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Melanie flashed her a knowing look. “Is that why you’re wearing what has to be your grandma’s afghan as a shawl?”
Roni grinned. “Isn’t it genius?”
“That’s one word someone could use.” Her tone was dry.
Unable to contain her giggles, Jessica wisely hurried behind the counter.
Roni watched her, then turned back to Melanie and twisted her lips. “Fine. Too much?”
Melanie burst out laughing and pressed her thumb and forefinger together. “Just a smidge.”
“Okay. I’ll lose the afghan. I thought it was brilliant. Absolutely brilliant,” Roni grumbled, shaking her head and walking back toward the counter. She laid the afghan on the shelf next to the door that led to her apartment upstairs.
She leaned over and stroked Spooky’s head as he sat on the top of his cat stand. “We’re off to save Mama’s shop so I can keep you in tuna. You be a good kitty while I’m gone and work some of your magic on Jimmy for me, will you?” She leaned over and kissed Spooky on the head. She didn’t know why she said that. Habit, she supposed. She no longer believed Jimmy deserved her.
“You don’t need Spooky magic,” Melanie assured her. “You are a beautiful, charming woman.”
Roni turned to her. “And that’s why you’re my best friend. But you didn’t see how fast he left last night.”
“No, I didn’t see him at all.”
Melanie was her first call after Jimmy arrived and then left so unexpectedly. “He barely even looked at me,” Roni admitted, feeling a tightness squeeze her chest all over again.
“I would bet the farm that had nothing to do with you,” Melanie insisted.
Roni’s face twisted in a grimace as she grabbed her purse. “Good thing you don’t own a farm. Okay, are we ready to go check out my competition?”
“Ready.” They hurried out of the shop to Melanie’s car and drove the twenty minutes down to the Riverwalk shopping district.
“You know, I never come down this way. I don’t know why. I guess it just seems too far,” Melanie said as she parked the car.
Roni looked around the shopping center with its multilevel decks, multitude of walkways all strung with twinkle lights, and the beautiful rock water feature in its center, all overlooking the river. She had to admit, it was gorgeous. The designers had done a great job. “Let’s hope my customers feel the same way, but wow, this place is beautiful.”
As they walked up the wooden steps, they saw signs for the Riverwalk’s Tree Lighting Ceremony, Frankie’s tree trimming event, and an upcoming wine tasting event.
“Oh, no. There is even a Santa booth.” Melanie pointed to the kids lined up with their parents to take their pictures with Santa. “Looks like they are pulling out all the stops to bring in the crowds this season.”
Roni sighed. “Each year, more and more businesses are moving down here. Now I see why.” The development was very picturesque with a boardwalk overlooking the river and a park with trails winding along the river’s edge. There were several trendy boutiques, all out of Roni’s price range, and some high-end restaurants, even a fancy cupcake shop, and Frankie’s Coffee.
Melanie stopped in front of the adorable cupcake shop with its outdoor bistro tables and French-themed ironwork surrounding the patio. “Candy never said anything about this cupcake shop down here. Do you think it’s causing her trouble too?” A worried look filled her face as she pulled out her phone and snapped a few pictures.
“And look over there.” Roni pointed across the river at the new construction going on. “That is a huge housing development. What is happening to our little town?”
“I don’t think it’s going to stay little very much longer,” Melanie said. “Look at it this way. That means a lot more customers who will be coming downtown to your coffee shop and Candy’s Confections. We just have to find a way to get them there.”
“True. We have to think positive and outside the box.” Roni’s spirits brightened for a moment, but then the worry crept back in. “But why would they drive all the way downtown when they could just come here?”
Melanie’s lips pressed together as they walked toward Frankie’s. “What we need is a way to draw them downtown. This is definitely something I’ll need to talk to Hannah about.”
Roni stopped in front of Frankie’s and saw the tree trimming flyer in the window showcasing live music at the exact same time as the Caroling Kickoff. “We’re going to need something more, something bigger than our Caroling Kickoff. This time we need to save more than Jenni’s Rescue, or even my coffee shop. We need to save Christmas in Pineville.”
“On it.” Melanie took out her phone, her fingers flying over the keypad as she sent a text to their group chat.
Roni tried to fight feeling disheartened when she looked through the big picture window into Frankie’s coffee shop and saw the matching pine tables and comfortable-looking faux leather chairs. The place was packed with patrons working on their computers and groups of people sitting around large round tables, talking and laughing.
The overall decor was inviting, and the smells wafting out the door, divine. She was about to tell Melanie she’d seen enough when Melanie turned to her and grabbed her arm.
“Hey, isn’t that Jimmy? He’s older, but he looks like the same guy from that prom picture of the two of you hanging on your wall.”
