A Dream of Family

by Jill Weatherholt

  “What better way to spend a Friday night than hanging out in a bookstore?” Derek commented.

  Molly moved with caution across the tiled floor. The clicking of fingers on a keyboard from a nearby laptop caught her attention. She turned to see a young woman. Was she a published author or working on her first manuscript? At the end of the same oak table, an older man with wire-framed glasses paged through a magazine.

  “Besides your children’s book club, do people ever come into your store to write or hang out and read?” Derek asked in a low voice.

  Molly shook her head. “I’ve thought about starting an adult book club or teaching a writing class, but there never seems to be enough time.” Tucked inside the pages of her brown leather journal, Molly had an endless list of things she wanted to do both personally and professionally.

  Derek’s brow arched. “You write? Have you ever been published?”

  Prior to selling her first short story to a magazine, the question had always made Molly cringe. She used to wonder if you had to be published to be a writer. Writers wrote—right? It’s what they did whether they were published or not. “Yes, I sold a few short stories, but now I’m writing a novel.”

  “Wow. A book? Impressive. You should consider hosting workshops at your store. If you did it one or two evenings a month, it would bring people into the shop.” Derek pointed around the oversized space. “Look at all of the people working on their computers. I’m sure if you asked, more than half are aspiring novelists.”

  “But they’re here to write, not buy books.”

  “You’re promoting traffic. Getting people in the door is half the battle of running a business, because once they are inside, you’ve got them in the palm of your hand.” He spoke with a devious tone and rubbed his hands together.

  Molly giggled. “You sound like a spider who caught a giant fly in its web.”

  “It’s a perfect analogy. Of course, I wouldn’t expect any less from a wordsmith like yourself.” Derek grinned. “So, what first captured your attention when you walked into the store? Apart from the crowds,” he added.

  Nearby, a young girl cheered. Gleaming with pride, she proclaimed to her mother she’d found the book she’d been looking for. Molly smiled. She longed to share such a moment with her own child. She turned and pointed toward the right side of the store. “Besides the smell of coffee, the author doing a book signing and the enormous free-standing sign with his book cover. It’s the first thing I noticed.” Having an event like this for her own book was a dream for her, but the road to publication felt far away.

  “You could do that.”

  Molly crossed her arms. “Well, first I need to finish the book. After that comes the daunting task of querying agents. Hopefully, they can sell it to a publisher. I’m not sure I have the stamina or the tough skin for all of the rejections.”

  Derek laughed. “I meant you could host author meet and greets at your shop.”

  “Oh right.” Molly’s face flushed with warmth. Her own book signing? How could it ever happen when she hadn’t added to her word count in days? The well was dry with the mountain of bills she had to pay. “I’ve had a couple authors come in for signings, but the events never seem to have a significant impact on sales.”

  “Maybe you need to get a bigger name to commit. Or perhaps you didn’t do enough advertising to promote the event. As for getting your novel published, I’d argue against you not having the stamina.”

  Uncertainty rattled her core. “These days, I don’t have the time to work on my book. If business doesn’t improve, Rusty will sell, and I could lose everything I have worked so hard for. That’s kind of squashed my creativity.”

  Derek reached out and placed his hand over hers. “I won’t let that happen. I promise you.”

  With a past flooded by a sea of broken promises, Molly struggled with his words. She skimmed the room and focused back on Derek. Trusting didn’t come easy for her. They were spending time together to save her store and pay off debt. With the Lord’s help, she would welcome Grace into her home. Those were her priorities. She refused to allow empty promises to override logic. She sucked in a deep breath and exhaled. Not this time.

  * * *

  Derek tried to keep his focus on the matter at hand. Keeping Molly’s store open was important to his own success, but the floral scent wafting from her direction made his thoughts jumbled and fuzzy. Why did she have to smell so good? But it wasn’t only her alluring scent. Tonight, her shiny red hair was pulled back with a black clip, and loose tendrils framed her face. He struggled to keep his eyes off her. Distance. It’s what he needed. He sidestepped her in the direction of the children’s section of the bookstore.

  “Look over there.” Derek pointed toward the small wooden rocking chairs painted bright red. They’d been placed in a semicircle in front of an adult-sized rocking chair.

  “Oh, how sweet. I’d love to have those in my store.” Molly clasped her hands together and pressed them against her chest.

  A large and colorful sign to the left of the reading area advertised story time on Saturday afternoons at three o’clock. “See.” Derek nodded toward the sign. “You could do the same. It’s a terrific way to get the entire family into the store on what should be your most profitable day of the week.”

  “I’m not sure I could ever draw a crowd like this store.” Molly sighed.

  Derek had a hard time relating to Molly’s defeated attitude. When it came to his businesses, he knew having a positive mindset was a must. On the other hand, he had never been in her position. This was going to be more difficult than he’d thought. “Of course you could. You have one thing this place can never have.”

  “What?”

  It was the reason Derek had decided to tweak his business model away from larger cities. “A small town with a welcoming atmosphere. People love to escape the hectic rat race and head to the mountains.”

  “But I’m one person. How can I offer writing classes, host Book Buddies and author signings, and assist customers?”

  This was a problem, but not one without a solution. When it came to business, Derek believed every difficulty could be overcome, but he did wonder how Molly was able to meet payroll. “Look, I don’t want to pry, but if I’m going to help you, I need to know the details. How are you able to pay Caitlin?”

  Molly’s gaze skimmed the floor before she turned to him. “Caitlin volunteers her time. I found her through the community college. She’s earning her degree in literature and obtains credit for her time at my store.”

  Impressive. Molly had a better head for business than she gave herself credit for. “That’s genius.”

  Her face flushed. “Well, I’m not so sure...but thanks.”

  “Let’s grab a cup of coffee and have a seat over there.” Derek pointed to a quiet table for two on the other side of the store.

  Moments later, with steaming cups of brew in hand, Derek pulled out the chair for Molly. He settled into his seat, placed a leather portfolio on the table, opened it to a blank sheet of paper and removed the pen from its holder. He was almost never without paper and something to write with. Sure, he could jot notes or record his thoughts on his phone, but this was the way he had documented some of his greatest business ideas, so why change?

  Molly smiled. “I thought I was the only person left on earth who uses paper and pen. I’m a bit of a hoarder when it comes to journals.”

  Did they have more in common than he’d realized? He had drawers overflowing with notebooks waiting to be filled with the next great idea. “I thought we could make a list of some changes you can implement to generate a profit.” Derek wrote fast. “The first thing is to expand on something you’re already doing.”

  “You mean I’m doing something right?” Molly shook her head and laughed.

  “You’re too hard on yourself. You’re doing a lot of things right.
You’ve got good business sense, but you need to do it on a bigger scale. What I said earlier about utilizing Caitlin being a great idea is true. She helps you, but you’re helping her and your community. That’s smart. You need to give yourself more credit.”

  “I guess it’s hard to stay positive when you see your dream vanishing.”

  Derek placed the pen on the table. “If you want to do this, you’ll have to keep your focus and remain confident.”

  “It was always easy for you, wasn’t it?”

  “Keeping my focus?”

  Molly leaned back against the cushioned chair. “Well, that and maintaining a confident attitude. I remember you had an air about you in college. People gravitated to you.” She lifted the foam cup, took a sip of the beverage and placed it on the table. “I suppose it’s what happens when a child is raised in a loving environment.”

  Molly’s words rattled Derek to the core. They couldn’t be further from the truth. But once upon a time, he’d believed the same.

  Pools of sadness consumed her eyes, a reminder of what he had done to her in the past. A quick change of topic was in order.

  “So, what did you mean about a bigger scale?” Her question sent a message. She was also ready to change the conversation. Relieved, he reached for the pen and tapped it against the page.

  “You should reach out to the college again. I’m sure there are more students like Caitlin. It might be too late in the semester for them to gain credit, but the work experience would be invaluable. With additional help, you’ll have free time to get more personal with the customers and offer more events. Best of all, it won’t eat into your budget. It’s a win-win situation.”

  “I can do that. In fact, I think Caitlin mentioned she has a classmate who’s interested.”

  “Perfect.” Derek recorded additional notes.

  “What’s next on your list?” Molly’s lips parted into a half smile. For the first time this evening, concern lifted from her face.

  “I thought we could partner up to generate more sales for you. I can give my customers a discount toward a purchase at my coffee shop if they provide a receipt from your store. But their purchase would need to be on a full-price item. None of those books from your discount table.”

  Molly straightened her shoulders. She might be interested in his advice to save her store, but he got the sense she wasn’t on board with this idea.

  “So you don’t think I can do it on my own?” Her brow steepled. “Why would I accept charity from you of all people?”

  Good point. Molly shouldn’t want his help, especially if she believed he had something to do with ruining what should have been the most special day of her life. How could he blame her? He needed a different strategy to convince her. “Hey, it’s not charity. I’m looking after myself, too.”

  “How can the offer help you?” Her eyes reflected doubt. She didn’t trust him.

  “People have a tendency to buy more if they believe they are getting something for free. It’s human nature. By me offering them the credit, I’ll generate more sales, so it’s all a wash.”

  Molly leaned forward, placing her elbows on the table. “A wash, huh?”

  She wasn’t buying it. “Have you noticed the price of gourmet coffee these days? The stuff isn’t cheap, but people love it. I think they deserve something for the dent I’m making in their wallets. Besides, books and coffee just go together.” He scribbled some additional details on the paper, hoping to move on.

  “Do you think these little things can save my bookstore? I know you’re brilliant when it comes to coffee sales, but books aren’t the same.”

  “Sales are sales. It all comes down to branding and marketing. And yes, I do think implementing some of these changes will help, but it won’t put you back into positive territory—”

  “So what’s the point?” Molly interrupted.

  “You didn’t let me finish.”

  “Sorry.” She cupped her hand over her mouth.

  “What I was saying is you need to do more—a lot more. And the first thing is a store makeover.”

  Molly giggled. “Sorry, but what do you know about makeovers?”

  “I’m not talking about makeup.” He chuckled. “I mean a complete staging. We create an atmosphere guaranteed to attract customers. One that will make them feel as though they are in their own home.”

  “But that costs money. I’m not flush with cash at the moment.”

  Derek had already spoken with Rusty about his idea, and their landlord had given the green light to making some improvements. A last-ditch effort to help Molly. “Fortunately, our landlord knows the importance of keeping his properties well-maintained. It’s been a number of years since he’s given the walls a fresh coat of paint.”

  A sparkle flashed in Molly’s eyes. “Those brown walls are drab, aren’t they? I always thought a warm shade of blue would be nice.”

  Derek nodded. “Now you’re thinking. Studies show people respond well to the color blue. It makes them feel you’re trustworthy.”

  “So, when do we start?”

  The excitement in Molly’s voice was something he’d been waiting for. If they were going to turn her business around, he needed her to be enthusiastic about the project. “That’s what I wanted to hear. Since the store is closed on Sunday, which is something else we need to address, we could start—”

  “What do you mean? What is there to address?”

  Derek understood why some businesses preferred not to open on Sunday. It was the day of Lord, and a day people liked to rest. The problem was, if she wanted to compete with the big guys, remaining open seven days a week was a must. “I think you need to keep the shop open on Sunday—at least for a while.”

  “You mean until I get enough money to pay my rent, everyone I owe, plus the overhead.”

  He sensed the defeat again in Molly’s tone. “If you think about it, you’re missing out on those customers who are in town for their weekend mountain getaway.” Derek planned to keep his store open in order to cater to the leaf peepers who flocked to the mountains this time of year. “Autumn is the perfect time to test your Sunday traffic. In a couple of weeks, the foliage will peak.”

  “As much as I hate to admit it, I think you’re right. I have had an uptick in business during the autumn months.”

  Considering their past, agreeing with him wasn’t easy for her. He understood that. “I think we should close the store on Monday and get the painting done during the week. We don’t want to lose your Saturday traffic, so we could start the job after you close tomorrow and then finish on Monday. I know this isn’t the best time to shut down your business, but if we’re going to do this makeover, painting should be our first task. Going forward, we can test staying open on Sunday. We’ll monitor your sales to see if it’s a profitable business decision. We could have your hours set from noon until four o’clock.”

  Molly remained quiet. A store employee skirted their table. A scanner from a front register beeped. Was this too much for her? Or was the problem that it was him offering the help? “What do you say?”

  She cleared her throat. “But what about your store? Don’t you need to tend to your own business?”

  “I have two new hires starting tomorrow. Both have barista experience, so I’ll spend a few hours with them, but they should be fine to cover things. Besides, I’ll be next door, so I can keep an eye on them.”

  “Okay. Let’s start the job tomorrow evening.” Molly grabbed her cup. “I’m going to stop at the restroom before we go.” She pushed herself away from the table, tossed her beverage into a nearby trash can and headed toward the back of the store.

  Could she move any faster? It was apparent Molly couldn’t wait to get away from him. Derek sucked in a steadying breath and raked his fingers through his hair. He wouldn’t allow Molly’s store to fail. He’d given Rusty his word
. Of course, spending so much time together wasn’t going to be easy.

  Chapter Five

  Late Saturday afternoon, Molly flipped the sign to Closed. Her shoulders drooped. Another day of lackluster book sales. If things didn’t pick up soon, the shop would sink faster than a penny tossed into a fountain. Earlier, she’d received a text message from the teacher who administered the Book Buddies group for the schools. She’d arranged for another class to come to Molly’s store. At least that was some encouraging news. Stay positive. That was Molly’s latest mantra.

  Mindlessly moving through the store, she struggled to keep her focus. A quick glance at her watch told her why. Derek would be here within the next fifteen minutes. Last night, after returning home from her field trip with Derek, she’d spiraled down the rabbit hole of online browsing. She’d finally made a decision on the paint color for the shop and emailed Derek the information. His response had been instant. He’d offered to pick up the paint today and come by after closing to start the project. Why did he have to be so obliging? Perhaps he was a man with a guilty conscience?

  Moments later, Molly turned to the sound of someone pecking on the glass. She moved toward the door, spotted Annie peeking through the window and motioned her to come inside.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t think you’d be closed this early.” Annie gazed around the shop.

  “I’m not usually, but I’m getting ready to do some interior painting. You know, brighten the place up a bit.”

  Annie smiled. “That will be nice. Maybe Grace can help you? I thought you might like to spend some more time with her.”

  A warmth filled Molly’s heart at the mention of her name. “Of course, I’d love that.” Then she remembered Derek. “The store owner from next door has offered to help and will be here.”