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Before then, I was reviewing my security footage from the last week, especially on the new cameras around those times when Terrance had been here.
I’d already discovered two instances of him walking out with equipment, including a high end, portable air compressor, and one of my more expensive jigsaws. He’d stuff them in large bins to get them outside without anyone batting an eye.
Currently, I was reviewing footage and store records of him using store credit he shouldn’t have to purchase a gas generator.
Was he using all of these? Selling them? Returning them other places?
It didn’t matter. He was going down for it. The betrayal at seeing him so blatantly steal from me sank deep. I forwarded my notes and the videos to the sheriff.
“You all right?” Gage’s question startled me.
I didn’t hear him come in, which meant I needed to climb out of my own head and face the rest of the day. “I just sent the police proof that Terrance is ripping me off.”
“Good.” Gage landed the word with a firm finality. “I hope that fucker never steps foot in here again.”
His certainty was grounding.
“How did it take me so long to realize what he was up to?” I was asking myself as much as Gage, and the question felt like one I’d had too many times in my life.
He pulled me to my feet and wrapped his arms around me. “Don’t blame yourself for not seeing deception around every corner. Never.” He kissed me softly on the forehead, the nose, and finally the lips.
Then again, I hadn’t seen how good things were with Gage, either. I was missing things all over the place, but I was grateful I had this one now. It felt so good, so natural, to slide into his arms like this.
I did hear my shop’s back door opening this time, and wasn’t surprised when a few seconds later, Aubrey called out, “Hello.”
“Back room,” I shouted in response.
Aubrey and Alys found us. I didn’t realize I was holding Gage’s hand until both women glanced down, and Alys raised her brows while Aubry smirked.
“We—”
“It’s about time.” Aubrey cut me off.
I rolled my eyes, but I was grinning, and Gage tugged me closer, to wrap an arm around my waist.
“The party’s here.” Maddox joined us, and so did Adam and Onyx, all three of them carrying camera and audio equipment.
Now I was in my element. I directed and helped them set up. With all of us working, we were doing a sound and video test in under half an hour, and ready to go live.
The livestream started, and Maddox and Adam did their standard intro, before introducing me.
“For those of you who missed the gazillion explanations before today,” Adam said, “We’re helping Evie save her hardware store. Which she’s going to tell us about.”
I’d sort of prepared for this. Run half a dozen different introductions through my head over and over. And now that the mic and camera were on, they all evaporated in a poof of nothingness.
Words. I needed words.
Adam nudged me with his foot, and across from us Gage gave me a thumb’s up.
I was a big girl. I could talk about my own business. “The store has been in my family for generations. We were one of the first general stores in the state, and back then we provided tools for farmers and miners. Work boots. Denims. Today we’re still offering what people need. One of those icons of small-town America that reminds us we’re people, not just part of a corporate grind. It’s also my livelihood, and I love this place. I don’t want to lose it.” A small lump formed in my throat.
Maddox glanced at me. “And to make sure she pulls through okay, I’m matching every single dollar pledged. No ceiling.”
“Whoa.” What? I wasn’t concerned about whether or not Maddox could afford it—his family founded the town, and his mother had left him a sizable trust fund that he never touched. And that wasn’t considering how popular this show was.
And maybe we’d only raise ten dollars over the next twelve hours, but no ceiling was dangerous. “You can’t.”
“I just did.” Maddox grinned. “Too late to take it back now.”
