Finding Love in Ivy Falls

Chapter Sixteen

TESSA

Rough Edges

The boxes in my office had been piling up for over a week. Dad kept telling me I had to think about scaling back inventory to cut costs, but I could not be a bookstore without books.

I tore into the first box. Highlighter-yellow tape stretched over every inch of it warned the books inside could not be displayed until their release date. It was always the same song and dance with publishers and any book that could be a ‘potential’ bestseller. Of course, I had to shelve these kinds of books, but where I focused most of our stock was on our children’s area, as well as a wide section in the corner of the store where I’d curated one of the best collections of romance titles in the state.

I could mark some of the biggest moments in my life by what romance book I was reading at the time. The day I got my period, Gayle Forman’s Just One Day was tucked underneath my pillow. When I found out I was pregnant with Iris, I was deep into Lisa Kleypas’ Cold-Hearted Rake . Sitting on my bedside table, when my water broke with Rose, was a copy of Sarah MacLean’s The Rogue Not Taken . And then, of course, after Billy left, it was the entire Bridgerton series that kept me from crying every minute of the day.

Books were more than fictional tales. The delicately inked, slightly faded, sepia-toned pages had become a soothing balm to my tired soul. And now, I was living my dream by bringing those same beautifully woven stories to the most important people in my life.

After fighting the box for another few minutes, I pulled a straight edge out of a drawer in my desk and sliced through the tape. A shiny stack of hardcovers from the hottest British mystery author sat stacked inside. I breathed a sigh of relief. Mrs Vanderpool had preordered ten copies for the women’s book club a month ago, and she’d stormed into the store four times this week to make sure she’d get them on release day.

I was tearing into a second box when the door to my office swung open, and Torran stood on the threshold. She was wearing her favorite dark denim overalls. A fleck of yellow paint sat in the center of her right cheek like a bullseye.

Oh crap. What time was it?

Like she recognized my panic, she stepped further into the room and gripped my shoulders. ‘Don’t worry. I picked up the girls from school. They’re with Barb and Susan.’

I covered my face with my hands. ‘I am the worst mother ever.’

‘Hey.’ Torran pulled down my hands. ‘You are the best mother ever, and I’m sorry I don’t tell you that more often.’

‘Where is that coming from?’ I choked out.

‘A good friend reminded me today that I’m currently doing a sucky job of being a big sister.’

‘Manny,’ I sighed. ‘I know he means well, but…’

‘He cares about you,’ she interrupted.

I took two steps and collapsed into the rolling chair behind my desk. Torran gave me a weighted look but didn’t speak.

‘Are you also here about the rock through the window? Because it’s already been repaired.’

‘It’s not about the window entirely.’ Torran sank onto a corner of the desk. It was hard not to smile at the rainbow array of paint splattered on her overalls. Did she ever get any of the paint actually on the walls? ‘It’s about all the other stuff connected to the window. Manny said you swore you weren’t having issues with anyone in town, but I wonder if you’re not being totally honest. I know how much you break out in a rash any time you have to discuss conflict.’

I looked into her eyes so she’d know I was being serious. ‘I am just as much in the dark about this as you all are. Who knows, maybe someone is pissed at me because I sold them a book they hated. In case you haven’t read the news lately, anyone who works with books, whether they sell them or they work in a library, is currently public enemy number one. Which is a bunch of horseshit.’

Torran’s eyes went wide.

‘What? I can curse when the topic is warranted.’

Torran flung her hands wide. ‘Please go on. What else do you need to get off your chest?’

There was something leading in her voice I didn’t like.

‘Nope, I’m done ranting.’

‘Tessa,’ she groaned. ‘Talk to me. I know things are tight here and you’ve got other troubles on your mind.’

She narrowed her eyes and instantly I knew she was talking about Billy. She only got that Medusa I-want-to-turn-him-into-stone look when he was the topic of conversation.

‘Dammit. Does Manny tell you everything?’

‘What everything are you speaking of?’

I hated when she acted coy, but I sort of deserved it because Manny kept me in the loop about what was happening with her too. The minute Beck first blew into town and bid the house on Huckleberry Lane away from her, I was the first person he called, though, at the time, he didn’t know Beck was Torran’s high-school ex.

‘No, I have not gotten any kind of child support from Billy. There, are you happy?’

My voice cracked, and I willed away the tears building in the back of my eyes. We’d agreed a long time ago that I was done putting up with his shit, but it still hurt that he was ignoring his girls.

‘I’m sorry to push, but this isn’t right. The girls are his too. He needs to carry some weight. Not put all the responsibility on you, because you’re already carrying too much. Let go of the past, Tess because he clearly has.’

‘I get that, Tor, but it’s like every time I try to move on, a little piece of him, some reminder, drags me back. And I know I shouldn’t forget how many times he’s said he’d show up for the girls and then flaked. It’s just one more thing that I should hate him for.’

I loathed that after all this time Billy could still cause so much pain.

‘Please stop worrying about me. I have another appointment set up with my lawyer. He says Billy doesn’t need to be present to have a judge issue a divorce decree.’

‘That’s a good start.’ Torran slid off the edge of the desk and knelt beside me. ‘What else can I do to help?’

‘Nothing. You’re just as strapped for cash as I am.’ Torran’s right cheek ticced. ‘Okay, maybe not so much anymore because of the show, but I don’t want or need your money.’

‘Tessa, don’t take all of this on your own shoulders. I can fill in here when you need a break. Help Manny build the coffee bar.’

I arched a brow at her.

‘Yes, he may have told me that too,’ she admitted. ‘Please, let Beck and me help out. We can have the girls stay over at the house more. I’ll do additional school pickups. Give me an order and I’ll get it done.’

She stared at me with those wide green eyes, and it was hard not to think of our mother. How, if she was here, she’d be able to smooth over all the rough edges of my life. But she was gone, and if anyone was going to figure out a way through my currently rough path, it had to be me. That would have to start with something that’d been eating at me for days.

‘Can you follow me to Sugar Rush? Take the girls to my house for a little bit? I need to settle an issue with Barb and Susan.’

‘What issue? Did you press your fingers against the domed glass case again? You know how Barb hates fingerprints.’

That made me laugh. Torran was the only one who pressed her hands against the case and literally drooled over the glazed crullers, pissing Barb off on multiple occasions.

‘Just wait for me outside while I tell Penny I’m taking off for a bit.’

She pressed her lips together before standing and going out the office door. I found Penny near the registers, building a new display for the mystery title I’d just unboxed. After telling her I’d be back in a few minutes, I joined Torran outside the store.

We walked past the market, candle store, and the Dairy Dip until Torran finally spoke.

‘Lauren paid a visit to the worksite today.’

‘Was that expected?’

‘Yes. She wanted to talk to Manny and me about a few details Hearth and Home wants worked into the next contract.’

She chewed on the corner of her lip, which she only did when something was off.

‘What don’t you like about it?’

‘It’s more of a Manny issue.’

‘Is this one of those negotiable/non-negotiable things?’

Manny had mentioned to me more than once that this had become a sort of joke with Lauren.

‘It’s definitely a non-negotiable.’

‘What is it?’ I asked, too curious for my own good.

‘They want him to create his own social media accounts. Make him more accessible to the public. To the fans.’

I placed my hand over my mouth to stifle a laugh.

‘What’s so funny?’ she asked.

‘They’re asking the man who will barely stand in group pictures, who always tugs down on the brim of his hat to hide his face, for more social media presence?’

‘Yes. Come on, Tessa. You must see the looks he gets on the street. And don’t tell me he hasn’t told you about the propositions.’

‘I may have talked to him about it a bit. Showed him how to put his personal account on private.’

Torran rolled her eyes and pulled me alongside her down the street. We were only steps from Sugar Rush when she pointed to a nearby bench, and we sat down.

‘It’s part of the deal with the show. We have to do this kind of promotion, even if it makes him uncomfortable.’

‘You have to admit it’s a little ridiculous. On Halloween, the way women looked at him. A young girl even stopped him and asked for a selfie. It was all really weird.’

‘That costume, it really showed…’ She gulped. ‘Well, it showed off his assets. I’m not surprised he got so many looks.’

I snorted. ‘True, but some of the comments he gets are seriously inappropriate. He has to lock his phone now because he’s too afraid Lou might see them.’

A lick of anger swept through me. Those women didn’t know a thing about Manny. Sure, he had a ruggedly handsome face. Beautifully toned forearms and a butt that looked really good in cargo pants, but he was also the guy who carefully saved a bird’s nest when it was teetering on a low-lying branch. Who studiously watched YouTube tutorials on how to fishtail braid. Had the keen instinct to arrive at your door with a gallon of ice cream when you were having a crappy day.

‘Tessa.’ Torran gave me a steady stare. ‘Are you okay?’

‘Yes,’ I said in a too-clipped voice. ‘It’s weird that strangers would do that to him. They don’t know what kind of man he is. That he’s devoted his life to taking care of his young daughter. That he gives care and attention to everyone he knows. Those women don’t know a damn thing about him.’

‘Do I sense a bit of jealousy?’ she teased.

Yes.

No.

Maybe?

Manny was gorgeous, but he was more than that. Kind. Thoughtful. Generous with his time. He was a damn catch. And thanks to the show, women were noticing all those attributes. At some point he’d want to date again, and I’d have to stand by and watch. That thought made me more than a little nauseous.

Before I was forced to answer, Iris and Rose pressed their faces to the window of the Sugar Rush and blew fish faces, clouding up the glass. Oh lord, that would send Barb straight over the edge. Not a good thing as I was about to go and have a difficult conversation with her and Susan.

I followed Torran inside the café and gave the girls big hugs. After I’d asked about their days, and heard about how many cookies and donuts Barb and Susan had fed them (so much for dinner), Torran was kind enough to scoot them out the door.

Susan appeared first and hovered near the counter. I didn’t like the hesitant stare she gave me. ‘Oh! Hey, Tessa,’ she mumbled. ‘Can I get you something?’

‘No, I would like to chat with you and Barb though.’

Susan gave a brief nod and then rushed to the back office. Barb appeared with Susan trailing behind her. I hated the way they both stared at me like I’d given them a one-star review on Yelp.

Barb stopped behind the counter while Susan took the spot beside her.

I pulled in a trembling breath. ‘Let me start by saying I’m sorry if I caught you both off guard the other day. It’s never been my intention to do anything that would put our friendship in peril. I really love the P&P, and sales are down due to online retailers and ereaders. Nobody wants to do their events at the store because they can generate more business at a chain. I’m spiraling in debt, and desperate to do something to stop the bleeding. I need to build the coffee bar in order to save the P&P. To be totally honest, if I let my mother down, lose the store, I think it might destroy me.’

I didn’t know I was crying until Barb plucked a stack of napkins off the counter and moved toward me. She placed a few in my hands before yanking me into a hug.

‘Oh, honey. We know how scary it is to run a business,’ she whispered. ‘To worry about whether or not you’re going to be able to pay your rent, your suppliers and your staff every month.’

Susan moved in close and placed her hand on my shoulder. ‘We should have handled our response to you better, Tessa. We know you are fighting for the store. That day you talked to us, we should have been more thoughtful and…’ She hesitated until Barb gave a quick nod. ‘We want to help.’

‘How?’ I said in between sniffles.

‘We think it’d be great if you could serve food along with your beverages.’ Susan gave me a wide smile. ‘It could be a partnership between our stores. Until you get on your feet, Barb and I could provide the pastries at cost. Once you’re on your way, we can negotiate a fair split.’

It was a great idea, and I wished I’d thought of it in the first place.

‘Are you sure you’re okay with that?’

Barb stepped back and patted my cheek. ‘Let’s take it one day at a time and see how it all shakes out.’

‘You’re both angels on this earth. You know that, right?’

‘Angels?’ Barb chuckled. ‘When we first came to town nobody knew quite what to call us, but I’m pretty darn sure angels wasn’t at the top of the list.’

Susan tapped at her chin thoughtfully. ‘I’m pretty sure those first few months I heard poacher. Traitor.’ The corners of her eyes pinched in amusement. ‘I think Mrs Vanderpool might have even called us “charlatans”.’

That sounded about right for her.

‘We all learned fairly quickly that Miss Pat knew what she was doing when she handed you two the keys,’ I said. ‘Ivy Falls would not be the same without you.’

Barb reached out and took Susan’s hand. ‘We consider ourselves lucky to be part of this community too.’

That made Susan go a little weepy, and they pulled me in for another hug. Their grace and kindness were another reminder why Ivy Falls was special.

This was my home. Manny’s home too.

Torran was right. I had to stop holding on to the past. Clinging to the thought that Billy would ever do the right thing. Manny was the person I could count on. The person I could always turn to when I needed a strong shoulder or a rational voice. The other night we were only seconds from that kiss. A kiss I desperately wanted.

My mind went back to Torran’s comments about him in that Superman costume, and I couldn’t forget the spark of jealousy that burned inside me when a woman tossed a glance in his direction.

It was time to choose happiness, and I knew the exact person who could make that happen.