“Or is it just part of the reason? Perhaps the other part is that you feel you have something to prove.” Erma got up fromthe couch. “Think on that while I go to the little girl’s room. This is my third bottle of water this morning. My doctor would be happy, but he’s not the one answering nature’s call every thirty minutes.”
As Erma headed for the back of the shop, Anita thought about what the older woman had said. Did she have something to prove? She remembered what her mother had said almost a month ago—that she’d had to prove herself to Grandma.
Maybe I’m more like my mom than I thought.
When Erma returned and sat back down, Anita spoke. “School was so hard for me. I was in special classes, and I had to get tutors. I almost didn’t graduate.” She hadn’t told anyone that, even her parents, and fortunately they both had been so busy they hadn’t paid much attention, other than writing the checks to the tutors. “It took me a while to learn how to make change, and even now, if I’m under pressure I sometimes mess up. And my writing skills aren’t great either. Everyone I know is doing what they love and succeeding. I’m the only one who was in a rut.”
“Did you love being a waitress?”
“Oh yes. I’ve always enjoyed that. But being a waitress isn’t the same as a doctor or a lawyer or a business owner.”
“That sounds like Karen talking,” Erma mumbled.
“Mom said I was being foolish for not letting them help me. They were right. And now I’m in a big mess.”
Erma paused for a moment. “What about Tanner? If anyone can advise you about the food business, he can.”
“He fired me, remember?” Anita sighed, pushing back her bangs. They hung over her eyes, and the rest of her hairwas growing out too. She didn’t have time or money to get a haircut.
“He’s also mad at me, and I’m not exactly thrilled with him right now either.” When she saw the alarm in Erma’s eyes, she said, “Riley told me Tanner would be my escort. Don’t worry, I won’t let my personal problems affect the wedding. I’m sure he won’t either.”
“Surely you two can work things out before then.”
She explained what had happened at the business meeting. “We had a fight after that, then I turned in my notice, and then he fired me. We haven’t seen or talked to each other since.”
Erma tapped her bottom lip. “When you love someone, you can work things out.”
Anita froze. “What? I don’t love Tanner.” Right now she didn’t even like him.
Erma’s eyes widened. “Oh, never mind. I must have you two mixed up with someone else. Anyhoo—”
“There’s no love between me and Tanner,” Anita whispered. “Even though I wanted there to be.”
***
Erma’s heart was breaking for this poor child. Her relationship with Tanner, whatever that was right now, her insecurity, and her insistence that she take on the huge task of opening the café by herself—justoneof those things would bring a person down. Anita was a peach and one of Riley’s closest friends, and Erma was determined to do what she could to help the young woman out.
She was also one hundred thousand percent sure that Tanner had feelings for Anita, and she’d thought that even before Jasper had told her about the sizzling kiss he’d seen between them a few weeks ago and how the two of them had insisted it was nothing. “You’d better not tell anyone else, Erma Jean,” he’d said after he had come into her store and spilled the romantic beans.
“Land’s sake, Jasper,” she huffed. “Why did you tell me, then?”
“Because I had to tell someone.” He chuckled. “You like trading tales more than anyone else in this town.”
Other than you.But she didn’t say that. She was a little honored that the cantankerous coot had confided in her. He’d also sworn her to secrecy, and she’d almost blown it. But now Anita had admitted it herself, although Erma wasn’t sure if she realized she had voiced those thoughts out loud.
The two of them were a perfect match, and while Karen got on Erma’s nerves once in a while, she thought a lot of Walter. And of course she’d always liked Rosa Castillo, enough that she wasn’t giving up on the woman joining the Bosom Buddies. There was no reason Anita and Tanner couldn’t be together other than they were both sabotaging themselves. Although she had to admit the two of them not telling each other about their plans had been a big mistake.
A thought occurred to her that she immediately dismissed.I refuse to get involved.
She had tried to manipulate Riley and Hayden when Riley first returned to Maple Falls, and while she had been correct that they were meant for each other, it wasn’t until she backed off that they started growing closer. She wasn’t taking creditfor their relationship, but she knew her decision to stay out of their personal lives had made things a tad bit easier on everyone. The best way she could help Anita was not to interfere. But she could at least give her some business advice. Decades of running Knots and Tangles had made her an expert.
“Do you have an accountant?” Erma asked.
Anita lifted her head. “Yes.”
“Have you talked to him about your finances?”
“No. I’m too embarrassed. I was hoping I’d get things together before I scheduled a meeting.”
