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The store didn’t need any of Hayden’s changes to do what we’ve always done.
“I’m only making sure that our store shines bright the way it is right now,” I explained. “Aren’t you the one who’s always going on about ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’?”
“What Joe is trying to say with his very limited tact, hun,” Vanessa said, tying her apron behind her back, “is that sometimes, change is a good thing. We may be doing just fine, but who’s to say we won’t be even better once we add some of these changes?”
“Do you all feel that way?” I asked, turning around and jumping off the counter. I slipped my feet back into my sneakers and cleaned the countertop before turning around.
Blanca and Dean had gravitated toward our conversation and stood next to Joe, while Vanessa stood behind the counter, in front of me.
“We have a few reservations, as anyone would in this situation,” Vanessa admitted, and I agreed. Though I had more than just a few reservations. “We think it would be good for the store and our customers if we tweaked a few things here and there—nothing too crazy! But a few improvements.”
“I know you must think I’m being childish about all of this.” I sighed, and even though Vanessa quickly shook her head, I shrugged. “Idowant the store to do well, and I want to be able to help even more people. But I want to do it with my parents’ dream alive and well. I don’t want it to come from a bored billionaire with too much time on their hands.”
“I hardly think Hayden is bored or has too much time on her hands,” Vanessa muttered, quickly continuing before I could retort, “But that’s the thing; we can finally do all those things we wanted to do. We have the budget now.”
She was right. Iknewshe was right.
But I didn’t want the success of my parents’ dream to be attributed to money, or because it was backed by a massive company. Mom and Dad built this store themselves, with nothing but love and the support of our community. Wouldn’t a billion-dollar pay-off make it all seem… cheap?
I knew I wouldn’t get anywhere with that line of thought. I looked back at Vanessa, then at Joe, Dean, and Blanca.
“What are you guys worried about?”
They all looked at one another, their expressions a little uneasy.
“We’re a little worried that we might not have jobs by the end of all these new changes,” Vanessa said. My heart sank. “While Dean and Blanca have skills that Hayden has put to use, Joe and I are, as they say, ‘old stock’.”
“The hell you are,” I snapped, anger prickling along my fingertips. “This store is nothing without you guys, and there’s no way I’d let her replace you.”
“Frankie, hun, if it’s what the boss wants,” Vanessa said with a shrug, leaving the rest of her sentence unsaid. We all knew what she meant anyway.
I didn’t get to argue the point.
“Good morning, fabulous team!”
I hated how my stomach flipped at the sound of her voice.
“Morning, Hayden,” Vanessa said, shooting me a warning glance.
I narrowed my eyes at her but obeyed anyway.
“I don’t want to disrupt your day,” Hayden said, walking toward the café area with long, graceful strides. I watched the way her silk, sleeveless blouse moved like water on her skin and caught myself before Vanessa made a comment. “I just wanted to go over a few things with Dean and Blanca, if that’s okay?”
She directed the question at me and I quirked a brow in disbelief.
“You’re the boss,” I said, turning away and hopping back onto the counter. I didn’t wait for her response and I didn’t bother to turn around to see if Dean and Blanca had followed her.
I continued writing out the specials on the board, oblivious to the hushed whispers below me.
At least, I was until I felt a tug on the leg of my jeans.
I looked down to find Joe and Vanessa looking back up at me, wearing matching expressions of muted glee.
“No,” I said, hoping to draw the line before it was crossed. “I already know what the two of you are going to say and I don’t want to hear it.”
“But you make it so obvious, hun!” Vanessa teased.
I forced myself to focus on the chalkboard, carefully writing out the very last special. They both snickered quietly.
