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My parents hadn’t helped when I moved here or opened the store, so I wasn’t used to friends coming through for me. It was nice. “I appreciate you taking your Saturday to help me.”
“We hope to get married here. We’re happy to help,” Max said, with his arm around Zoe.
When I sat down, Sophie stood. “I created the Shops on Main group so that we could help each other out. I never envisioned we would get this big or have this much impact, but I’m proud that we do.”
Cheers erupted through the group.
Sophie raised her glass of tea, and everyone followed suit. “To Shops on Main.”
“May our community of shops and businesses continue to grow,” Max said as he nodded in Ryan’s and Jake’s direction.
The original group had expanded outside of the shops on Main Street to include Remi’s Juice Shop, Hailey’s Spice & Tea Shop, which she’d sold to new owners, and Ryan and Jake’s garage.
I didn’t know about the group when I opened my store, but I appreciated it now. I had a group of people I could go to if I had a business question.
“If you wouldn’t mind spreading the word about weddings here on the farm, and Petals on Main Street, I’d appreciate it. If you haven’t heard, I started a new subscription service for flowers. It’s a great way to treat yourself or your significant other. If you know of any events where I could spread the word, let me know.”
“The best bet would be at one of the local events. We have the Cocoa Crawl in February, the Craft Beer Festival in the summer, and the Chili Cook-Off in the fall,” Sophie listed off.
None of the events they’d listed were immediate, but I’d figure out something.
When everyone broke apart to talk in their own groups, Ethan, the owner of the hardware shop, The Red Toolbox, stepped up to me. “If you need someone to build anything, a gazebo, an arch, I can help.”
“Thank you. I appreciate the offer.”
Everly stepped up to our little group. “Gia will probably take you up on that. We get requests for interesting and unique things. Harrison has a few props we can borrow, but some brides would love custom arches.”
“I’m happy to help,” Ethan said.
One by one, everyone started leaving. I stood in the driveway so I could thank everyone again. I was so grateful to them. I just hoped I could repay everyone at some point. Finally, everyone left, and it was just Jake remaining on the porch. “You can head home. I bet you’re tired,” I said as I sat next to him on the steps.
“We can get started on the inside if you want.”
I sighed. I knew if he left, I’d put it off.
“I don’t want to, but I should.” I stood and brushed off the dust on my shorts as I made my way inside. “I went through a few boxes to find framed photographs of my grandparents and the GTO for the barn walls.”
“Can I see?” Jake asked.
I’d stacked the best ones in my grandfather’s rolltop desk in his office. Jake grabbed them from the desk and moved them to the leather couch in the room. We sat side by side so we could both see them as we sifted through the photos.
Jake went through each one with interest. “These are great. It’s clear your grandfather loved that GTO. I can’t imagine being alive at that time. To experience the muscle car firsthand.”
He smiled over at me.
“I guess there’s nothing like that now.”
Jake shook his head. “Maybe the Tesla. But it’s not the same. The GTO was the first of its kind.”
“I can see how boys would have gotten girls driving one around.”
“Are you saying if I drove a sports car, you’d be more attracted to me?”
“I mean, you drive a motorcycle, so it’s really the same effect.”
“You think me driving a motorcycle is sexy?”
“I thought that was obvious. I jump on you every time you arrive on one.”
