Chapter 32
Grant suspected the trip home to Greenridge would go even quicker than their whirlwind drive down south.
He also suspected Madeline would conk out and sleep part of the way, at least, so he didn’t waste any time.
As soon as they exited the freeway and reached Hope—fitting, he thought, very fitting—and the traffic was lighter, he brought up the idea that had been building piece by piece within him over the past months.
“So, I have this idea,” he started, “but I’ve been a little worried about how you’ll receive it. If your gut instinct is to kibosh it, please hear me out all the way first.”
Madeline had peeled off her shoes, put on fuzzy socks, and stuffed a pillow between herself and the window. Now she was wrapping herself in a blanket—all part of what Grant already recognized as her road trip passenger ritual. She stopped mid-wrap and popped an eyebrow. “Eek, sounds serious.”
“It is, and I am. And it isn’t something that just flew into my head. I’ve been thinking on it a while, figuring out what it should look like, what it could be.” He cut a glance her way. Only her face showed now; the rest of her was a blanket cocoon. She looked curious and ridiculously cute.
Focus, he scolded himself. Focus.
“So, are you actually planning to share this idea, or are you just going to keep me in suspense?” she teased.
“I know it’s important to you that your business be self-supporting, viable in and of itself alone.” He knew it was more than that even; they’d talked about it a lot.
“But what if you had an asset sitting empty and un-utilized that you didn’t even know existed?”
Madeline sat up and tugged her blanket down, shifting from pre-sleep immediately. “Well, I’d want to use it, of course, but what are you talking about?”
“I have a proposition for you.”
“I’ll bet you do,” she said suggestively.
He laughed. “Well, yes, but other than the obvious.” He quickly explained the basic framework of his idea: him renovating the deserted two-bay shed in the back corner of The Second Chance Shop’s lot into a wood-working studio.
There he’d make custom cabinets and do commission work, in addition to other personal miscellaneous projects, which he hoped to sell on consignment through her shop.
“I’ll do the labor for free and pay for all the supplies for the reno in return for reduced rent for an agreed-upon term.
After that, we could set up a lease or something—” He broke off when he saw the expression on Madeline’s face.
He’d been expecting to have to convince her by showing it was a natural progression for her business and would increase the value of her overall property.
Still, he hadn’t expected . . . this. She looked completely stunned.
“Are you serious?” she asked like she couldn’t believe her ears. Maybe she was worried that if something went wrong for him business-wise, it would affect their friendship. Or vice versa, concerned that if something went awry in their friendship, it would hurt both their businesses.
“Yes, very. And I’ve worked up a business plan, have the start-up money, even without the sale of my dad’s place. You’d, of course, own the building and all the improvements. Only the tools and machinery I buy and bring in would be mine, and if you’re worried—”
Madeline started laughing, and Grant wasn’t sure what to think—but then she spoke, gesturing excitedly with her hands as she did.
“Ever since you created that crazy-amazing cat condo for Boots, I’ve been trying to think how I could invite you—convince you—to start up your business again, but maybe with a focus on some whimsical projects that I could sell in the shop.
I didn’t want you to think I was trying to take advantage of our friendship or something, though. ”
“You were? For real?” Grant didn’t even know why he was surprised. They were often on the same page without even trying to be.
“Yes, for real. Absolutely! And after freeing up some monthly cash by getting rid of my storage containers, plus having the bathroom renovation so graciously taken care of for me—” She shook her head as if still unable to believe her luck.
“Well, I’d decided I could at least feel you out about your thoughts on the topic, without it looking like I was trying to use you to make my business something I couldn’t.
Even saying that, though, it didn’t occur to me that I had the right spot for your workshop right under my nose, but you’re totally right.
It’s the perfect complement—and solution for the eyesore that I haven’t had the time or money to contend with. ”
The road was straight, the visibility great, and there wasn’t an opposing vehicle in sight.
Grant took the opportunity to glance over and make eye contact with Madeline.
Her return gaze was warm and excited, but then she bit her lip.
“I guess my only hesitation is that I wouldn’t want our friendship to suffer if we have differing views. ”
“It won’t—and we won’t have. It’s your shop, your business.
We’ll have a contract. I’ll be your tenant, and I already understand that one day you may not want me.
If that happens, I’ll move on.” Grant hadn’t meant a humorous double entendre this time, but when Madeline laughed and said, “I can’t see that middle part ever being true, and I hope the last part won’t happen either,” everything in him thrummed happily.
And in the end, Grant was right. The trip went too fast. They laughed, ate too much junk food, and had long, leisurely conversations about everything from specifics about his ideas for his workshop to her plans for the Second Chance Shop’s first Christmas season, plus tons of other things, silly and serious.
As excited as he was about the new joint adventures lying ahead for them, just being on the road with Madeline, enjoying the journey, was more than enough for him.