Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Most of Diana’s financial documents were digital, given that this was the twenty-first century, but she still had a small stack of physical documents with other important information.
As she waited for Anthony to meet her at the store on Monday morning, she fidgeted with the stack, neatening and re-neatening it compulsively.
Her mind was at war with itself.
What if he thinks I’m a dope for letting my records get into such disarray? she fretted.
You’re not going to be the worst case he’s ever seen, her more rational mind chimed in. And besides, this is what you hired him to do. You wouldn’t have hired him if you didn’t need help.
What if he judges anyone who doesn’t have a head for numbers? Worry poked at her again.
Then he wouldn’t have a client base, she reasoned. Besides, you’re just asking him here in a professional capacity. As long as he helps, it doesn’t matter if he’s judging or not.
It did matter to Diana, though… though she didn’t really think that Anthony was likely to judge her. He seemed to kind for that, not to mention professional.
But she’d liked talking to him, and she wanted him to think well of her. That wasn’t too strange, was it? It didn’t have to mean anything more, no matter how her friends teased her, did it?
The bell above the door to the shop chimed and Eleanor entered, as if she had been summoned by Diana’s thoughts.
“Good morning, honey,” Eleanor greeted cheerfully. “How are you doing today?”
Diana pushed aside the stack of papers casually, like she hadn’t been fussing with them for the past twenty or so minutes.
“I’m good! How about you?”
Eleanor pressed the back of her hand to her forehead in mock despair.
“I’m in hate with my closet,” she lamented.
“I was looking for an outfit that says, ‘I’m a cool bookstore owner who is totally going to make it in this town,’ but it turns out all my clothes actually say is, ‘I am painting today,’ or ‘I used to be married to a lawyer.’ Do you mind helping me find something a little more fun? ”
“Do I mind?” Diana echoed. “Absolutely not. This is my favorite part of owning a boutique. It’s basically like getting to play dress-up but for adults.”
Eleanor grinned. “Well, play away. I’m happy to be the real-life mannequin. I am stressing about this outfit far more than I should, so I’ll be excited to get that off my plate.”
Diana threw herself into the task with gusto, glad to have something to distract her for the last half hour before Anthony was scheduled to arrive.
She snagged Eleanor a few pairs of relaxed-fit, wide legged jeans that were in fashion right now and still cool enough to wear for summer, plus a few upscale t-shirts that would keep the outfit on the right edge of casual and professional.
She grabbed a jacket with the cut of the blazer but a softer, almost sweatshirt-like material to bridge that same divide and to ensure that Eleanor didn’t get chilly in the mornings, when the breeze coming off the water could have a bite, even in the middle of summer.
While Eleanor tried on the clothes, Diana snagged some accessories, including a layered gold chain necklace and some white tennis shoes. White sneakers, in Diana’s opinion, could elevate any casual outfit to make it a little more put together and playful.
“Oh, wow,” Eleanor said when she emerged.
She was wearing a light wash denim with a soft mauve short-sleeved sweater, which Diana had added to the shirt pile on impulse.
“I wouldn’t have thought to pick this with my coloring, but I like it.
” Eleanor had bright red hair, but in Diana’s experience with fashion, redheads could often get away with wearing more color than they thought.
“Okay, no blazer with this set,” Diana said, plucking the jacket from Eleanor’s hand. After a quick look around, she offered her friend a lightweight bomber-style jacket instead. “Try this.”
Eleanor pulled on the jacket.
“Pull up the sleeves to your forearms,” Diana advised, kneeling down to cuff Eleanor’s pants a little. “And here.” She stood and grabbed a blue and green enamel bracelet. “Try this—no, on the same side as your watch.”
The contrast between the bright bracelet and Eleanor’s understated gold watch worked nicely.
Eleanor turned back and forth in front of the mirror. “You’re a genius,” she praised. “This is perfect.”
Diana thought so too, not that she wanted to toot her own horn.
But the look was cool and hip, but still age-appropriate.
It suited Eleanor’s style, so she would feel herself in it.
It had layers to accommodate for whatever weather came their way on opening day.
And, perhaps most importantly, it was comfortable.
Diana knew perfectly well how important that was for a retail worker, since you ended up being on your feet and on the go all day.
“Yay!” Diana said, filled with the satisfaction of a job well done. “Okay, let me ring all that up for you.”
Eleanor changed back into her clothes and paid for her purchases, then leaned against the checkout counter for a quick chat before leaving.
“Did you end up going on another date with that guy?” she asked as Diana handed her the bag full of clothing.
Diana didn’t bother to hide her grimace. “I did,” she said. “Last night. It was… fine?”
Eleanor gave her a sympathetic look. “Fine is not the same as good.”
“It very much is not,” Diana said despondently. Her tone was dramatic enough to make Eleanor laugh.
“If you’re reacting like that the day after a date,” Eleanor said, “you’re probably better off letting that one go.”
Diana sighed gustily. “You’re right. I know you’re right. I just… I feel kind of like a jerk rejecting this guy for some reason I can’t really put my finger on.”
“Think about it this way,” Eleanor suggested, laying a comforting hand on Diana’s arm.
“This guy deserves somebody who really likes him, as do you. For the two of you, that’s just not each other!
Hanging on to something that isn’t working, even if it’s for a small reason, just means that you’re keeping one another from finding that person who will like all the parts of you unreservedly. ”
“That’s a good point,” Diana agreed musingly.
“Besides,” Eleanor continued, “I’m not sure that lacking chemistry is a small reason not to be with someone.”
“Ugh, I don’t know.” Diana grabbed her phone. “He’s really nice. I mean, look at him.” She showed Eleanor a photo from his latest vacation, which featured him beaming and gesturing dramatically at the boat he was about to take out for a fishing trip.
It kind of made her cringe to look at it.
“Sweetie, look at your face right now,” Eleanor advised. “This guy? He’s not for you. And that’s okay. It’s really fine.”
“I just…” Diana shook her head. “I worry that I’m too picky, you know? Like maybe the reason that I haven’t found somebody yet is all about me. Plus, I’m not the youngest anymore. If I keep being so choosy, am I going to just end up being alone forever?”
“Well first,” Eleanor said sternly, “I’m older than you, so watch it, junior.”
Diana chuckled. “Okay, but you know what I mean. You have a fully grown kid! I would like to have a chance to have kids at all. It’s different.”
“Maybe.” Eleanor pursed her lips. “But that doesn’t mean that settling for someone who doesn’t excite you is the answer.
I spent a lot of years just going through the motions with my ex, and, aside from the clumsy way he handled our divorce, he wasn’t a bad guy either.
But we weren’t right for each other, and I’m so, so much happier now. ”
“It’s just hard not to get disheartened,” Diana lamented. “It feels more and more like I’ll never find somebody that I want to spend the rest of my life with. I’m trying to keep my spirits up but…”
“But it’s hard,” Eleanor commiserated. “I know. But hey, that’s what friends are for, right? When it gets hard, lean on us. I have faith that it will happen for you. We just have to let time take its course. Let nature happen. All that good stuff.”
“Do you think nature could maybe get a move on?” Diana asked, making a hurry up hand gesture.
Eleanor chuckled. “If only it were that easy, right?” She glanced down at her watch. “Speaking of hurrying up though, I have to get back to the store. There are still a few million last-minute things to do. Plus, you have an appointment coming, don’t you?”
Diana jolted. It was almost eleven thirty.
“Oh my goodness, yes!” she exclaimed, her nerves washing back over her in a flood. “He’ll be here any minute.”
“I think he’s here now,” Eleanor observed, peering out the shop’s front window. “I’m guessing that’s him. Oh, wow. He is handsome.”
“Shush!” Diana chided, although there was no way Anthony could hear her friend through the window and down the street. Still, the last thing Diana needed was to end up blushing while Anthony was here…
Part of her, however, feared that it was already far too late for that.