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I pursed my lips, counting backward. “Seven years now. Her best friend mostly ran it, but she retired earlier this year. She left to spend more time with her kids.”
“And you don’t want the aggravation?” The offhand comment earned David a backhanded slap on the arm by his wife.
“My passion is in design,” I answered evenly. “I have a clothing line. You’ll see my workshop in the back.”
“Not enough money coming in from that to afford this place?” David wandered behind the counter, looking into the back room.
“Sorry, he’s in back-end design and doesn’t know how to politely ask questions,” Addison called after him as he disappeared through the door.
“Well, I honestly had no interest in selling until Warren mentioned someone was looking to buy.” I smiled weakly. “When I was a kid, most of these storefronts were boarded up. My grandma hated seeing downtown abandoned, and she bought this place to help revitalize downtown after the mills left. I don’t want to own an empty storefront.”
“You don’t want to sell your clothes?”
I shook my head. “I make a lot of historically accurate reproductions. There’s not really a market for that around here. And my fashion line is a little eclectic for the locals.”
I gestured down to the polka dot poodle dress I’d chosen today with a contrasting scarf around my neck that matched my belt.
“It’s beautiful,” she said.
“Thank you. Besides, this is too much space. There are some smaller workspaces behind Main Street that would better meet my needs.”
While David stalked the building, asking Warren about building codes and local legislation, I gave Addison a tour. She walked me through her vision for the candy shop and I liked what I heard.
A storefront candy shop might not be sustainable on its own, but Addison had a thriving e-commerce business and a vision for her future.
“Do you mind if I take some pictures?” she asked as we picked our way through the storeroom.
“No. Not at all. I’ll go close up and let you all explore on your own. If you have questions, I’ll be right next door in the coffee shop.”
“You don’t mind?”
“Not at all. Take your time. Talk it over with your husband.”
Addison grimaced. “Yeah, he’s sort of a jerk when it comes to business stuff, but he’s a sweetheart. He just wants to make sure I’m successful.”
“Sounds like a good man. Well, I hope I’ll see you around town.”
I found Warren and said goodbye before locking up and walking down the street to the coffee shop.
A cloud of sadness followed me on the short walk. How many more times would I close up the antique shop? Even if the couple didn’t buy, I had made my decision. The shop had to go. I could afford an employee when my clothing line made money, but between my days in the antique shop and my nights with Benny, my production had been abysmal.
I ordered a lavender latte and settled into a chair in the corner, pulling out my phone to check over my emails.
I shot off a few replies before settling back and enjoying my drink, my phone on the table, waiting for Warren’s text. The door to the shop opened and I turned, hoping to find Warren, only to find Emily.
Ben’s ex.
I jolted, surprised and a little horrified. I turned to face the wall, hoping she hadn’t seen me, but I felt her gaze burned into the back of my head.
I repressed a wince, lowering my shoulders and taking a deep breath as her footsteps headed in my direction.
Emily and I had never gotten along. Where I was loud and flirty, Emily was quiet and reserved. She played field hockey, and I was a theater kid.We couldn’t get our opposite personalities to mesh, even with Ben as our connection.
Her bony fingertips tapped my shoulder. “Thea! I thought that was you!”
I pasted a smile on my face and looked up. “Oh, Emily. How are you?”
Last I’d heard, she broke Ben’s heart and moved to Tipton, of all places. The rural farming community made Franklin Notch look metropolitan in comparison. Without a passion for farming, it wasn’t exactly the type of spot you ended up on purpose.
