Chapter 10
S hona smiled when Nate walked into the café Paris had recommended. With his windswept hair, blue jeans, and a baggy sweatshirt, he could have been anyone’s nineteen-year-old son. But he was hers, and she was so proud of him.
“Hi, Mom.” Wrapping his arms around her, Nate hugged her tightly.
“It’s good to see you. I’m sure you’ve grown another inch since I last saw you.”
“You always say that.”
Shona laughed. “Because it’s true.” She pulled out a chair for him. “What have you been doing this week?”
“The same stuff as usual. Lots of classes and assignments.”
“Did you finish the 3D model you were telling me about?”
“All done. I should know in a couple of weeks how I did.”
The sculpture and extended media degree Nate was doing had a large practical component. It took a long time to do some of the assignments, especially the ones that included a portfolio of design ideas.
“Tell me what you’re doing apart from your classes.”
“I joined the gym with my friends, and Marcus convinced me to join the chess club.”
Shona tried not to look surprised. Nate and his dad had loved playing chess together. But, after Chris died, he’d avoided it like the plague. “How did that feel?”
“Okay, I guess.”
There was a heaviness around his eyes that worried her. “How was your first game?”
“I won.”
The waitress came and took their order. By the time she left, Shona was even more worried about Nate.
“Is everything else okay?”
“As long as I keep up with my assignments, I’m fine. Some of my friends have missed deadlines, and it’s really hard to catch up.” Nate looked around the café. “Where’s Andrea and Paris? I thought they were coming with you.”
“They’re having lunch with a friend of Paris’.”
“That’s good.” Nate fidgeted with the glass of water the waitress had given him. “I’m sorry about what the bank said. They made the wrong decision.”
He looked so worried that she reached out and squeezed his hand. “How did you know about my loan application?”
“Ben ordered more carved ornaments for The Christmas Tree Farm. He said he was sorry to hear the bank had turned down your loan. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want you to worry.” Shona forced a smile. She had no idea how Ben knew what had happened, but it didn’t matter now. “It all worked out in the end. Pastor John sent my business plan to a trust that supports some of the church’s programs. It was the trust that loaned me some money to open my store.”
“I wish you’d told me.”
“Next time something like this happens, I will. I’m just grateful to Pastor John for what he did.”
“What’s the name of the trust?”
Shona was hoping he wouldn’t ask, especially after she’d just said she’d be more upfront with him. “If I tell you, you have to keep the name to yourself. The trust wanted the loan to be confidential.”
“Are you sure the money didn’t come from a gang or a drug cartel?”
If Nate didn’t look so worried, she would have laughed. “Pastor John assured me they’re a legitimate trust. Do I have your word you won’t say anything?”
“I promise not to tell anyone.”
“It’s called the Carol Hirshfield Trust. I don’t know anything about it, but I’m happy they saw what the store could become. Why did you want to know their name?”
“No reason. I was curious, that’s all. Have you nearly finished setting up the store?”
The waitress stood beside their table and placed a plate of pancakes in front of Shona. “Here you go. One plate of apple and cinnamon pancakes, a meat-lover’s omelet, and a side of fries. Is there anything else I can get you?”
Shona shook her head. “No, thanks. I’m okay.”
“Me, too,” Nate added.
“There’s ketchup and salt and pepper on the table. If you need anything else, just ask.”
“We will.”
Before the waitress had left, Nate was already eating his enormous omelet.
Shona smiled. He might be changing in ways she never imagined, but his appetite was still the same.
Later that evening, Joseph helped Shona out of his truck and checked the blindfold he’d tied around her head. “Remember, no peeking.”
“I couldn’t look, even if I wanted to.”
“Is the blindfold too tight?”
“No. It’s fine.” Shona lifted her hands and felt for his arm. “Make sure I don’t trip over anything. I can’t afford to have anything happen this close to the store’s opening.”
Adele slammed the passenger door. “Don’t worry. Dad’s a good guide. He helped me on the obstacle course at my school camp. I didn’t fall off anything.”
“That’s good to know.”
With Shona’s arm wrapped around his, Joseph took a tentative step toward the sidewalk. After she’d returned from Bozeman, he’d met her at Andrea’s house with Adele, and driven her to the cottage on Anchor Lane.
Adding today’s finishing touches to the building had completely transformed it. The hanging baskets of red and white flowers looked stunning against the bright yellow walls. More flowers in blue pots decorated each side of the front door, adding lots of color and character to the cottage.
He just hoped Shona liked what they’d done.
Adele stood beside Shona. “Your cottage is so awesome. Everyone who’s stopped to say hello liked it.”
Joseph stopped a few feet away from the small white gate. It was more decorative than practical but, when Shona showed the construction crew some pictures of what she wanted, a white picket fence was at the top of the list.
His gaze skimmed over the front of the cottage. The wrought iron table and chairs that Penny had donated looked great. Filled with cushions from Mabel’s sewing group, the furniture was exactly what a travel-weary customer would enjoy.
He took Shona’s hand off his arm and stood behind her. “Are you ready to see The Cozy Quilt Shop?”
Her sharp nod told him she was nervous.
“Here we go. One…”
“Two…” Adele yelled.
“Three!” He lifted the blindfold off Shona’s eyes and waited for her reaction.
When she didn’t say anything, he stepped around her and studied her stunned expression. “Does your silence mean you’re overwhelmed by how good your store looks or you don’t like it?”
“I love it. It’s everything I thought it could be and more. The fairy lights you’ve strung under the eaves look amazing, and the cushions and potted plants are gorgeous.”
Adele grinned. “Mrs. Terry dropped off the cushions. She said she’ll talk to you about her sewing group meeting in your store.”
Shona walked through the gate and looked up at the sign. Printed in a deep blue, the flowing text was full of character and charm. If it had been hung anywhere else, it would have looked out of place.
“I’ve dreamed about opening a store for so long that it doesn’t seem real.”
“It’s real, all right. Come and see what Shelley and Penny did this afternoon. If you don’t like anything, all you have to do is move it.”
Before Shona walked inside, she touched the old-fashioned lanterns on either side of the front door. “These are gorgeous, but they’re more expensive than the ones I ordered.”
“Penny saw the original photos you gave the construction crew. The lanterns are a close match to the ones you liked.”
“She didn’t have to do that. She’s my landlord?—”
“And your friend. You can tell her how much you like them next time you see her.”
Adele hopped up and down. “Come and see inside. It’s so pretty, especially with the lights on!”
Taking a deep breath, Shona stepped into the store.
Joseph was seriously worried. She’d shown more excitement over his birthday cake than what they’d done today. “You don’t have to hide how you’re feeling.”
She walked from the entryway into the main retail and craft space. He expected her to say something. Anything would have been better than the silence that stretched into forever.
Even her quilts, displayed on the walls and in neatly folded, color-coordinated displays, didn’t encourage her to speak.
By the time he’d decided she must truly hate what they’d done, she turned to him and smiled. It was the kind of smile that made his toes curl, made the lights inside the cottage seem a little brighter, and his heart pound more than was good for him.
“Okay. I get it,” he sighed. “You really, really like what we’ve done.”
“I really, really do,” she said with a grin. “You’re amazing.”
For the first time in thirty years, he blushed. “I wouldn’t go that far. It was a team effort that I couldn’t have done?—”
Shona silenced him with a kiss. Everything he was about to say disappeared in a wave of heat when her lips touched his.
“Sometimes, Joseph Adams, words only get in the way. What you’ve done is amazing.”
His muddled brain liked how she thought. If Adele hadn’t run to the other side of the room, he would have backed up his appreciation with another kiss.
“Look at these,” Adele said excitedly. “I like this display the best.”
Shona’s gaze darted to Adele and then back to him. His heart sank. He’d seen that expression on her face before and it wasn’t good.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I shouldn’t have kissed you.”
Before he could say anything, she followed Adele across the room. He should have told her it was okay. Told her he didn’t mind being kissed. In fact, he’d enjoyed it. Not that he was that experienced in kissing different women. He’d had a grand total of two girlfriends before he married Hillary, and their marriage wasn’t exactly filled with romance.
He gave himself a mental kick. Standing in the middle of the room like a ding-a-ling wouldn’t make her feel any better. So he walked across to the carved animals Adele was showing her and hoped she didn’t run for cover.
“Did Nate make these?” Shona asked.
Adele nodded. “Ben and Kylie wanted some of his art to be here.”
Joseph cleared his throat. “They’ve already paid Nate for them. They’re a gift for the store.”
“It’s too much. The Christmas Shop doesn’t make a lot of money.”
“They wanted to do something special for you. It’s okay to accept help.”
Shona looked into his eyes and sighed. “Sometimes, I’m too stubborn for my own good.”
“So is Dad,” Adele said in a very matter-of-fact voice. “Granddad says he’s as stubborn as a mule.”
And just like that, Shona’s embarrassment was gone. “You should be used to stubborn people, then.”
Joseph relaxed. “I am, but it isn’t easy.” He glanced at Adele. She was already walking toward the empty craft table. “Don’t worry about kissing me,” he said softly. “It doesn’t change anything.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
Shona sighed. “I really am sorry. I’ve been so worried about the store, and?—”
“What did Mrs. Terry say about the sewing machines, Dad?”
“She’ll drop them off next week.” He looked at Shona and frowned. She had a sheen to her eyes that didn’t bode well for a tear-free tour of the cottage. “All you have to do is call her to arrange a day and a time. Do you want a hug?”
She nodded and stepped closer.
Silently, he opened his arms and held her against his chest. Her store was everything she’d ever dreamed about, but she hadn’t been able to do it on her own. She was overwhelmed, tired, and scared. But, with a little help from her friends, he knew it would be okay.
The next few days flew by. Shona was still stunned that everything had come together so quickly. Having the store finished made a massive difference to her peace of mind. She could focus on the finishing touches, talk to the women joining her quilting team, and plan for the store’s grand opening.
Mabel had arrived with the sewing machines on Tuesday. By Thursday, Shona had a roster of people who wanted to use them. All week, Mabel’s daughter, Barbara, had flooded the social media sites with information about the store and Saturday’s grand opening.
With the extra publicity, the phone was ringing nonstop. People were excited and looking forward to seeing the fabrics, spools of thread, beads, and tassels they hadn’t been able to buy in Sapphire Bay before.
On Friday, Brooke delivered one hundred gift-wrapped bags of fudge to the store. With a little tag containing the store’s website and phone number, Shona hoped it reminded people to come back and see even more quilts and novelty items on their next visit.
With Paris and Andrea busy at work, she was glad she’d asked Jackie to help organize the candy and the decorations for the grand opening.
As well as being Paris and Andrea’s friend, Jackie worked in The Flower Cottage. She had lots of retail experience and was happy to help Shona if she needed another pair of hands.
The last few days had been extra special because of the picnic dinners Joseph and Adele had shared with her. Each night, they’d arrived with a basket of delicious food and stories about what they’d been doing. It was a welcome distraction from the all the things she still had to do.
Joseph hadn’t mentioned anything more about kissing him. It was as if it hadn’t happened. Part of her was relieved, but the other part was worried. She was a huggy, impulsive person. Two great qualities that could get her into trouble if she let down her guard. And it was far too easy to be herself around Joseph. He was kind, compassionate, and gentle—all the qualities her huggy, impulsive personality loved.
She looked at her watch and sighed. It was four o’clock. She was exhausted and her back was killing her. Thankfully, Joseph and Adele were volunteering at The Welcome Center instead of visiting her tonight. She was looking forward to going home, running a hot bath, and soaking her tired muscles.
Picking up an empty box, she looked across the store. Quilts from the Bigfork craft group had been delivered this afternoon. They were a gorgeous addition to the ones she’d made. Other small gifts added something extra to the store; handmade birthday cards, a display of crushed velvet cushions, and dried flower arrangements from Paris’ store.
Everything was unique, colorful, and made with love.
Jackie added a pink ribbon to the balloon she’d filled with helium. “That’s the last balloon done. The store looks amazing.”
“Thank you. I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved. The people who come here will love it.”
Picking up a spool of ribbon, Jackie studied a display of hand-knitted hats and scarves. “You’ve found lots of beautiful items for your store. I don’t know if Andrea or Paris mentioned anything, but I knit babies’ clothes and blankets in my spare time. I mostly sell them at the market in town and to friends who’ve seen what I do. If you ever need more knitted items, let me know.”
Shona glanced at the display before looking closely at Jackie. In a lot of ways, she reminded Shona of herself. From what she’d learned, they’d both started life with next to nothing and worked hard to create a better life than they’d known. If The Cozy Quilt Shop could help anyone, it would be wonderful if it helped Jackie.
“Paris told me your knitting is beautiful, but I thought you’d want to keep everything for your customers.”
“I always have extra items at home. At the moment, I have at least a dozen jackets and quite a few sets of booties. I’d be happy to show them to you.”
“Why don’t you bring them into the store tomorrow?” Shona walked across to the sales counter and gave Jackie a sheet of paper. “This has all the information about the commission I charge. If you’re happy with that, we can price them tomorrow and see how they go.”
“That sounds great. Do you need me to do anything else?”
Shona shook her head. “We’ve worked hard. Let’s go home.”
“That sounds great to me.” Jackie collected the scissors and leftover ribbon off the table. “I can’t wait to see how many people come to the opening tomorrow. Everyone I’ve spoken to is excited.”
Shona hoped that excitement meant people bought her products. She’d taken a big risk opening the store and she desperately wanted it to be successful. And, if some of that success rubbed off on the stores around her, it would be wonderful for everyone.