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Carrying the heavier pieces up the stairs was rough—I had no idea how they’d gotten down there in the first place—but finding a spot for them on the sales floor was almost as difficult.
Brooke came back and insisted on helping with the furniture. Which was good, since we barely finished as it was time to open the shop.
The five people waiting turned out to be two couples, and one individual who took a quick look at what was available and said he’d be back when I had more ready to view.
“Leave your email, and we’ll let you know when the rest is coming up,” Brooke said. “We promise we only email when there’s furniture news.”
Smart thinking. I didn’t have anything like a newsletter, but apparently, I was about to.
The guy left his information, and the two couples wanted to sign-up as well.
“Feel free to take your time looking around,” I told them.
“We’d like the set of four high-backed chairs,” Michael said.
Brooke was definitely brilliant for getting their contact info.
Mr. Johnson—he and his wife hadn’t given their first names—held up a hand. “We’ll give you eight hundred for the set.”
Which was less than I’d charge, but more than I was willing to negotiate down to.
“One grand,” Michael countered.
Mr. Johnson frowned. “I can go to eleven hundred.”
What was happening? The chairs were neat and well preserved, but without an incredible restoration, they weren’t worth much. If either of these couples wanted to restore and resell, they’d struggle to find the right buyer.
Unless I’d been wrong in my appraisal. Which I never was.
“Fifteen hundred.” Michael really wanted these chairs.
Mrs. Johnson scowled. “They’re not worth it.”
“Aren’t they?”
Was there an actual bidding war going on in my shop? Maybe one of those wardrobes really did transport us to a magical world.
Mr. Johnson shook his head. “Can’t go that high, but make sure you let me know when the rest is ready to look at,” he said to me.
“We will.” Brooke was warm and friendly, as she shook his hand.
As Adam and I helped load the purchase into the back of a pickup, I was spinning ahead to the next steps. I had an idea what to charge for most of what we’d found, though some would need more research.
That didn’t mean I had a place to put them.
We sent Michael and his wife, Veronica on their way. There was a text waiting for me from Aubrey, saying she’d sold two of the dresses.
“You’ll need to make the basement part of your showroom,” Adam said as we rejoined Brooke.
Saying it didn’t make it any more plausible. “The place is lit with borrowed lights. There’s no power. The stairs need to be looked at more closely. It’s a great idea, but there’s no way.”
“I can wire you for electricity.” Brooke made it sound like it was nothing.
I appreciated the offer. “If I do that, it’s going to have to be code. Work done by licensed people.”
“I am.” She scrunched up her face. “Rather, I was. It may have lapsed, but it’s easy enough to renew the license.”
“Since when are you licensed?” And why didn’t I know that?
