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I bought it sight unseen for the most part. It was hugely risky and something I never would have suggested to any of the people I advised in a million years. But considering I knew Murdock and its traditions and pull for nostalgia and the fact that even if the building had to be completely torn down and rebuilt, I figured the worst that would happen was it would take a few years to recoup my investment.
Good thing I didn’t have any major plans for the next few years.
I picked up my phone once I had boxers and socks on and took it with me to the closet while I unwrapped the small selection of suits, slacks, and dress shirts I had brought with me. The rest I told Sarah to donate to the Goodwill. I didn’t have room on the trailer and certainly didn’t want to come back again for them.
Hitting the button to call Chuck, I put the phone on speaker as I went through my suits.
“Mr. McLaren,” Chuck said. “Glad I could reach you.”
“Hey, Chuck, just call me Vic, all right? Mr. McLaren was my dad,” I said.
“Sure, sure, Vic. Well, I wanted to give you a heads-up about coming into the store today. The minority stake holder will be meeting you up there, and she is… rather upset about the sale,” he said.
“Upset? Why would she be upset?” I asked. “I thought she was on board.”
“Well, she was aware on paper that it was a possibility, but it seems that perhaps we didn’t quite convey it in a manner in which she was aware of the reality of the situation,” he said as diplomatically as possible.
“Ah, so in other words, she had no clue,” I said.
“Correct.”
“Well, it’s a bit too late now,” I replied. “Papers are signed, inks dry, all that. Besides, the numbers you and I were going over were pretty clear. The store has been struggling the last few years, and while it has a ton of potential, it clearly needs the perspective of someone from the outside to unlock it.”
“This is how the board feels as well,” Chuck said. “We were placed in control of the future and prosperity of the store, not just for the Brewer family but the community of Murdock as well. All those employees and customers who rely on the store being open and functional and profitable. We simply felt taking a gamble with her in full control was a non-starter. You understand.”
“I suppose,” I said. “I have to say I would have liked to have known she wasn’t clued in before now, though. It feels a little shitty to just drop this on her, Chuck.”
“I understand,” he said. “Alas, what’s done is done. Her name is Melanie, and she will be most likely at the store by the time you get there. I would suggest that you inform her of your lack of knowledge about her understanding of the agreement and allow us to take the heat for that.”
“Thank you, Chuck, I’ll take you up on that,” I said, wondering if he really thought I was just going to let this woman blame me in the first place.
“Good, good. We are awfully sorry to put you in this position, Mr.… Vic,” he said, correcting himself at the last second. “Hank would like to know if you would like him to be there when you meet her, but he unfortunately has an appointment until four this afternoon, and I know you were planning on being there earlier than that.”
“Tee time, eh?” I joked.
Chuck laughed in the mirthless way of someone who can’t lie but doesn’t want to tell the truth either.
“So should I tell Hank to come after his appointment, sir?”
“No, it’s fine,” I said. “I’m sure I can handle Miss… Mrs…. is it Miss or Mrs., Chuck?”
“Miss,” he said. “She has never married.”
“Ahh, well, I’m sure I can handle Miss Brewer. Melanie, you said?”
“Yes, sir.”
“All right, Chuck,” I said. “I’m going to get off here and head over. I’ll call you if I need anything.”
I got off the phone and tossed it onto the bed as I finished getting dressed. The bedroom was essentially the only room with my stuff in it, since I rented the small home furnished and only had enough room for what I could stuff in the trailer. I wanted some time to get settled before I bought a place of my own.
My parents had moved, long ago, to Fort Worth. My childhood home was now occupied by a young couple with no intention of selling, meaning I had to find somewhere else to live, and the rental home was the first place available.
Finally dressed and ready, I headed to the store. It was funny how easily driving in Murdock came back to me. For a split second, I felt like I might need my GPS, then suddenly, it all clicked. I knew where to turn and when. Even new buildings and roads didn’t throw me off, I knew how to get downtown the quickest way for early afternoon traffic.
I pulled into Brewer’s Grocery and parked the truck near the back. The store was moderately busy, which gave me a little hope, since it was mid-day on a weekday. If it stayed this busy, recouping my investment wouldn’t take that long at all.
The front door was as far as I got before an employee rushed over and introduced herself.
