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Everyone had someone wishing they would fail. Maybe jealousy caused it, maybe it all boiled down to epic misunderstandings. Juniper didn’t know what drove such ill will from others, but if a person had a chance to do good, the world could only use more of it the way she saw it.
“Honey, why didn’t you say something about needing help?”
“It’s taken care of. Or will be in a day or two. There’s nothing to worry about, Mom.”
“So a win-win,” Callie added from the driver’s seat.
Juniper nodded. “Yeah, exactly.”
“Does this have anything to do with your list, sweetie? Are you feeling pressured?”
Juniper rolled her eyes. “Let me guess, Calli told you about my freak-out after Eric dumped me?”
“She cornered me,” Callie argued.
From the right, Juniper caught a glimpse of her rival closing up for an early evening and her focus shifted away from the conversation and her question.
Marshall’s words came back to her. Over dinner the previous night he’d mentioned his desire to patch things up and go back to the way things used to be with his once best friend. The world had enough negativity in it without her and Banners’ petty rivalry and Juniper had no desire to see this continue between them.
The need to act flung her arm out to grab Callie’s. Before she lost her nerve, Juniper acted.
“Stop the car, please.”
Callie slowed and pulled to the side. “What is it?”
“What’s wrong, sweetie,” her mom echoed.
“Nothing, promise. Give me a minute?”
Juniper flung open the car door and checked before crossing the street. Vows from Juniper stood dark for the evening with only a soft light in the upstairs office Callie liked to leave on for late-night visits Juniper often did.
“Stacey, do you have a minute?”
Juniper stepped onto the sidewalk opposite her shop as Stacey closed and locked her doors.
A huff of hot air escaped Stacey’s lips in exasperation. “What do you want, Winters? I have a meeting. You know, like a real business.”
Ouch. The lack of interest in what Juniper had to say on Stacey’s part wasn’t lost on her. Nor her mocking words. The news of her financial trouble must be a hot topic among fellow wedding planners around town. She ran an assessing gaze over the other woman who looked worried and tired. Deep crease lines bracketed her mouth while more marred the area above her brows.
“I know we’ve had our differences.”
“Pshhh. You think?” The other woman crossed her arms over her chest and cocked a hip. “Spill it, Winter.”
Juniper pushed on despite the sarcasm in Stacey’s tone. “I don’t know about you, but I’m tired. I’m spending more energy worrying about what you’re doing instead of focusing on my business. That can’t be good for either of us. Iknowit’s not good for me or the people I have working for me. They count on me just like the people who work for you count on you.”
“But this…” She pointed to the sign Callie had sent a picture of earlier. “This is too much even from you, Banners.”
The way she witnessed Marshall care for those under him had hit home for her stoked her own fires. She was days away from losing her business and everyone who worked for her would have been without a job. Anyone who threatened that would get a piece of her mind.
This woman had taken her focus away for too long and it needed to end. They could either be silent enemies or friends. Juniper truly hoped for the latter.
“What are you getting at, Winters?” Stacey didn’t seem interested in the least. Too bad. They may share the same street and offer the same service, but it didn’t mean they had to be enemies.
“A truce,” she blurted out. “I don’t know what you’re going through right now or why you’ve singled me out to receive your wrath. High school is done and over with and that’s a little long to be holding a grudge if that has anything to do with it. I’m done, Stacey.”
For long seconds Stacey did nothing but stand there looking at her like she’d grown two heads.
“Fine. Whatever will get you moving along faster.”
