AllFreeNovel
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“Ugh. You’re impossible.” She held up a finger. “And don’t say I know you are, but what am I.”
“I wasn’t going to say that.”
“Sure, you weren’t.”
We were quiet for a few seconds before I asked, “You have enough room in the guest room to work?”
“I have the desk, but I’ve always wanted a drafting table. It tilts.” She pulled one up on her phone and showed it to me.
“Why don’t you get one?” I asked her.
“Did you see the price?” Her tone was incredulous.
I glanced over at it again and winced. “Ouch.”
“Exactly. Maybe once the business takes off.”
“Sometimes, you have to buy things that make your work better or easier. You can’t skimp on everything. And marketing’s important. Don’t just rely on Gia.”
“She’s been so helpful, and she’s amazing at it.”
“She is. But you want to bring in your own clients too. That way you won’t have to share in the commission, and the customers are loyal to you.”
“I hate to think that this thing with Gia might not work out.”
“It’s a big part of my business too, but I’m thinking about branching out to other rentals, not just outdoor tents and weddings.”
“That’s smart.”
“Start off simple and easy and increase as you go. I get inspired, whether it’s listening to a podcast or just talking to a client. Maybe I don’t have something the client wants, and I have to decide if it’s worth it for me to get it. Will enough people need it? Is it cost-effective?”
“I never thought of myself as a businessperson.” Everly’s voice was soft.
“You are now. You know, we should celebrate.”
“Yeah?” she asked, smiling at me.
“We should go out.”
Her face tipped to the side. “To a fancy dinner?”
“Don’t you want to?” I asked, looking over at her.
She smiled before looking away from me. “That would be nice. I can’t remember the last time I went on a date.”
I couldn’t remember her talking about one either. Seeing the sign for Longwood Gardens, I pulled off the highway.
Observing the cars and people walking toward the main building, Everly said, “Wow. This place is busy.”
“We used to come here for the Christmas display when we were kids. I have fond memories of it, and Wren is finally old enough to appreciate it.”
“Are we here?” Wren asked, taking off her headphones.
“Looks like it. Grab your hat and gloves. It’s cold, and some of the displays are outside. They decorate the trees, and there’s an outdoor train garden and even a musical water fountain.”
“Cool.”
I breathed a sigh of relief that Wren seemed excited. I worried she’d be less interested in certain things as she grew older. But as she matured, she seemed more interested in things like this and shopping.
