enough of their jams now that all four are single, and before you ask, Sophia is killing it. She’s won the top spot three weeks in a row now.”
We get to talk for almost an hour before they show up. Saying goodbye feels like someone’s driving a stake through my heart.
“I have to go take care of this,” he tells me. “I’ll call again on Monday.”
He hangs up before I can respond, which is probably for the best because I almost told him I loved him. I do, but thank goodness I didn’t say the words out loud, because the idea of an extra three weeks has me revisiting our relationship and whether I have what it takes to stay in it.
The truth is, I do. I love him, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make this work. At least that’s how I feel now after talking to him. Tomorrow morning might be different. Tomorrow afternoon will probablybe different and by tomorrow night, who knows? I may hate him for not being here.
***
It’s Monday morning and Ms. Southerby isn’t at the shop. She texted yesterday saying she needed to meet with us first thing before the shop opens, but there’s no sign of her.
“I hope nothing’s happened to her,” Rhonda says as she turns the ‘Open’ sign over.
I share her concern. Her text sounded kind of ominous. “You don’t think she—”
“Died?” She’s says with a frown. “She is pretty old. What if she did? What happens to the store? Does that mean we lose our jobs?”
“I was going to say maybe she’s sick, but now I don’t know.”
I turn the lights on while Rhonda calls Ms. Southerby’s number. For the heck of it, I check the break room in the back. It’s empty, which is good. If I found her body in there, I’d need therapy for years.
“She’s on her way,” Rhonda announces as I return.
“That’s a relief.”
“Yeah,” she says turning to look out the front window. “She sounded really excited.”
“About what?”
“I have no idea. I guess we’ll find out. I’ll set up the register.”
While Rhonda does that, I check the bathroom to make sureit’s clean and has toilet paper. It’s good and I’m just coming out when the bell above the door rings.
“Girls, gather around.”
I’m shocked to see her wearing baggy pants with a light-yellow blouse instead of her usual prim-and-proper dress. And even stranger, she’s turning the ‘Open’ sign back to ‘Closed.’
“Is everything okay?” Rhonda asks.
The old woman is practically beaming. I can’t remember ever seeing her smiling like this.
“Everything is wonderful. I got a call Saturday afternoon. It was a bit of an unusual conversation to start with, then the caller asked if I would be interested in selling the shop. Can you believe it? Who would want to buy this old place? I didn’t have any intention to sell, so I threw out a number that was way more than it’s worth. I thought for sure the answer would be no, but she doubled my offer on one condition—that I turn the store over to her as soon as the money is in my account.”
I don’t know what to think about this, but I have a growing suspicion.
Rhonda eyes her warily. “What did you say?”
“Well, I didn’t want to give her my bank information. It sounded like a scam. So, she asked if I had a lawyer. I didn’t, but I gave her Maria Gallagher’s number. I didn’t even get a chance to call Maria to tell her what was happening. I didn’t think the woman would contact her so soon, especially on a Saturday, so I finished feeding my cat and about twenty minutes later, Maria called to ask if I wanted her to be my lawyer. I said yes and when I checked this morning, the money was in my account. Can you believe it?”
She sold the store? Ican’t wrap my head around it. What the hell?
“That’s really nice for you,” Rhonda says. I can tell she’s holding back, but a little sarcasm still comes through. “But what happens to us?”
Ms. Southerby gives her a chastising look. “Dear, I wouldn’t have accepted the deal without assurances. I made sure that you and Maddie will keep your jobs. Maria put it in the contract, even. But the store will be shut down for a month. The new owner wants to do a complete remodel. The good news is, you’ll still get paid while the shop is closed, and not just your regular wages. The new owner is giving both of you a big raise.”
A big raise from a new owner and a paid month off? “By any chance, is this new owner’s name Riggs Dwyer?”
