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Aria crossed the street to Meow and Then, a two-story terracotta building with a tile roof and wrought-iron balcony. In the early twentieth-century, it had been a rooming house owned by a Prescott ancestor, Christine Sterling, a writer, lecturer and suffragette who’d supported herself and her three children after her husband died.
Though Aria wasn’t convinced her encounter with Glowering Stranger was anything more than a random event, she had no doubt that she was meant to purchase the former Sterling House. Five months ago, she’d bought her ancestor’s building with the money her father had left for her and made a plan to open the café.
Not that it had been easy.
Her mother and sisters believed the location was setting her up for failure, and her practical and brilliant older sister Callie, a Classics professor at Skyline College, had advised her to keep her money invested in mutual funds.
Though she understood their objections, Aria had been determined to see her plan through. Before her father died, she’d spent too many years flitting around like a bee, hovering around whatever flower looked the prettiest or smelled the sweetest, because she’d known her sisters and parents would always help her if she happened to choose wrong. But not until she broke up with Steve did she realize she’d never learned how to stand on her own.
Meow and Then was her chance. She had no intention of relying on someone else emotionally or financially ever again.
After picking up her keys, she drove to downtown Bliss Cove and parked in the back lot of the Sugar Joy Bakery. Her mother and older sister Rory were restocking the front counter following the morning rush.
“Hi, honey.” Eleanor Prescott nodded toward three white boxes stacked on the counter. “Your order is just about ready to go. I haven’t boxed the Chaos Cookies yet.”
“I’ll do it.” Aria took the order form off the top box. “You still haven’t invoiced me for last week’s order.”
“I’m happy to donate whatever you need.” Eleanor placed a basket of muffins in the glass display case.
Aria smothered a prickle of exasperation mixed with affection. When they’d learned two months ago that Eleanor had a precancerous lump in her breast, they’d all feared not only the outcome but for her emotional state, which had been so fragile following their father’s death. But Eleanor had proven both resilient and optimistic through the surgery. In fact, she’d been more focused on her daughters than herself, especially with regard to Aria’s venture.
“Mom, you have to charge me. I’m running a business, not a charity.”
“I know, dear.” Though Eleanor smiled, a flicker of concern lit in her eyes.
Aria sighed. She did not want her mother to worry about her. “I need to pay my expenses.”
“Are you using the bookkeeping software?” Rory, a software engineer with long black hair and a penchant for classic rock, took a tray off the baker’s rack. “I can come over and show you how to get the most out of it.”
“Thanks, but I’m figuring it out.” Aria picked up a banana-nut muffin. Though she tried not to let their good intentions get to her, it was hard not to.
She’d grown up with two accomplished older sisters, a scholarly father, and a mother who’d run a successful bakery for years. She, on the other hand, had a personal history of either failing or giving up whatever she tried to start. It was hardly a wonder that her family was still struggling to believe that her café venture would be any different.
Aria was still struggling to believe that herself.
“Oh, good, I’m glad you’re here.” Callie’s voice broke into Aria’s thoughts. Poised and lovely in a beige suit and matching heels with her dark hair tied back in a neat chignon, Callie looked every inch the elegant, sophisticated professor.
Aria edged behind the cold case to hide the fact that she was wearing old skinny jeans with multiple holes. “No class this morning?”
“Not until ten. Rory, can you get me a coffee to go, please?” Callie waved a copy ofThe Bliss Cove Timesat Aria. “Word on the street is that Imperial Properties has issued all the Mariposa owners a new offer. Why didn’t you tell us?”
“Because I just got the letter.”
“Does Imperial still want to build some sort of mixed-use complex there?” Rory grabbed a towel to wipe her hands. “I thought they’d backed off.”
“Until yesterday, so did I.” Aria scanned the front-page story.
Last year in their first takeover attempt—before she had even thought about opening a café, much less one in the district—Imperial Properties had lowballed the Mariposa shop owners. After failing to convince a majority to sell their buildings and land, the company had retreated. From what Aria had heard, everyone believed they were no longer interested.
Surprise.
“They’ve sent us all new buyout offers this past week.” She folded the paper with a snap. Though she had no intention of accepting, her fellow Mariposa owners wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss the deal this time around. “The offer expires at midnight on April thirtieth, which is the date of the next Mariposa Association meeting. That’s when all of the building owners collectively vote on whether or not we want to sell.”
If the majority voted no, Aria and Mariposa Street were safe.
But if the majority votedyes, she might not have a choice. She’d have to sell her property, and Imperial would bulldoze the entire district to make way for Oceanview Plaza.
Pushing the newspaper back toward her sister, Aria deflected a stab of fear. She had a month to convince her fellow business owners that their community and town history were far too important to sell to a company that would demolish everything to rubble.
