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“That’s something,” said Tori.
“I suppose. Although, it’s just good business sense on their part. I’m already behind on the rent as well as everything else. The longer I try to stay open, the deeper hole I dig for myself.”
“What will you do?”
“I’m going back to San Francisco just as soon as I can. I really should stay here to see if I can sell off the inventory or any of the fixtures and fittings.” She blew out a sigh. “But I just don’t have the energy or the motivation.”
Tori shot a glance at Xander, and he hoped that she wouldn’t offer to buy everything right there on the spot just to help Rachel out.
“How much are you hoping to get for it all?” he asked.
Rachel shrugged. “At this point, I’ll take whatever someone is willing to give me. The rent on my apartment is month-to-month. I’d rather accept less money on everything I’m trying to sell here than have to pay another month’s rent.”
Xander nodded. It made sense. He almost suggested having a closing down night. She could probably get rid of at least some of her inventory that way, but it was obvious that she was just too beaten-down. She wanted out, and he couldn’t blame her.
“Anyway, that’s enough about me and my misery, how are you guys doing? Are you planning to stick around?”
When Tori met his gaze, he knew exactly what she was thinking. She was tempted to tell Rachel that they were considering staying – and considering buying the wine bar. He shook his head slightly. It wouldn’t be fair on any of them to broach the subject just yet.
“Things are still up in the air,” he said.
Rachel smiled. “That’s smart. You guys have the world at your feet. You should take your time to see what you really want before you commit to anything.”
Tori surprised him when she said, “You’re right, and we have been taking our time, but we’ve narrowed our options down now.”
He cocked an eyebrow at her, and she gave him a slight nod. It seemed that she had made her decision – now, he had to make his.
~ ~ ~
As soon as they stepped back outside, Tori reached for Xander’s hand. “I feel bad for her,” she told him, “but I’m so glad to be out of there.”
He chuckled. “Me too. That place is such a downer.”
Her heart sank. “Do you think so?”
He wrapped his arm around her shoulders as they made their way back down toward the square. “At the moment it is, yes. But don’t look so worried – I don’t mean the place itself. I mean the atmosphere in there. The whole vibe reflects how Rachel’s feeling – and it’s not good.”
“No. It isn’t. But like you said, that’s because of Rachel – it wouldn’t be that way if the place were to have a new beginning.”
“What are you saying? Are you telling me that you want a wine bar?”
She shook her head happily. “No. Not a wine bar.”
He chuckled. “A bar bar?”
She laughed with him. “Not exactly. I was thinking about it while we were talking to her. A wine bar isn’t a great idea. Rachel and Ian already proved that – and I think I only wanted a wine bar so that I could feel like I was part of the family. If we stay here, I’ll feel like part of the family in an even better way – I’ll be close to Mom.”
Xander tightened his arm around her. “And you sound happy about that.”
“I am. I really like the idea. But I’m not enthralled with the idea of just a bar bar. While we were sitting there, I was looking around, wondering if we could maybe make it into a music bar.”
“You’d want to do that? Would you sing yourself?”
“Maybe sometimes, but I was thinking more along the lines of having bands come in – I mean, I have the contacts.”
He smiled. “You definitely have an advantage in that respect.”
“I do, but that still didn’t feel quite right. We could have the occasional band no matter what kind of bar it is, and I don’t think I want it to be a music bar.”
