Chapter 13 #2
We stepped out to the deck, built on the roof of the lower level. It wasn’t large, and it too was full of crap, but with a cute bistro table and chairs, it could be the perfect spot for morning coffee.
“Sit,” Dakota said, planting herself on an old wicker love seat. “I am dying to know how last night went. I saw the pics. You were a knockout. That dress was killer. I saw you and Max dancing. It looked like you were getting along well?”
I lowered myself to the worn cushion next to her, letting my mind catch up to her change in subject. “The gala was good. He was fun.”
“Max? Was fun? Did you get him drunk?”
“Stop,” I said. “He didn’t drink, but we danced. And he was exactly what I needed to get through the award acceptance.”
“Borrrring. Tell me you spent the night with him.”
Laughing, I said, “I did.”
Her eyes went big, and she grabbed my arm. “What? My brother got lucky? I mean, don’t tell me details, but I hope it was good.”
“I’m sorry to bust your bubble, but your brother did not get lucky.” I explained to her about finding a drunk, mourning Ian and that I’d slept in Max’s guest room.
“That sounds more like Max. Always so careful these days.”
“I did kiss him,” I said, grinning.
Her head whipped toward me. “You had to put the moves on him? You know what? I take it all back. You deserve so much better than him,” she said lightly.
I laughed again. “I did what you wanted. I got him out of the house.”
“Plus kissed him. His head probably spun around at that.”
“You said you didn’t want details,” I said.
“I don’t. But if you’ve got some psycho living at Naomi’s, we need to get you out of there, like, yesterday. Unless you’d rather shack up at my brother’s.”
“No.” It was only a half lie. I didn’t want to shack up, only sex him up till his head exploded…or other body parts. Keeping a grin to myself, I said, “I think we should jump on this place. They’re taking all the crap out, redoing the floors…”
Nodding, Dakota said, “It could be a kick-ass place to live.” She frowned. “Tell me the rent again?”
I told her what we’d each owe and what Darius had estimated the utilities at.
“I was thinking about increasing my hours at Henry’s,” she said.
“You could cover it even now, right?”
“I could. It’d be pretty awesome to not live at home anymore.”
I shuddered. “I don’t know how you do that.”
“My mom is not your dad.”
“Fact. So? What do you think? Are you in?”
As she studied me, a grin made its way across her face. “Let’s do it.”
“Yes!” I hugged her, and we swayed back and forth with excitement. “Here’s to new adventures, roomie.”
“Let’s go tell Darius.”
We didn’t bother going through the rooms again. I was ready to get out of that cluttered space. We thundered down the stairs, laughing, exhilaration and excitement bubbling up inside of me.
Signing a lease was a big deal for us, but living with Dakota would be good. It was past time for me to get out of Naomi’s overly quiet farmhouse that echoed with memories. I could take the memories with me and leave behind some of the loneliness.
“We’ll have to be quieter when there’s a business open,” Dakota said. “I hope it’s Cambria’s.”
We entered the store and found Cambria by herself behind the checkout counter, which appeared to have been partially cleared off.
“Hey, ladies. How’d it go?” she asked.
“Have you been up there to see it?” Dakota asked.
Cambria shook her head.
“It looks like down here,” I told her. “We’re doing it anyway.”
“Congratulations,” Cambria said.
“They’re shoveling out all the shit,” Dakota added. “Where’s Darius?”
“He went outside to take a phone call. It sounded like someone asking about the apartment.”
“It’s ours, bitches,” Dakota said. “What about you? Did you decide to go for it?”
“I’m still thinking,” Cambria said. “I had in mind something about a third of the size of this, but that back room would make an ideal space for candle making. I use an old barn now, but it’s close to falling down, and it won’t work once the weather turns cold.”
“What kind of candles do you make?” Dakota asked.
“I do special shaped ones, like animals, pine trees, canoes, sandcastles. Lake themed stuff. Plus scented tapers and columns and votives, all handmade.”
“You sell them at the farmers market, right?” I remembered seeing her at a booth a time or two.
“Every week. I’ve been selling online and at craft shows and art fairs, but I’d like something a little more settled and stable. It takes a lot to travel around the state and set up and take down every weekend. Sometimes those are a bust, and I’ve wasted a lot of time.”
“You’d keep busy all summer here,” I said. “Plus holidays.”
“Weekends,” Dakota said. “Could you make enough candles to keep the place full though?”
Cambria shook her head. “Not with this much square footage. I was planning to carry candleholders, incense, things like that, but here I’d need more.”
“How do you feel about jewelry?” I asked before I could think it through.
Cambria tilted her head.
“Oh, my God, you should see Harper’s designs,” Dakota said. “Do you have pictures?” she asked me.
Swallowing hard, wondering what I’d started, I pulled out my phone and swiped until I found some of my more recent creations. I let Cambria peruse them.
“These are gorgeous. I love your style, Harper.” When she got to the end of them, she asked, “Where do you sell them currently?”
“Um, I mostly don’t. I have a couple boxes full.”
“Just sitting there going to waste,” Dakota said oh-so helpfully.
“You should see Dakota’s ceramics. Her mugs are big and beautiful. Show her,” I prompted.
By the time Darius came back inside, Cambria had raved about Dakota’s creations, and we’d helped her brainstorm other possibilities for merchandise if she decided to rent this spot. It was fun to think about. She was cautious about taking it on, though, understandably.
“What’d you two think of the apartment?” Darius asked when he reached the counter.
I looked at Dakota to make sure she didn’t have cold feet. She nodded subtly.
“We’ll take it,” I said.
“Excellent. A lot of people are going to be sad to miss out,” Darius said.
“We’ll just run a background check and a credit check tomorrow.
Then we can fill out paperwork and get the lease signed.
Mrs. K’s son has a company coming to move his mom’s belongings out next weekend.
The property owner can get the flooring replaced, and then it’ll be yours. ”
He shook my hand and then Dakota’s.
“And what about you, Cambria? You ready to take the leap?” Darius asked.
“Not quite yet,” she said. “Can I sleep on it?”
“Of course.”
“Do you have anyone else looking at it yet?” Her blue eyes looked contemplative and a little cautious.
“I had a call, but they didn’t seem serious,” Darius said. “I can let you know if any other inquiries come in.”
“Please. It’s a great space. I just need to pivot my business idea a bit.”
“That’s fair.” Darius led us all to the front door, let us out, locked up, and told us he’d be in touch tomorrow. After shaking our hands, he said, “You ladies have a good evening.”
“You too, Darius,” I said.
We watched him walk off. Then Cambria said, “I don’t suppose you two have thought about going into business, have you?”
“Not too much,” Dakota said, laughing.
I shook my head and thought again about my discussion with Max this morning, but there was a big difference between selling my jewelry online and opening a full store in downtown Dragonfly Lake.
“I might be willing to consign my pieces to you, but I’ll be honest. Opening a store scares the crap out of me,” I said.
“Me too,” Cambria said with a laugh. “I might take you up on the consignments. I have a lot of thinking to do tonight.”
“You do. Good luck with it,” Dakota said.
Once Cambria headed off, Dakota and I decided to go to Humble’s Pizza for a slice and a celebratory toast.
Arm in arm, we walked down the sidewalk toward the restaurant. My stomach was jittery, but I wasn’t sure if it was from excitement about the apartment or something else. Something like a gut feeling I should think more about Cambria’s offer.
One major life step was enough for today, I decided, and did the best to put the rest out of my mind so I could enjoy the evening.