Chapter 17
“Stop fussing,” Maggie says from the floor. I’m in front of the bathroom mirror, trying to get my hair to behave. “It’s just a Chamber meeting.”
“Easy for you to say. You’re a fancy pink parrot, whereas I actually have to impress these people.”
“Which means you finally decided to stay?”
I huff a sigh. “Maybe. Probably. We’ll see how it goes tonight. If it sucks, I still might hightail it back to Alabama, where I’ve never been chased by bloodthirsty turkeys before.”
When I asked Shelby what to wear, she just shrugged and said, “Something cute,” like that helps.
I think Shelby might be one of those people who just looks cute in everything.
Or maybe every woman thinks every other woman is that kind of woman.
I ended up choosing dark jeans with a blazer and flats, trying to aim for professional but fun.
If I’m going to open a bookstore, after all, that’s the perfect persona.
Every time I think that word—bookstore—I can’t help grinning.
The idea is so delicious that I’m scared of it.
Can I really just…open a business?
Choose exactly what to sell, where to put things, when to open and close?
I’ve spent so long working for someone else and taking care of other people that I’ve never considered what it might be like to do exactly what I want to do, exactly how I want to do it.
Talking to Shelby at lunch really brought things to light.
She told me how she started up her bakery, how she keeps her books, how she changes things like hours and prices to see what will work, and I realized that if someone as flighty as Shelby can bring in enough money to live comfortably, maybe I can, too.
Especially when I factor in my newfound knack.
Books are the perfect choice. Before, my future just felt like endless drudgery, but now I can visualize a life I truly want.
The only thing missing is my sisters.
As if by magic, my phone rings. It’s only Cait calling on FaceTime, though, which is weird. I understand immediately what’s going on when both of my sisters’ worried faces appear, squished in together.
“You’re alive! Thank heavens!” Jemma points a finger at the screen. “You are not answering texts like you’re supposed to!”
“I’ve been busy. I had to fight a flock of turkeys today.”
“You what?” Jemma shrieks.
Cait laughs, then her eyes narrow in accusatory suspicion. “Forget turkeys. You’re wearing makeup. Lots of makeup. What’s going on? Do you have a date?”
“A date?” I splutter. “I’ve only been here a couple of days! How fast do you think I move?”
“Well, I just can’t think of another reason you’d be fully done up at six p.m. And Lord knows you’ve been in a dry spell since the last time Billy Wayne changed your oil.”
I roll my eyes. “That’s a terrible euphemism. And our entire hometown is a dry spell.”
“So are there cute boys in the mountains? Mountain men? Burly men?” Jemma gasps. “Are there lumberjacks?”
“I’m going to the Chamber of Commerce meeting,” I tell them, if only so they’ll get off the topic of men and stop making me think about being squished up against Hunter Blakely’s armpit in his truck.
“As a local business owner, I need to meet everybody and figure out how to get the video store making money.”
“Wait, you’re serious? The Chamber of Commerce? What is this—the 1950s?” Jemma asks, giggling.
“They have a lot of influence around here. Every business downtown is involved. So I want to make a good impression.”
Cait leans in, excited now. “So you’re really doing it? You’re really going to stay there and try to run a video store that also sells peanuts? Because I don’t want to burst your bubble here, but that sounds deliciously bananapants.”
I take a deep breath. I haven’t told them yet, which feels like a betrayal. But a lot has happened in two days. I’m still getting used to it myself.
“Well, I—we—own the buildings. And the store doesn’t have to do video rentals and peanut sales.
It can be anything, you know? I’ve been told the other properties are too messed up to rent without a lot of work, but that it wouldn’t be too hard to convert the open shop into… ” I pause. Deep breath. “A bookstore?”
My sisters pause, too. Jemma’s mouth falls open, but I can see the hamster wheel in Cait’s brain spinning.
“Oh my God, that’s perfect!” Jemma squeals.
“It kinda is,” Cait admits. “But do you have the capital for that?”
“It won’t take much money,” I assure them. “Just a few new bookshelves, a coat of paint. I can start small and build up.”
“And you have to order, like, a million books,” Cait reminds me, but not in a negative way. She loves a project. “And you’ll need a name and a logo, maybe some permits. Then there’s marketing and bookkeeping…. This is a lot of work, Rhea. Are you ready for it?”
I look into the screen and break out into a grin. “Yeah, I really think I am,” I say softly.
“That place must be amazing. Arcadia Falls.” Cait tilts her head. “Mama always made it sound like the devil’s butthole, but…”
“But it’s not buttholey at all. It actually feels like home. You guys might like it.”
Jemma leans in. “Is there room for us?”
“Kind of? Not in this apartment. I guess I need to explain how Maggie set things up—”
“Maggie? You mean”—Cait switches to Mama’s accent—“that witch?”
It’s how our mother often referred to her own mother, but Cait doesn’t know how right she is.
“Sure. That witch. We’re not dealing with a will.
We’re dealing with a trust. Which means we don’t get a lump sum.
I can’t just wave my wand and make all your dreams come true.
With a trust, the dead person gets to tell you what you can and can’t do with the money.
And the money in Maggie’s trust can only be used in relation to the buildings in Arcadia Falls.
There’s not enough money to fix everything at once and give y’all shiny new apartments, but there’s enough to get started. ”
Jemma blows her bangs out of her face. “Well, that’s annoying.”
“You’re goddamn lucky!” my grandmother shrieks in my head as she perches on the carpeted toilet seat. “This is a gift!”
I point at her. “Shut it, you.”
Cait and Jemma look at me like I’m hiding a cute boy under the table.
“Is there someone else there?” Jemma asks, eyes sparking mischievously.
“Just the usual troublesome cockatoo who won’t stop making a ruckus and will soon be locked up in her cage if she doesn’t settle down.”
“Well, I never!” Maggie ruffles her feathers but goes quiet, at least.
I glance at the time. “I’ve got to go. I told y’all I wanted the chance to try something new, and I’m going to take it.
Worst-case scenario, the business doesn’t work, and I learn something and have a free apartment while I figure out how to fix up the properties to rent.
Best-case scenario, I start a successful business and y’all move up here and do the same.
But it’s gonna take time, and it all starts with this Chamber of Commerce meeting, so please tell me I’m going to rock it. ”
“You’re absolutely going to rock it,” Jemma says with complete confidence.
When Cait doesn’t immediately agree, Jemma nudges her.
“You’re going to rock it,” Cait echoes.
I hear her reluctance, but I know her well enough to understand that her anxiety is getting the best of her and she’s worried about the future.
“I’ll text y’all after and let you know how it went,” I say.
“Or you’ll do what you’ve been doing and forget to text us entirely.” Jemma sticks out her lower lip, her secret pouty weapon since she was a baby.
“If I’m not answering texts promptly, it’s only because there’s so much going on. And you know what? It’s nice, having things going on. It’s been a long time since I’ve had anything interesting in my life outside of makeups and breakups with Billy. So…sorry not sorry, I guess.”
My sisters gape at me for a minute, and then Cait bursts out laughing.
“That might be the first time you’ve ever stood up for yourself in your entire life, Rhea.”
I raise my chin. “Yeah, well, it won’t be the last. Just remember, whatever good comes of this place, y’all will benefit. Now, I’m off. A bushel and a peck—”
“And a hug around the neck!” they call.
Once the screen goes dark, I check my lipstick one more time and look around for Maggie. She’s fluffed up in the corner, glaring at me resentfully.
“I just want to see my granddaughters,” she mutters.
“Then ask nicely. I’m always happy to show off a well-behaved cockatoo. I might even kiss your fluffy pink head. Now, what do I need to know about this meeting?”
I hold out the backpack, and Maggie flutters in and settles on the perch.
If I knew she was going to behave, I might just carry her on my shoulder like a normal parrot, but it’s almost like sometimes she forgets she’s not human and that even if I can hear her talking, other people only hear squawks and see a pink-and-gray football flying right at them.
“Okay. The Chamber. Well, you’ve met Colonel and Shelby and both of the boys from the inn.
There are the Coves—nobody likes them—and Edie.
Farrah’s usually there, plus Rocco from the pizzeria, Lindy and Marla from the lunch places, Tim from the oyster bar, Harry the potter—don’t bring up the books!
—Alex from the brewery, Joelle from the crystal shop, Don from the general store, and Gabrielle from the dog store—which, a dog store?
Honestly? Barb owns the boutique, and Irene manages the clothing shop where the young people go.
Smokey, who owns the candy store, has been boycotting the Chamber for decades.
We sometimes get the mayor or the head of the police when there’s something of general importance.
Considering we have someone new, you’ll most likely see a big crowd. ”