“And now you can be like Wayne. This area wasn't his first choice, but he's making it work.”
With failures like me passing out on his watch, he'll do just fine.
.***
Once Mom understands I don’t have a concussion, she insists I sleep in and she’ll also assert on opening the department store alone, but I can't let her. My head doesn't ache from the fall as much as from overthinking. Not long ago, I was waking up on the twelfth floor of a city apartment, preparing for work as an event planner. Working for my mom never entered my mind. And yet, here I am, pushing open the door to another October day void of customers.
“Trish. I told you I could manage for a few hours.” Mom walks over and gives me a hug.
I offer a small smile. “I know. I couldn't sleep anymore, so, I thought I'd see if you need help.”
She looks around. “Sara's senior exercise class came here earlier to look around. You could see if anything needs straightening up.” She bites her lip for a moment. “Actually, there is something. Your father asked if I could go to the library and do some research for him. I think it’s council related, I never can keep up. Anyway, if you don't mind watching the store, I could do that.” She walks behind the counter and picks up her purse.
“Sure. No problem. I'll straighten up, too.”
“I know you will, Honey.” She squeezes my arm on her way to the door. “I can't tell you how blessed I am to have you back.”
I spend the next hour checking each rack to make sure clothes are hanging and in the right order. Turns out the seniors had a field day with the clearance rack, and things are even missing. Looks like they didn’t just browse, but actually made some purchases.
“Trish? Are you here?”
A female's voice floats to my side of the store. In less than five seconds, Jenna Regan is in front of me.
“Oh, you are. I wanted to check on you. Shirley told me what happened. I was at JB's last night while Ben closed, so I ran over here and closed with her. I hope we did okay.” Her voice sounds like pure sugar. I want to find something, anything wrong with her. But like the rest of Speculator Falls, I can't.
“My mom opened. She didn't say anything, so you must have done well. Thanks for helping. And checking on me. I'm fine.” I keep re-arranging the clothes on the racks, although I already tidied them.
Jenna joins me. “Shirley gave me her version of the conversation. I've been around her long enough to know she can come on a bit strong.”
My shoulders relax as we find common ground beyond Ben and the senior center. “She's no dainty flower, that's for sure.”
“I'm sorry if she hurt your feelings or offended you.”
I shrug and move to the glove table. “I'm not fragile, either. Which is good. I gather the seniors are still mad because I left the way I did.”
Jenna sighs and rests her hands on her stomach. “They can carry a grudge. Makes me sad because we see most of them on Sundays at church.”
“Well, I can't blame them. I thought only of myself and never considered the consequences. I didn't think Ben would close the building.” I remember Mom telling me he had the council vote for that not long after I left. I’m sure it was his way of processing the pain I caused, especially when he was grieving the loss of his grandfather.
Jenna smiles. “It's in the past. It worked out for them, and I'd like to think it worked for Ben.” She winks.
Oh, honestly. I can't be her BFF. It's like pickle juice and candy.
“Right. Well, I guess things will work out for me. I’ll just give it time.”
Jenna walks over and gives me a hug. “I'd like to help.”
I step back. “How?”
“Let's show them you've changed. Because I know you have.”
“Thanks. But, I'm not sure the seniors are as open-minded as you are.”
“Let's create an event that features them, you, and the department store.” She looks around, making a clicking sound as if she's deep in thought. After a few quiet moments, she snaps her fingers. “Let's have a senior fashion show. You're an event planner, right? Well, plan an event with me. Let the seniors be your models. And convince your mom to let them wear Speculator Department Store clothes.”
.***
By the time Mom returns mid-afternoon, I'm actually excited to share Jenna's idea. “Just to be clear, my motivation isn’t to make the senior center members like me. Truth is, I love the idea of planning something that could help draw some business to the store.”
Mom walks over and gives me a tight hug. As an only child, I never lacked physical affection. “Trish, I love it. I'm actually embarrassed I never thought of such a thing.”
“I know, I didn't either. And I used to be the senior center director.”
We gather at the register where she takes out a notebook.
“Retail always works a season ahead, so if we plan to do this soon, let's have a winter fashion show. My shipment is coming in this week.”
I reach for a pencil. “Do you think we could offer a discount to the models and a smaller discount to anyone who attends that day?”
Mom looks up from the notebook with a wide smile. “Great idea. Do you know Jenna's schedule? Could you call her and set up a meeting at Jack Frosty's this week? The shipment comes Wednesday, so maybe Thursday or Friday.”
I take in a deep breath and exhale. “Of course.” I need to get excited about working with Ben's wife. It's not her that's the problem. It's me.
Mom pushes the notebook aside and reaches for my hand. “You’re doing an excellent job at the store. The plans you have are amazing. That’s a confirmation to me.”
I swipe at my bangs again. “I'm happy to help. You know that.”
“I do. But there's more.” She squeezes my hand.
“O...kay. Are you sick? Is Daddy?” I pull my hand away.
“No. We're healthy as can be. It's about the store. Your father and I talked about it last night as we drove back from Albany. He'd like to retire in about eighteen months.”
“Wow. That's not long.”
“It's not. He has a lot of work to wrap up and prepare for the next person. He's been mentoring a lawyer from Syracuse who is looking for his own business. He's considering buying the firm from your father.”
This shouldn’t surprise me, but the more she speaks, the more my stomach churns. “You guys have been planning. But I don't understand. What does that have to do with the store?” I search my mom's kind eyes.
“I took over the store once you were in high school. But before we had you, I was a paralegal. Your dad has a lot of work, and he could use my help.”
“Are you going to close the store early so you can go to Daddy's office and help out?”
She chuckled and shook her head. “No, Sweetheart. I'm going to have you run the store. And that frees me up to work with your dad.”
.***
Before I can process what Mom shared, she's out the door and headed to Dad's office. If she's letting me run the store, then I have a funny feeling that means the fashion show is going to be up to me and Jenna. The sooner I set something up with her, the better.
JB's grocery store is across the street from the Speculator Falls Department Store. The contrast between my NYC life and Speculator Falls is laughable. The village has one stop sign and that's at the intersection between Ben's store and mom's. Mine. Whatever. I take a chance on Jenna being there as Ben closes, knowing the senior center is already locked up.
A teen greets me as the automatic doors swing open. He's sweeping near the newspaper racks. “Hey.” He looks to the back where Ben's office is. “I mean, welcome.”
“Good evening. Noah?” I remember hearing that Carla Marshall and Wayne’s son helps out after school.
“Yeah. I mean, yes. That's me. Ben has me working on customer service and my manners.” Noah rolls his brown eyes.
Sounds like the Speculator Falls businessman of the year, three years running. “It's smart to learn.”
<
br /> “Can I help you with something? There are some half-moon cookies left.”
“No, not today. I wondered if Jenna was here. Mrs. Regan.” I almost wince saying it. Not that long ago, Ben fantasized about that being my name.
He turns to the back. “I saw her earlier. Maybe she’s in restroom?”
I'm not that desperate to see her. “I can wait.”
He nods and returns to sweeping while I saunter over to the middle aisles where the local authors’ books rest. I open a mystery as the automatic doors open.
“Hey, Dad.” Noah stops his task.
Dad? As in, Wayne Peterson, Dad?
I toss the book and start back to the front.
“Noah. I thought I'd find you here. I wanted to check with you about the weekend. There's a 10k in Indian Lake. Wanna run with the old man?”
I stop near the clearance bakery items, picking up the half-moon cookies and inspecting them. Every few seconds I steal a peek at Wayne, wearing a blue check flannel shirt.
“With you? Don't you mean blow past you?” Noah elbows his dad.
And then I giggle.
Wayne steps to the side. “Trish?”
I put down the cookies. “Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to eavesdrop. Noah just made me laugh.” I stick a few strands of hair behind my ear.
Wayne lets out a low chuckle that sends shivers down my back. “He thinks he's funny.”
“Come on, Dad. You know I'm a better runner than you.”
Wayne throws his hands up in mock surrender. “Okay, I'll give you that. And you probably get that from your mom, anyway. But what do you think? Wanna go?” He gives Noah a light punch in the forearm, then turns to me. “Trish, do you run? If you're feeling better you could join us.”
Noah nods. “Dad's right. If you run, you should come with.”
I remember seeing Carla run all over town before she married Will Marshall. There's no way I can run like her. But with Wayne’s gorgeous eyes and growing beard tempting me, I'm going to try.
“I'd love to. You'll go easy on me, right?” I wink.
Chapter Three
Mom decides mornings will be training time for me to take over the store. I already know Will Marshall is our delivery driver, but she shows me purchase orders and merchandiser information. Computer programs that display what items moved quickly, what didn't, how long before she put things on clearance. As she clicks away I realize she's done an outstanding job with very little help.
I put my hands on my hips and face her. “Are you sure about this?”
“About what?”
“Leaving the day-to-day operations to me. You've done a fantastic job. I don't want to mess it up.” I play with my hair as I watch her switch screens.
“I doubt you'll mess it up. You went to school for things like this. You've worked in New York City. I think you can handle the only department store in Speculator Falls.”
In her office she has filing cabinets and magazines. Everything has a place.
“Do you have plans to bring anyone else in?” I twist my hair around my index finger.
“Trish, that's for you to decide. With the holidays coming up, it's not a bad idea. But sweetheart, I'm trusting you with everything here.”
My finger turns color, so I unwind the strands and return my focus to the monitor. It hits me as I look at the merchandise history.
Everything has a place but me.
.***
Not long after Mom leaves to help Dad for the afternoon, Jenna enters the store. Her senior center director schedule used to be mine, so I know she's taking her lunch break.
She joins me at the register and leans on the counter. “Oh, good. You're here. I heard you stopped by yesterday. Sorry we didn't connect.”
“No problem. I wanted to let you know my Mom loved the fashion show idea with the senior center. She thought if we want to do a holiday themed show, we should start planning immediately.”
Jenna puts her purse on the counter and pulls out a notebook and pen. “I agree. She's probably getting the winter shipment anytime, right?”
A sigh escapes. “Actually, I'm getting the shipment. Mom announced that she's handing the store management over to me while she helps Dad. I guess this fashion show is between you and me.” I glance her way, but she has no reaction.
“Well, I don't know what you think, but I'm excited. For both things. You'll be great here, and I know the fashion show will be an amazing success for the store, too.” As awful as I was to her when I first got back to town, she never brings it up. A wave of guilt for the way I treated her sweeps over me.
“Thanks, Jenna. Your encouragement means a lot, and I definitely need your help. So, want to get started planning?”
“Absolutely. Let me call Shirley and tell her that I'm in a meeting so she won't worry.” She tugs on her purse until her phone spills out.
Shirley? The woman who still carries a grudge because I left Speculator Falls, loves Jenna so much she keeps tabs on her?
I refuse to be jealous. But it's going to take extra prayer time to get there.
An hour later, Jenna closes her notebook and smiles. “I think we have a great start. Once you get the shipment in and on display I'll bring some of the seniors over and we'll pick out some clothes. I love the idea of making the show part of the center's Christmas party. We'll have a full house. It will be so much fun.”
Her enthusiasm is contagious as I reach for a pad and pencil and scribble notes. “I'll print out tickets so that each center member and guest receives an invitation to a VIP shopping event that includes their discount. I'll open the store early one morning just for them so they can do some Christmas shopping. Maybe even change the front window display to promote both the fashion show and the VIP event.” The more I talk, the more excited I am.
Jenna breaks out in a mischievous smile. “That's fantastic. Now, I have one more idea I want you to think about.”
I raise my eyebrows. “Why do I think I'm not going to like this?”
She rolls her eyes as the front door chimes and Carla Marshall walks in. “You will. In time. I want you to emcee the fashion show.” Jenna winks.
Carla grins as soon as she sees her best friend and joins her at the counter.
Jenna steps aside to make room for her friend to stand with us. “Hey, Carla. Trish and I are planning a fashion show at the center featuring clothes from here. Isn't that a great idea?”
“It is. Why didn't you guys think of it before?” She looks to both of us and then giggles.
I clear my throat and focus on my pencil. “Good point. Jenna thinks I should emcee it, but let's be honest. The seniors don't like me. I gave them good reason, but still.”
Jenna shakes her head. “That's exactly why I think you should do it. Let's show them you've changed and you're where God wants you to be. And, they love coupons. They'll forgive you once you tell them about their VIP shopping experience.”
Carla nods. “True. Will says he's seen a couple seniors get physical trying to beat the other to the coupons in the Sunday paper.”
I raise my hands in surrender. “Okay. I'll do it. Thanks, Jenna. I think you're going to have a great Christmas party. Now, Carla, is there something I can help you with?”
Now it’s her turn to clear her throat. “Sorry. I'm here to see Jenna.” She turns to her friend. “Will was at the center for lunch and said you were here. You left a message that you had something to tell me?”
The two face me, and I suddenly feel like the last girl left in gym class that neither team wants for kickball.
Jenna takes a deep breath and brings her hands to her face, covering everything but her eyes for a moment. “I do.” She places her hands on the counter.
I step back. “I can go in the next room and give you privacy.”
It's quiet for a moment, and then Jenna shakes her head. “No. It's okay. The only people that know are Ben, my family, Sara, and Shirley, because she heard me in the restroom.”
Carl
a gasps. “You're pregnant.”
Jenna squeals and reaches for Carla. “I am. I want to tell the whole world but we want to wait until the first trimester is over. And, Ben has a point. As soon as the seniors find out, I'm not going to get a second to myself. They worry about me as it is. The pregnancy will take their overprotectiveness to extremes.”
I smile, although I can feel a pit forming in my stomach. Jenna and Ben deserve all their happy news. But, I remember when it was us in high school talking about the future. “Congratulations. You guys will be amazing parents.”
“Trish is right. I'm so excited for you.” Carla hugs her.
Jenna steps back, but then bites her lip and returns to the counter. “Enough about me. Trish has news, too.”
I look to Jenna. “I do?”
“The store? Your mom?” She nudges me.
I nod and start to speak, but the door chime sounds and in comes Wayne. I smile, excited to see that toned paramedic with ocean eyes, and then remember his history with Carla.
“Hey, Trish. I was just checking to see if you were still feeling...oh. I didn't see you had customers. Jenna. Carla.” He smiles, but looks down as he says Noah's mom's name.
Jenna glances at Carla, but she doesn't appear bothered with Wayne's presence.
“It's okay. I've got to get home and start dinner.” She turns to Jenna. “Girl, I'll be in touch.” She waves and starts for the door.
Jenna sees that Wayne isn't moving, so she zips up her coat. “Right. I need to get back to the center or Shirley will put out an APB on me. Good to see you, Wayne. Thanks, Trish.” She winks at me as she leaves.
Wayne wastes no time moving to the counter where Jenna had just been. “I hope I didn't scare them away. I wanted to see how you were doing and make sure you were up to the run later this week.”
I face him and see the chin stubble. It's hard not to stare. “No, Jenna and I finished a meeting, and Carla was looking for her. It's okay.” I force myself to look elsewhere. “I'm feeling well. I admit I'm nervous about running with two pros like you and Noah, but I'm looking forward to it.”
Engaged: Surrendering the Future (Surrendering Time Book 3) Page 2
