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Chapter Seven
The next morning Juniper pushed through the doors of her shop and headed straight for the kitchen. She forewent her normal attire of heels and a skirt. Instead, she would need comfort for all the walking today would bring. She snagged a pair of comfy boots and jeans, deciding to walk the mile distance between her apartment and coffee shop down the road before heading in to work. The rising summer heat pushed her to walk faster.
Marshall had left with the promise to return sometime this morning to hammer out a few details. Bridal gown measurements and venues sat at the top of that list. She’d spent hours poring over information and managed only a few hours of sleep before she was back at it with the sun. But between her other clients and Gran, what she had managed to gather would not be nearly enough but at least she had some jumping-off points.
“Well, good morning, sunshine. I haven’t seen you smile like that since, well, I don’t know. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile like that come to think of it. Buuut,” Callie drew out tossing a wink her way, “I think I know why.”
Juniper sighed and looked over from where she hung her bag to find her friend behind the large reception desk, a silly, knowing smile of her own plastered on her face.
Since yesterday Callie had gone on and on about their new client after Juniper filled her in on since missing the meeting.
She blew out a breath. “What do you mean?”
“Hmm-hmm. No one walks in the heat unless they need the distraction.” Callie looked pointedly at her.
“You are way too observant and a little bit scary. You know that, right?”
“Speaking of.” Callie pulled out the red envelope and tapped the end against the tip of her finger. “I assume you knew about this given it was open and on your desk?”
Juniper dragged her Tic-Tac box out and popped a few pieces.
Crap. She’d meant to slip that into her desk drawer before going home last night. Of course, Callie would see it when she straightened up her files in the morning. “Yes, but I have all that taken care of.” She played it off with an air of unimportance hoping Callie would catch on and give it up. No need to worry anyone with her problems. Yet.
“Why didn’t you tell me you needed money?”
Callie cranked an eyebrow up and it had the opposite effect on Juniper’s shoulders. She slumped and swallowed hard. There were too many things on her plate and she still had plenty of time to get everything squared away with the bank, reserving it for this morning’s main focus.
“I’ll handle it. There’s nothing to worry about. Not with the new client that we’ve signed on. His deposit coupled with Stewart’s will pay half of the loan. The contract secures the rest before that payment is due. See, nothing to worry about.” But a knot in her stomach said otherwise.
Callie seemed to buy her calm bravado in the face of foreclosure.
“And besides,” Juniper plowed on. “How exactly does the employer ask the employee for money anyway?”
“I don’t know, maybe something like, ‘Hey Callie, can you help me so we don’t get shut down?’”
Callie rounded the reception desk and pulled Juniper around to face her with both hands on her shoulders. All the times they would pow-wow under the bleachers as kids trying to escape physical education in High School and the girl pep talks when a boy would break their young hearts came to mind. Callie got that same fierce look in her eye and straight, tight set to her cherry-glazed lips. “You know I’m your friend, right? Since high school, right? Remember me? I was the crazy girl that always had your back.” Callie’s lush black curls bounced with vigor as she drove home her point.
Juniper nodded. “But you have kids to support, a family now. I really appreciate it, you know I do. Vows from Juniper will live to see another quarter.”
“You have friends you can reach out to, you know.”
Juniper pulled away and made her way to the empty kitchen for a refill. “I don’t see the need to cry wolf just yet.”
The large windows from the front of the shop extended to the side and bathed the kitchen with a river of early morning light. A curtain light sunlight drifted in, heating the small kitchen making her happy. Warmth and light did that for her and nothing could break her happy bubble if she didn’t allow it. But it was fragile right now, damn fragile.
A spark of sunlight against metal caught her eye and her gaze zipped to her rival’s front door. Suddenly the coffee in her mouth turned bitter on her tongue.
She nudged Callie’s shoulder. “I wonder why Mr. Siggs is at Banners’ place.” The aforementioned man in a black cap exited from Banners Brides and waited on the cusp of the sidewalk to cross the street.
She’d been so wrapped in everything for the Blackwood wedding she’d forgotten to call the bank. An oversight that could cost her.
Or maybe not. He was heading her way now.
“Mr. Siggs,” Juniper called as her bank officer shuffled through the front door with a tinkle of the bell.
“Ms. Winters. Good day. Ms. Callie.” She took his offered hand and smiled as Callie offered a sticky bun.
She showed the way to her office for privacy. “Mr. Siggs, I tried calling you yesterday. I’m glad you decided to come by. Thank you for working so hard on getting me the extension we talked about a few weeks back. It was such a relief. But I think there’s been a mistake.” Callie stepped in and handed her the envelope. “This arrived yesterday, but I believe you’ll agree that it was an error on the bank’s part considering our last conversation.” She hoped and silently prayed she was right but the bleak look on the older gentleman’s face told a completely different story.
