Chapter 17
Present day
“What in the world is this?” Between pinched fingers, Shelby held up a... raccoon hat? Ick. She dropped it into the trash pile and wiped her hands down the length of her shorts.
“Gram sure collected some odd things.” Liddy held up an abstract painting of a face melting into a table. “Please tell me
Caleb didn’t create this abomination.”
“Not a chance. But you can see why I insisted on decorating the store.” Shelby pulled a band from her wrist and swept her
hair into a quick bun. Autumn had not yet alerted the attic of its arrival. She’d promised Liddy she’d help clear out the
musty space after church.
Dad was at home tending Ollie, and Caleb was outside putting meticulous stripes in the yard with the mower. Because when you
were an artist, the lawn was your palette.
Shelby opened another box, unearthing old Christmas decorations she’d never set eyes on. Goodwill. The next box contained what appeared to be costumes and wigs. Back in the day her grandparents had gone all out for Halloween,
turning their home into a favorite stop for trick-or-treaters.
Gram is gone.
The thought was like a frigid wave. This house would soon be on the market and another family would move in. It didn’t seem right. She fondled the rings around her neck, seeking comfort.
“Time moves on, sweetheart. Changes come. It’s a natural part of life.”
You hated change.
“Guess my stubbornness isn’t the only thing you inherited from me.”
Time to think about something else. She shifted her thoughts to Caleb and her dad. Better to think about someone else’s problems
right now. “How’s it going at the house, between Caleb and Dad?”
“Not terrible. Not great either. Your dad keeps dropping not-so-subtle hints about us moving to Grandville. It’s pushing Caleb
away.”
Shelby sighed. “He should know the harder he pushes, the faster Caleb will run.”
Liddy scrapped a pile of mangled hangers. “You know, when Gram left him this house, I was kind of hoping...”
Shelby’s gaze darted to Liddy. Hoping they’d move here? The thought buoyed her spirits.
“Well, shoot, you think I wouldn’t love living near my best friend and favorite sister-in-law? My son’s only grandparent?”
“But I thought you loved living in New York.”
“I do, I do. It’s done great things for Caleb’s career and we have close friends there. But our family’s here. And his career
is to the point where he could make it work if he wanted to.”
Shelby digested this. “Have you told Caleb how you feel?”
“Not in so many words. He’s so averse to the idea—and the more your dad pushes, the more he digs his heels in. I think he’s
afraid your dad will only exert more control over him if he moves back.”
“He’s an adult. Dad doesn’t have any control over what he does.”
“Tell him that.”
“I’ll talk to Dad. He needs to stop pressuring him.”
“That would help. Thanks.”
The thought of having Liddy, Caleb, and Ollie in town warmed her through. “It would be a dream to have you guys close by. Or you could just leave Ollie and I’ll raise him as my own.”
“Twenty-one hours of labor says he’s mine.”
“Sure, throw that in my face again.” Though Shelby’s own mom had endured twenty-three with her and had no trouble leaving
her behind.
Liddy moved over to an old bureau by the window and gazed out to the lake, which shimmered under the clear blue sky. “This
would be a great place to raise a family.”
If only Caleb would get on board with the idea. Shelby dumped a box of old clothes into the Goodwill pile as Liddy sorted
through the drawers of the bureau. “More old westerns.”
Gram and her westerns. “Set them aside. I might read them later.”
“Heard from Gray yet?”
Shelby had already caught Liddy and Caleb up to speed about his potentially staying to help resurrect the business. “Nope.
But I’ll be surprised if his boss lets him take so much time off.”
Liddy quirked a brow. “Is that disappointment I hear in your voice?”
“Only because I’m not sure if I can do this alone.”
“You don’t give yourself enough credit.”
“I know where my strengths are—and where they aren’t.”
“You’re smart, Shelby. You could figure this out on your own.”
Why hadn’t she insisted Gram at least train her to do her job? Digging the store out of the hole would be overwhelming enough
on its own.
“And we’re here to help however we can.”
“You guys might not be here long, and you have this house to deal with. Caleb’s got a show coming up, and Dad’s busy teaching.
As much as I dread the thought of Gray hanging around till the end of the year, it’s my best chance of turning the store around.
I just can’t believe Gram let things get this bad.”
“Clearly she made some poor decisions.” They’d talked about the equity loan, but Shelby hadn’t yet mentioned where the money might’ve gone since she didn’t know for sure.
“She probably thought she’d get it all squared away and I’d never find out. I just wish I knew what her plan was, because
it all seems pretty daunting right now.” Shelby felt so much pressure to rescue the store. It was Gram’s legacy. What if she
lost it?
“You’ve got this—Gray or no Gray.” Liddy winked. “But I’m kinda hoping for Gray.”
“Hey.” Shelby swatted her with a ruffled apron. “You seem to have forgotten that once upon a time he decimated my heart.”
“You were both young and foolish. He seems to have grown up quite nicely, and for all his apparent reputation, he did relinquish
his share of the store. That says something.”
“It says he doesn’t want anything to do with Grandville.”
“Yet he offered to stick around long enough to help you.”
“He’s doing it for Gram.”
“Keep telling yourself that.” Liddy smirked.
Shelby shot Liddy a wry look. “Whose side are you on?”
“Hey, speaking of hot ex-boyfriends, Caleb and I saw Brendan Remington at the hardware store. For some reason I thought he’d
moved away.”
“He did for about two minutes, but he moved back after his divorce. He’s working at his dad’s investment firm. I heard Barry’s
getting ready to retire, so Brendan will be taking over, which is what he’s always wanted.”
Her phone buzzed with an incoming text. She fished it from her pocket. “It’s Gray.”
Talked to my boss. I can stay till the end of the year. See you in the morning.
Shelby’s stomach did some kind of twitchy thing, like a body in the lingering throes of death. It was official. He would be
staying for the next two months.
Two. Months.
She’d be working side by side with Gray Briggs for eight weeks, six days a week. Forty-eight days. Her math skills faltered
at the calculation of hours—but it was a lot.
“Have some faith, Sweet Girl.” Shelby heard Gram’s voice in her head. “Everything will work out just fine.”
Easy for you to say.
“Well?” Liddy said. “Don’t keep me in suspense.”
Shelby turned her phone toward Liddy, who scanned the text and turned a smile on her. “And there you have it.”
“Why do I suddenly feel like my life is about to spin out of control?”
“Don’t worry.” Liddy placed an arm around her shoulder and gave a squeeze. “You’ve got this all under control, girl.”
But that was just it. Shelby didn’t have it under control. Not the store—and certainly not her stubborn feelings for Grayson
Briggs.