Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 80892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 404(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 404(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
“No, I can’t see Joanne wanting to be a part of that,” Luca said, nodding. “But… was business really that bad? That you had to sell? It always seemed like you guys were busy, from what I could tell.”
I sighed. Again, more details than I really wanted to hash out while waiting for coffee, but… did it even matter anymore? Was there a point in keeping it to myself?
“We were always busy. And the shop has always operated in the black, since… forever, really. But it’s just not enough. My dad left me with a mountain of debt, and my banker said that maybe if the place was making more—like, a lot more—that we’d have more options, but—”
“Do you still bank with Will downtown?” Luca asked. “I know your dad used to—he’s the one who referred me to Will when I opened this place.”
I nodded. “Yeah, Will’s a friend of mine. He said there really wasn’t anything he could do.”
“Of course, I don’t know the specifics of your situation or your finances, but…” Luca looked thoughtful for a moment, then shrugged. “I just think it might be worth revisiting with Will. I’ve heard through the grapevine that he’s had a pretty rough couple of days—I’m sure he probably told you, since you’re friends—with his relationship and all that.”
Luca really did seem to have his finger on the pulse of what was going on in Castle Falls, but when I thought about it, I shouldn’t have been surprised.
Castle Coffee was the only place in town to get a decent cup of coffee, so he’d naturally see pretty much everyone who worked at the nearby businesses on a daily basis.
“Yeah, he was pretty upset when I talked to him,” I said, thinking back to the conversation I’d had with my friend the day before.
We’d both been pretty upset, in fact, but maybe Luca was on to something. Still, there wasn’t really time to call Will again. Plans had already been set into motion.
“It’s just that I’m meeting with this corporate guy in a few minutes and—”
“And did you talk to Joanne about all the ideas she has for streamlining everything?” Luca asked, talking over me and catching me off guard with the question about Joanne.
“No… I, um… She hasn’t really mentioned streamlining anything before.”
Had she? I tried to think back over all the hours she and I had spent in the office, going over paperwork and procedures while Joanne had been showing me the ropes. She had talked about replacing the ancient computer, and how wasteful they were with old stock, throwing out or donating hundreds of blooms a week. And then there was the fax machine that had to be as old as I was…
Maybe Joanne had tried to bring up changes to the place, and I just hadn’t been interested in hearing them?
“Henry was too old-school to take her up on much of anything that would’ve made things more efficient, but I thought maybe with you around…” Luca shook his head. “Well, I guess it doesn’t matter much now, except…”
“Except what?” I leaned in, waiting for him to answer. He couldn’t leave me hanging like that, not after going there about Joanne.
“I just think there are always options, you know? According to just about everyone, I should’ve shut this place down a dozen times or more over the years. But I always found a way to keep going. And I just think that… look, those corporate people apparently think your flower shop is something special, or they’d just open up a new one, right?”
I blinked, letting Luca’s words sink in.
He did have a point about the corporate guys, and it was a little reassuring to know that he could sort of relate to the business decisions I had to make. And if he had found a way, maybe I could, too…
“Do you really think I stand a chance in the flower business?” I asked, more for my own benefit than actually expecting an answer from Luca.
“I think Joanne does. That girl knows flowers. She lives for them. And she has good ideas. You should at least talk to her about it.”
“You should talk to her about more than that.” Naomi’s voice made I jump as I spun around to face my other soon-to-be-former employee. “Do you love her?”
Chapter Thirty-Seven - Brady
It was the last question I had expected Naomi to ask, but I answered without hesitating. Without even thinking.
“Yes. More than anything.”
It was the truth, but as soon as the words were out of my mouth, a wave of… something went through me. Not fear. Relief? Sure, I’d taken Joanne on a date… But to just come out and admit my feelings?
It felt… good.
No. Fuck “good.” It felt kind of amazing.
Naomi was staring at me, looking almost gleeful.
“What are you doing here, Naomi?” I asked after a minute, wondering if the silence had gone on as long as it had felt like… and if it had felt that momentous to anyone else.