Chapter 49
Chapter Forty-Nine
RENLEY
“I don’t know,” Tilly says, looking around the space. “This is pretty bleak.” She kicks a box that shoots up a ball of dust.
“It’s not great,” I answer, taking in the studio apartment above the candy shop that hasn’t seen life in I don’t even know how long. “But maybe a little bit of cleaning and it could be okay?”
“You’re going to need a lot of cleaning.
” Tilly walks over to one of the windows and opens it up, letting in the sounds of the street as well as the installers who are currently switching out the windows in the shop.
We put up room dividers to block the view of everything we’ve done, so no one can garner a sneak peek before the opening.
“Ooh, thank God, fresh air.” She leans against the window frame, sucking in air.
“It does have quite a bit of a musty smell, doesn’t it?
” I sniff, nearly choking on the dust floating around.
Not sure why Ira never rented out the space.
Sure, it’s small and only has one room with a spot for a kitchen and a connecting bathroom, but given the expense of housing in town, this could have been a gold mine.
“Musty is a nice way of putting it.” Tilly picks up a piece of cardboard box and starts wafting it toward the window. “You need to get the dust out of here or you might suffocate.”
“Yeah, but at least it’s pretty empty for the most part besides a few boxes, and the bathroom is decent, just needs a scrub. And the kitchen area is cute.”
“Are you really going to call that a kitchen? It’s a mini fridge, a microwave, and a cupboard.”
“Yes, but there is a sink hookup, so I can turn that space into something so much more.”
Tilly sets the cardboard down and places her hands on her hips. “I don’t know, are you sure working things out with your aunt isn’t an option? You’re really going to move up here?”
I shrug and collect the random empty boxes. “I just don’t know how viable living there is. I think there is a lot of tension between us and I don’t see it getting better. I think there needs to be a separation.”
“Yes, but are you running away from a problem?” Tilly asks, always the voice of reason. “Because having your own place is a good idea. I just want to make sure you’re not running away, especially since she’s the only remaining family you have.”
“I know.” I toss the last piece of cardboard into the pile. “We’re just not on the same wavelength right now, and it might be best to have that separation.”
“I’m not going to disagree with that, as long as you don’t take that separation as a way to push further and further away from her. You have to face your issues with her, or else you’re going to hold on to those bitter feelings and it’s going to do nothing positive for your health.”
“You’re right.” I let out a sigh. “I think I just need a break right now.”
“I get that, and it’s super fair. You deserve that break, just don’t let it create so much distance that you can’t return.”
I nod, knowing Tilly is right.
“In the meantime though, we can spiff this place up for you.” She opens the other window and then dusts off her hands. “We’re going to need the two shop-vacs.”
“You’re going to help?”
“Yeah. Your usual helper is back in the U.K., so I don’t mind filling in until he gets back…that’s if he comes back. Have you heard from him?”
“I have. We were texting earlier. He’s working through some things back home.”
“What does that mean?” Tilly asks as I pick up the cardboard and bring it to the hallway before bringing in the cleaning supplies I brought with me. Tilly, like the good friend she is, joins me and we start cleaning the bathroom together.
“Not sure, I didn’t want to ask too much. Seems like he’s stressed though.”
“Has he fixed things with Rupert?”
I shake my head. “No, they haven’t spoken to each other since leaving.”
“Jesus.” Tilly sprays window cleaner on the mirror while I work on the toilet. “That is unlike them. What was said between them?”
“Honestly, I think it’s something that Aunt Kitty said to Rupert.
At least that’s what I gathered at the dinner from hell.
It seemed like Rupert and Aunt Kitty were on the same page while Theo and I were sort of blindsided.
It’s another reason why I’m mad at Aunt Kitty, for assisting in breaking up their bromance.
It makes me angry. They were so close. I can’t see how they could just stop talking to each other like that. ”
“Yeah, that’s so odd.” She wipes down the mirror and then moves to the counter while I continue to scrub. “What a disaster.”
“Tell me about it. I feel like everything is up in the air right now and I’m trying to keep it together, but I just have this foreboding feeling that’s looming over me, telling me I had a glimpse of happiness but it’s all going to be taken from me.”
“That’s just fear of the unknown taking over your brain, you can’t let that happen. Everything will work out—”
“Renley,” a voice calls from the stairs that lead up to the studio apartment. “Renley, are you up there?”
I glance at Tilly, confused, as I stand and walk out to the main space. “Yes,” I answer just as Marjorie walks in, looking absolutely disgusted as she takes in the apartment.
“What on earth are you doing?”
What the hell does it look like I’m doing? No wonder she’s not very well liked in town.
“Cleaning the studio apartment while the new windows are being installed.” I toss my dirty paper towel toward the bathroom and then wipe my hands together. “Is there something I can help you with?”
“Yes.” Marjorie folds her arms in front of her chest, as if she’s trying to keep her limbs as close together as possible so she doesn’t have to touch anything. “I spoke with the mayor, and well, we have some bad news.”
My expression falls, because I’m sure this news is bad for me, but beneficial for them.
Tilly steps into the room as well, being my second pair of ears, which thankfully seems to knock Marjorie’s confidence ever so slightly. Tilly is a valuable asset to the town with her paintings. She brings in a lot of wealthy traffic.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
Marjorie exchanges a look with Tilly and then turns back to me.
Shifting on her feet, she says, “Well, the business society had a meeting with a very popular chain, and they’re willing to pay five times the amount for the shop space, as well as make a considerable donation to the town that will help pay for a new boardwalk. It’s a hard deal to pass up.”
My heart falls to the ground, because she can’t be serious. Is she really saying what I think she’s going to say?
“What are you saying?” Tilly asks.
“The business society has come to a difficult decision that unless you can open the store by next week and prove that you can be successful, we’re going to have to overrule the decision of ownership and give the store to the chain, given the monetary benefits for the entire town.”
“Next week?” I ask in complete shock as my mind starts racing with everything I have to do to open.
I still have to stock the entire store, sort out the register, and finish up the wallpaper in the bathroom, not to mention all the other little things like marketing and whatnot that go into opening a store.
And some of my stock hasn’t even come in or been ordered yet.
I could open but not have anything for people to purchase.
Marjorie shrugs her shoulders. “Unfortunately, that’s what they decided. They thought they’ve given you ample time to try to open. They want to make an impact on tourist season and let people know what store is coming, so that leaves you until next week.”
“That’s five days.”
Marjorie nods. “That would be correct.”
“You can’t do that,” Tilly says, stepping in, but I hold her back, because I don’t need her picking my fight.
“It’s fine,” I say to Tilly.
“It’s not fine. You just put a great deal of effort and time into this store, only for them to just take it away from you? That is not going to happen.”
“Unfortunately, there is a clause in the contract that Renley signed that allows that very thing to happen.” She clasps her hands together.
“Well, that’s all I had to say. I would say good luck, but I think it would take a miracle to pull off the impossible.
Either way, you will be reimbursed for the money you spent.
Your time, though, that’s a loss you’re going to have to eat. Have a nice evening, ladies.”
Marjorie takes off with a wave and heads back down the steep stairs to the main floor while I lean against the wall in total shock.
“I can’t…I can’t believe they’re going to just take the store from me.”
“They’re not going to take it,” Tilly says. “We’re not going to let them.”
I shake my head. “I can’t have the store open and ready in five days.
There’s no way. I don’t have everything I need.
The bathroom isn’t done, not to mention I haven’t gotten anything approved by the county.
There’s just no way.” Tears well in my eyes as I stare up at the ceiling, my dreams washing away in an instant.
“Well, maybe we can rally the town or something, get them to change the mind of the business society.”
I shake my head. “Most of the business society is made up of people who probably don’t want the candy shop in their high-end town anyway. No one is going to rally with me.” I lean my head against the wall. “I think I just need to face the fact that this was all a giant waste of my time.”
“You can’t give up, Renley.”
“Then why does it feel like I already have?”