23. Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Three
Evalina
I glance at the address Koa gave me and wonder if the driver he sent brought me to the right place. Yes, the driver. I had fully expected to have to figure out how to get to the meeting by myself, but once again, the man thought of everything.
“Are you sure this is the place?” Dustin would lose his mind if he saw this house. Fortunately, he’s with Annie, so I can focus on the meeting and not where my son is hiding in this mansion.
“Yes, ma’am. This is the right place. I’ve driven for Mr. Keaton before.
” He maneuvers the car down the long, tree-lined lane, bringing the size of the house into full view with every inch.
There are several cars parked in the front, which I assume are owned by the ladies I’m meant to meet.
Gracious, I’m actually about to have a business meeting with two successful women about a partnership.
Once the car is stopped close to the front walk, the driver comes around and lets me out. I offer him a tip, but he declines. “It’s been my pleasure, Miss Renn. Enjoy your morning.”
Nervous energy blasts through my system, and I must fight the urge to chase the car down the drive, beg the driver to take me back to my safe little apartment, and drown in my failures.
It’s too late for that now, so I adjust my shirt and stare up the front stairs at the massive, solid wood front door.
The brick home is inviting despite its size, with warm wood accents, bronze hardware, and deep green shutters that appear to be functional and not merely for décor.
I climb the stairs and work to stave off the usual dread that nothing can be this good and this easy. At the door, I’m unsure whether I should knock, ring the bell, or use the massive knocker. I settle for the bell and wait.
As the door creaks open, I half expect a butler of some sort to escort me through the home, but to my relief, Koa eases my nerves with a broad smile.
“Welcome to my home. Everyone is on the patio.”
“Everyone?” I enter his home as he steps aside, unprepared for the cozy warmth. It’s more colonial than bachelor pad with a large stone fireplace, oak floors, and heavy rugs. It feels as if I stepped into autumn, even while the temperature climbs outside.
“Layne and her husband and Sarah Beth. You know Andrew and Lottie. Katie and Spencer showed up uninvited, but that’s pretty usual for them.”
I know that Spencer is on the team with Koa, and knowing Andrew and Lottie are here helps calm my frazzled nerves a little. The worst thing that can happen is they meet me, decide I’m not what they want, and decline to bring me in on the business. Okay, that’s actually pretty bad.
“Come on out, and I’ll introduce you. I hope it’s okay that we’re just doing a good, old-fashioned cookout?” Koa pauses and looks back at me. “I thought you might be more comfortable in a friends and family sort of setting.”
I breathe deeply and nod. “After the few weeks I’ve had, that is probably a good idea.”
“Perfect. Come on, let me show you the pool. I’m not sure why, but it’s shaped like a dog bone. It doesn’t really match the house, but the pool was here when I bought it.”
“A dog bone?”
“Yep.” He pushes open two French doors that lead to a massive covered patio. A group of ladies sit off to one side while the guys seem to be debating how to grill hot dogs. Koa presents his pool to me with wide arms.
It is, in fact, shaped like a dog bone. “That is something else. It really is a bone. How strange.”
“Evalina!” Lottie waves from the shadiest side of the patio with the other ladies. I wave back, prompting Koa to introduce me to the strangers.
“You know Lottie. This is Layne and this is Sarah Beth.”
I knew Layne the second I laid eyes on her. She and Andrew look so much alike, he couldn’t deny her if he wanted to. Sarah Beth, however, looks nothing like her brother, but her sweet smile sets me even more at ease.
“Ender is Layne’s husband, Sarah Beth’s brother. And Spencer is the one trying to grill while Andrew and Ender tell him how he’s doing it wrong.”
I can’t help but chuckle at the friends bickering.
“Hi, Evalina. It’s nice to finally meet you.” Who I assume is Katie offers her hand for a gentle handshake. “Koa has told us so much about you.”
I raise my eyebrow.
“All good things,” she laughs.
“Good to know.” I work to swallow the stone in my throat and force a weak smile.
“Why don’t we get out of this heat and get the specifics out of the way so we can enjoy this day?
” Layne stands and brushes off her shorts.
I’m glad to get this part done first, so I’m not sitting around all day worrying about what they think of me, how many ways I can screw this up, or what an insane idea it is.
Koa escorts us through his house to what seems to be an office, only it’s bigger than any home office I’ve ever seen and fits more in line with home conference room, complete with a fireplace.
“If you ladies need anything, you know where to find me.” Koa shuts the door behind us, leaving three women staring at each other.
Glances are shared. Nervous throat clearing commences. Sarah Beth shuffles her weight until Layne finally says, “We act like this is an interrogation.” Her laughter relaxes everyone.
“I’ve never done an official partnership meeting before,” Sarah Beth admits.
“I mean, neither have I, really.” Layne shrugs. “Why don’t we sit and discuss what we have in mind, throw some ideas around, and see if we can land on something?”
“I can do that.” I swallow the lump in my throat and sit at the long table in the middle of the room.
The ladies follow, sitting across from me.
“I brought the records from Sparkly’s so you can see that I do know how to run a profitable business.
” I slide the portfolio across to Layne, who scans the documents for the bottom line.
It’s a slim margin, really, but most restaurants don’t become sensational money-makers.
“This all looks pretty standard for your type of business. How do you feel about doing it from a food truck?” She raises her eyes to meet mine, still holding open my folder.
“I haven’t done one, but I would be open to the idea. The only thing I worry about is learning to cook. I’m a baker through and through.” I hold my breath, pretty convinced this is the deal breaker.
Layne chews her lower lip while staring at the table, thinking.
It’s clear she’s the leader of the operation.
I tell myself I have a backup plan. I’ll go find a basic job, who cares where if it feeds Dustin, and not getting this deal with them would not be the end of the world.
Only, it would sure feel that way. I can’t imagine not running a bakery and getting stuck in the boring grind of working for someone else.
“Would you be willing to try a few more bakery items besides only donuts?” Layne asks.
“I’d be willing to try an expanded menu if you think it’s marketable from a food truck. I think I could learn the basics, from what Koa mentioned.”
“What about travel? We like to attend festivals and local events from Virgina down the coast to Florida.”
Immediately, I think of Dustin. How could I leave him? There are very few sitters I would trust to watch him overnight, and most of them couldn’t do it. I couldn’t bring him along with school, and even if I did, how bored would he get?
“I’m not sure. I have a son. I don’t know how I could travel that much and make arrangements for him.” The nail in my coffin, I’m sure. The ladies glance at one another and Sarah Beth chuckles.
“We employ a sitter that travels with us. I have a daughter myself, and I can’t imagine traveling without her.
We can arrange the same for you.” Sarah Beth opens a packet and hands me a sheet of paper with several photos.
“We have pull-behind campers we use if we need to do overnight trips. It’s actually really fun, like camping.
Now, I do homeschool, so it does make that aspect easier. ”
“Still, I’m sure we could work something out if you aren’t able to homeschool. I hear Dustin is in a very good private school,” Layne adds.
I stare at the pictures, noting that Sarah Beth’s daughter seems extraordinarily happy in every one.
There’s a picture of them making s’mores around a campfire with Layne’s husband, them with groups of other kids whose parents work the fairs, and so many more.
This is more than a food truck business they’re offering me. It’s friendship. It’s family.
“I…I have to…” I swipe my eyes so tears don’t fall. “I have to be honest. I’m not sure why you’re offering this to me.”
Sarah Beth and Layne share a glance. Their expressions soften and Sarah Beth offers a warm smile.
“We’ve both had our fair share of knock downs.
My husband passed away, and when Layne came into our lives, it brought new meaning to family.
We always said if we could help another woman who needed a boost, we would. ”
“And it isn’t like your business is shabby. We’ve been looking to expand, and honestly, if all you do is create a profitable bakery on wheels, we’ll be satisfied.”
“But I…I’m afraid I don’t…”
Sarah Beth reaches across the table and grasps my hand. “I understand. It’s hard to be a single parent even with an amazing family behind you. Koa is a family friend through Andrew, and if there is one thing the Ender family does, it’s take care of family.”
I shake my head, hardly able to wrap my mind around such kindness. It’s not been offered to me in a long time, if ever, truly, but since Koa burst into my life, it seems to pop up daily. Fear that it can be yanked away makes me hesitate more and more.
“What if I fail?” I whisper, throat closing with tension.
“What if you don’t?” Layne asks. “The odds are better that you succeed given your determination with Sparkly’s, raising your son, and providing a future for him. I’d bet my money on you any day.”