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Chapter Five
Harper
I just wave goodbye to another customer when my cell phone rings. I recognize Mandy’s name right away. She’s a former classmate of mine who I reached out to when I heard about the building next door being for sale. She’s also Mrs. Morton’s niece, so she was able to give me a little more information about the property before it was formally available. She asked where I heard about it, but I never confirmed that piece of information. I’d never tell. It’s a secret I’ll forever keep.
“Hello?”
“We have a problem,” she says in way of greeting.
“What kind of problem?”
“There’s another offer.”
Did I just hear her right? Another offer? How? When?
“I just got word this morning. Another offer came in from a realtor in Harriston.”
“Harriston? I thought you said this building wasn’t even formally on the market yet?” I ask, dropping down onto the stool I keep behind the counter.
“It wasn’t. That’s why I’m so confused on how you found out. Even I didn’t know, and I’m not only her niece, but the listing agent.”
I rub my temple, feeling the headache blooming. “What do we do?”
“You need to come back with a bigger offer. The one you gave is almost exactly what the other offer is. You need to stand out.”
“I don’t have that much wiggle room,” I confess quietly. “My offer was already close to my loan limit.”
“Then can you borrow money from someone? Your mom, maybe? You don’t want to let this opportunity slip through your fingers, Harper. I mean, when you expand your product line, you’ll bring in the extra income to pay the loans off.”
At least that’s the hope. Of course, it’s never guaranteed. My new vision could tank considerably and all this extra work, time, and money would be for nothing. “I can’t borrow from Mom. She’s still recovering from the fire at the bed and breakfast. They put a lot of extra money into redecorating.”
“Samuel then?”
“Maybe,” I reply, knowing I could probably borrow a little from my oldest brother. He’s always stressing the importance of proper savings and has been squirreling away part of his paychecks since he was old enough to get them.
“I need to go back with a new offer, Harper. What do you want to do?”
My heart pounds in my chest. I know what I have to do, but it’s going to make it tight to do it. Part of that loan amount was so I could add the new lines. Every dollar I take from there means my inventory will be affected. “Add five. That’s about what I was prepared to go, though I had hoped I wouldn’t need to.”
“I can do that. Five thousand is a good offer. I’ll draw up the papers, stop by and have you sign them, and hand-deliver them to my aunt. She won’t be able to refuse the offer, don’t worry. She doesn’t need the money, but still wants premium dollar for the building. You’re already at her original asking price.”
“I hope you’re right,” I whisper, letting worry and uncertainty settle in.
“I’ll be in touch,” she confirms, hanging up before I get the chance to say goodbye.
Everything I’ve been dreaming about is right within my reach. But now, someone throws a wrench in my plans, making an offer on a building that’s too small for the average business. Who else could possibly know about the building being for sale? There’s only one person I know of who knew, and he’s the one who shared that tidbit of info with me. He swore me to secrecy, so I don’t see him telling other people.
Who knows, maybe this is the kick in the ass I need.
Time to settle down, focus, and do what it takes to win this bid. That building is mine. I just need to make it happen.
* * *
At the end of the day, my little sister, Marissa, shows up with a smile on her face and a large iced coffee in her hand. “What has you all happy, happy today? Did you get some?” I ask, teasing my sister. Now all I have to do is sit back and wait for the inevitable blush.
She doesn’t disappoint. “No,” she says, glancing down and averting her eyes. So if she didn’t just get some, it clearly is fresh on her mind. “I came to town to get a few things for tomorrow’s breakfast and thought I’d stop in and see my favorite sister, but since all you’re going to do is give me a hard time, I’ll just leave.” Marissa doesn’t make a turn for the door, but continues to approach the counter.
“Where’s your boy toy?”
