Chapter 5
T he following day, Shona wrapped her arms around Nate and hugged him tight. “Drive carefully. If you get tired, have a break. There are plenty of places to stop for a drink and something to eat.”
“Yes, Mom.”
“And don’t forget to text me when you arrive at your apartment.” Most teenagers would have rolled their eyes at this point, but Nate knew why she was so worried.
“I’ll have plenty of breaks and call you when I reach Bozeman.”
Taking a deep breath, she stepped away from her son. The longer he stayed, the harder it was to say goodbye. “It was wonderful having you here.” Tears stung her eyes as he threw his backpack inside the truck.
“I’ve enjoyed being home.” The door slammed, and Nate’s arms wrapped around her one last time. “Let me know what the bank says about the loan.”
“I will.”
“Love you, Mom.”
That was the last straw for Shona. The tears she’d tried to keep inside spilled down her cheeks. “I love you, too.”
It was always hard when Nate went back to college. He was such an important part of her life that all she wanted was to have him close. But he needed to spread his wings, absorb everything his professors could teach him, and learn how to stand on his own feet.
He opened the driver’s door and started the truck. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
“That sounds great.” Shona waved as he drove away. With a sigh, she turned back to her house and blew her nose. Four quilts were waiting to be stitched and she had to call two of her customers. If that wasn’t enough to take her mind off Nate’s departure, she was meeting the bank later this morning.
But, right now, all she wanted to do was go for a walk. It would clear her mind and refocus her energy. From experience, she knew the jarring sense of loneliness would pass. All she had to do was get through today, and she’d be fine.
Joseph held two brown paper bags in one hand and opened his truck door with the other. He usually tried to visit The Starlight Café before the lunch rush, but he’d had to stand in line behind everyone else today.
“Hi, Joseph.”
He turned and smiled at Shona. “Hi. Are you grabbing something to eat from the café, too?”
“Not today. The painters have finished their touch-ups in the cottage I want to rent. I thought I’d take a look. Would you like to come with me?”
“I'd love to. From the outside, it’s even better than Nate’s photos.”
“It’s only a small cottage, but it’s everything I’ve ever wanted.”
“You could say it’s small but perfectly formed.”
Shona smiled. “It is now. Before Richard and his construction crew arrived, it was a mess. The roof must have been leaking for decades and there wasn't one area that didn't need a total revamp. I'm amazed Penny could see the potential in the cottages.”
“She has a lot of experience developing properties.” Joseph left his lunch on the front seat of his truck and locked the door. “Sometimes, it can take a lot of imagination to see the possibilities in something.”
“I'm glad she saw what the cottages could become.” Shona walked with him to the cottage. “I had my meeting at the bank today.”
“How did it go?”
“It was better than I thought. The loan officer was impressed with my business plan. Next time I see Adele, I’ll thank her for suggesting I take a quilt. The person I spoke to thought it was beautiful.”
“Hopefully, it helps them make a decision sooner rather than later.”
“That’s what I think, too. I keep having nightmares about not getting the loan.” Taking a key out of her pocket, she opened the front door. “You go first.”
Joseph stepped into the entryway and looked around the large, open-plan room. He could see why she’d fallen in love with the building. “This is definitely better than the photos. The cottage has lots of character, but still works as a modern retail space.” He walked across the room and ran his hand along the wooden mantel. “Is this the original fireplace?”
“The fireplace is original, but Richard had to rebuild most of the surround. He used some wood from another part of the cottage.”
“It suits the room.” Joseph wasn’t surprised it looked so good. As well as working part time at the old steamboat museum, Richard sold handcrafted furniture. Everything about the fireplace was unique, including the mermaid-shaped corbels.
“If the bank approves my loan, I’ll be able to buy everything I need to open my store.”
“Have you seen anything you like?”
Shona grinned. “Too much. I’m buying some pre-fabricated furniture to keep the costs down.”
“That sounds like a good idea. Let me know if you need a hand to put anything together.”
“Thanks, but I should be okay. Paris and Andrea have already offered to help me assemble everything. But, if we get stuck, I'll let you know.”
“Sounds good.” He stood a few feet away from the fireplace. “Are you putting anything in this space?”
“That will be the sewing area. I’ll have a table where people can use sewing machines and another where they can prepare their fabric. I did some quilting workshops at the church and they were really popular. The cottage will give everyone a chance to meet regularly and swap ideas and patterns.”
“You'll be busy.”
“I hope so.” Shona frowned. “All I've thought about over the last few weeks is this cottage. What if it doesn't work out the way I want it to? Lots of businesses fail in the first year, and I can't afford for that to happen.”
He wanted to reassure her, to let her know it was okay to be afraid. “You already have a successful business. You make beautiful quilts and want to show other people how to do the same thing. All the cottage gives you is a better location and more room to do what you love.”
Taking a deep breath, Shona nodded. “You're right. I need to keep remembering that.”
“I haven’t asked you the most important question.”
Shona frowned. “What is it?”
“Do you have a name for your store?”
Her eyes sparkled from a smile that must have come straight from her heart. “If I get the loan, I’ll call it The Cozy Quilt Shop.”
Joseph looked at the original fireplace, the wooden trims, and the pressed tin ceiling. Once the furniture and quilts were in place, it would be just as cozy as the store’s name suggested. “It’s a great name.”
“I thought so, too. Nate thought of it after we talked about what I’d like the store to become.” She pointed to the back of the room. “I'll show you the kitchen and bathroom next.”
As she led Joseph across the room, she told him about the work the construction crew had done to finish the back half of the cottage. If it weren't for Penny, he doubted the building would still be standing. Her crew had rebuilt the cottage from the ground up using materials that were sympathetic to its age. And that kind of remodeling was expensive.
Instead of the basic kitchen he was expecting, the cabinets and countertops were similar to what you'd find in someone’s house. “This looks great. There’s enough space to cater for any events you might have in the store.”
“Nate suggested having coffee, cake, and quilting mornings. It would be a fun way for people to make new friends.”
Joseph smiled. “It sounds as though he should be your marketing manager.”
“I don't know what I'd do without him. Even when he isn’t here, he listens to my hare-brained ideas and gives me a different perspective on what's worrying me. He left early this morning, and I’m already counting the days until he returns.” Shona bit her bottom lip. “Sorry. That makes me sound like a desperate parent.”
“You don’t need to apologize. You love him. I’m not sure I ever want Adele to leave home, either.”
“I don't blame you. She’s an amazing little girl.”
As they walked into the hallway, Shona showed him the other original features the construction crew had kept. The decorative moldings, incredibly wide architraves, and original windows gave the cottage an old-world charm.
“That’s the grand tour finished,” Shona said with a smile. “If everything goes to plan, you’ll have to come back when the store opens. It will be completely different once the furniture and quilts arrive.”
“I’m looking forward to it already.”
Shona stepped onto the porch and breathed in the sweet scent of freshly baked bread. “That’s one thing that won’t be hard to get used to. Andrea bakes the most delicious cakes and bread I’ve ever tasted.”
Joseph laughed. “I'd be hopeless working beside the café. I'd want to buy something to eat each day.”
“I’m hoping my nose will get used to the yummy smells and not notice them. Are you busy at the old steamboat museum?”
“We are. Orders for the tiny homes are coming in each day.”
“When are your next homes leaving the workshop?”
“Not until the end of the month. Two are going to Billings for emergency housing.”
Shona returned a woman’s wave as she walked past the cottage. “The ladies in my quilting group have made a few quilts for the tiny homes. I’ll ask them to drop a couple of them in to you before then.”
“Thanks. Let me know what the bank says.”
“I will.”
Joseph took his keys out of his pocket. “And don’t worry. They’d be crazy not to help you.”
“I hope so. Enjoy your lunch.”
“I will. Bye.” With a quick nod, he left Shona standing outside. Starting a new business was stressful for anyone, especially if you were doing it on your own. Luckily, she had a good group of friends. And now, she had him.
Opening the quilt store would change her life. And, regardless of the bank’s decision, he’d make sure her dream came true.