Chapter 19 Ash
ASH
Ash stood by his kitchen window a few days later, gazing out at the snowy woods, and wondering if he’d found the perfect way to pull everything together, or if he was about to blow it all up.
He’d been happier than he could remember while he was participating in the town Christmas traditions with Maya and Allie on Saturday.
From the first moment of the snowball fight, through the lighting of the tree and the giving of gifts, he’d felt like he was walking on air.
Even Libby showing up hadn’t dampened his happiness.
Unable to sleep that night, he’d lain awake staring at the ceiling and pictured what sharing his life with Allie might look like.
Would she want to keep teaching even if she didn’t need to for money?
He suspected that she would. What she had was more than a career, it was a gift.
But maybe he could encourage her to grow their family too.
He could certainly afford any childcare she wanted, and Maya would be a wonderful big sister, eager to help out in any way she could.
Honestly, Ash could make just about any dream Allie had come true, and he couldn’t wait to do it. Having had a taste of what they could be together, he knew now that he had to do whatever it might take to win her heart completely.
The only problem was that Allie had been ignoring his texts since they left the park on Saturday.
His stomach twisted again at the thought.
Days had passed now, and she hadn’t so much as put a thumbs-up on one of his messages. If he hadn’t been there himself, he would have thought something awful had happened Saturday.
Nothing is wrong, he reminded himself. She’s a busy woman. Planning and teaching this last week of school before the kids are off on winter break is probably a beast. Of course she doesn’t have time to chat.
Instinctively, he felt that there must be something more. But no matter how many times he played the events of the day over again in his mind, looking for a reason for her to be unhappy with him, he just kept coming up empty.
The buzz of his phone in his pocket reminded him that he had work to do before it was time to pick Maya up at the church afterschool program.
And Allie wasn’t the only one ghosting him right now. The investor group that was planning to help him take Tailor Beverage Company national had been slowly backing off over the past few weeks.
He knew moving out here probably hadn’t helped his case for growing TBC. But Maya needed the change. And if he was planning to come out here anyway, it was more honest to do it before he signed anything with the investors.
But it was one thing to do the right thing and another to live with the consequences. His family legacy had finally been close enough to touch.
As he worked through both problems in his mind today, he’d taken a long walk in town, and hit on something that just might help.
Moving to his desk again, he grabbed the phone, tapping on a contact and pacing in front of the windows as it rang.
“Mr. Tailor,” his secretary, Amanda, said brightly. “It’s so nice to hear from you.”
He heard the unspoken reprimand behind the words. Ash hadn’t been as focused on work lately as he normally was. Amanda was probably dealing with unhappy colleagues as a result.
“I’m sorry I’ve been off the grid so much,” he told her sincerely.
“You and your daughter just had a big move,” Amanda said right away. “It’s understandable that you need a little time to get settled.”
“Thank you,” he told her. “And you know that I’ve been brainstorming ways to get the investors back on board. I’ve actually got an idea now.”
“Sir, I hate to say it, but I’m worried they won’t get back on board at this point,” Amanda said softly. “I overheard them as they were leaving the last presentation. They think that you leaving the city means you’re not committed anymore.”
“That’s just it,” Ash said. “I’m going to fly them out here and let them see it for themselves.”
“Oh,” Amanda said softly.
He figured she thought he was bonkers but was too polite to say so. She was a nice kid, so it didn’t surprise him.
“This little town is our target market,” he explained.
“People in the city don’t want small-batch, full-sugar soda-pop.
But if I can get those guys out here, they’ll see that me being here is bringing me back to the roots of the soda.
They’ll see that my insights will be better from this perspective. ”
“Back to the roots of your root beer, huh, Mr. Tailor?” Amanda ventured, laughing nervously.
“I love that, Amanda,” Ash said, chuckling. “Write it down. We’ll use it.”
“How are you going to get them out there?” she asked worriedly.
“Private plane, the works,” he told her. “I’ll take them around town for the day. They’ll fall in love with the place, just like I did, and then we’ll wrap things up in the evening.”
With any luck, he would wrap two things up in the evening…
“I actually kind of like that idea, sir,” Amanda said. “Give me dates and details and I’ll put it all together.”
“Check your email, Amanda,” he told her. “Your holiday bonus should hit your account today too. Don’t spend it all in one place.”
“Oh wow,” she said. “Thank you, sir.”
“My pleasure,” he told her.
“But if the investors are out…?” her voice wavered a little, like she didn’t quite want to imply that he was hurting financially, but she was worried.
“I’m fine, Amanda,” he told her. “More than fine. I don’t really lack the funding. I lack the experience on a national scale. That’s what the investors are for. I have to cut them in if I want their expertise. So don’t worry about your paycheck, it’s safe no matter what happens with this deal.”
“Oh,” she said, sounding relieved. “That’s good to know.”
“You can share that news at the water cooler if you want,” he told her, feeling bad that he hadn’t anticipated the employees would worry. “Tell them all their bonuses are coming too. But I still want the investors on board, so let’s give them the full court press.”
“Yes, sir,” she said, a smile in her voice. “I promise.”
He signed off, feeling better about his chances of taking TBC national than he had in a long time.
Now it was time to take on a challenge he cared about even more.
He tapped on Allie’s contact in his phone and typed out a quick text to join his other unanswered messages.
I know you’re a busy teacher, Allie, and I respect that. So this will be my last message before the weekend.
I was in town today and noticed that there’s a big fundraiser gala this weekend for that new mentorship program.
I want to go, and I’d like you to be my date.
I took the liberty of arranging an appointment for you and a friend at a dress salon in Burlington.
The saleslady will be ready for you both to choose dresses and accessories.
My treat, of course. Feel free to change the date and time to whatever is convenient for you.
I hope the children behave for you this week. And I hope to see you at the ball.
He followed up with a link to the dress shop and the appointment details.
Then he turned off his phone and slid it into his pocket, determined to make plans for the investors and for Allie, instead of just staring at the phone, wishing she would message back.
As he turned his attention to the small map of Sugarville Grove he’d picked up in town and the list of must-see attractions Kris over at the post office had shared, he started to feel hopeful.
Ash had never been the kind of person who waited for things to happen. He was a man of action, and he was ready to do whatever it took to pull every aspect of his life together so that he could offer Maya the kind of family and fortune she deserved.