“You’re wearing six.”
“See, take it to the bank.”
Libby chimed in, “Just trust your instincts.”
“I’m good at that when it comes to making food, not so good historically speaking when it comes to business, love, or just about any other area.”
“Look, we’ve all made missteps in life. Look at me. I nearly got myself indicted thanks to my misstep. And have somehow managed to take on the problems of an entire town.”
“I thought we were supposed to be downsizing, right? At our age, instead of powering up?”
“The thing that’s different now is the enjoyment of it. And the owning of our time. It doesn’t take a moment away from my kids, or their school, or whatever when I work late. And I’ve begun to realize that guilt is just a total waste of time and emotion.”
“What could you possibly be guilty of?” Hope had difficulty seeing Libby’s faults; Henry, her embezzling husband, was not her fault.
“You know, I kissed Henry back in the day. I set into motion a chain of events in my life that went one way instead of another.”
“Yeah, that happened to me too. I was so angry at my mother, her rules, that I went off with Archie, and boom, my path changed drastically.”
“But you didn’t do anything wrong. There’s nothing to feel guilty over. It’s just how things worked out. And now, there’s a new path.”
“Thanks to you two.”
“Nah, Aunt Emma is the only one who really gets the credit; she saw that article on you going to the food competition. And you put yourself in that position to be at the top of your game. That has nothing to do with anyone but your own grit, sister.”
“Amen to that,” J.J. said.
“You’re going to find the right people for the restaurant, though I move that J.J. is officially in charge of picking our romantic partners moving forward. She’s the only one who killed it on that score.”
“Oh, I didn’t pick a winner out of the gate. I found Dean and then grew him into what I needed. In the beginning, it was, uh, let’s just say he had a lot of maturing to do, and I had a lot of patience to learn. Issues in our rearview mirror are larger than they appear.”
It made Hope feel better about herself that her friends knew that no one’s life was perfect, despite what they posted on Facebook.
“Anyway, don’t worry about the interviews. You’re makingmewant to work here. Alas, I’ve got to get moving. Shelly’s taking the day off, and I need to get to the salon.”
“She’s right,” Libby said. “It’s almost nine. Interviews are about to start. We’ll let you get at it.”
“How about lunch? I’ve got to drive to Brooklyn. Poppa’s Place has great grilled ham and cheese or a cod sandwich? I’ll bring us all some takeout, sound good?”’
“Love that.”
“Good luck!” J.J. and Libby walked out, right past Jared Pawlak.
“Oh, look, my brother is applying.”
“Ha, ha.” Jared Pawlak walked in, filling his Peck’s Hardware t-shirt out very impressively for a little brother they used to call pudding. Behind him, a young woman followed, sporting the same logoed t-shirt.
“Hi, Aunt J.J.”
The girl hugged J.J., and then Jared made the introduction.
“This is my daughter Lila. She’s here for the summers, with her mom in the winter. Anyhow. She hates working at the hardware store. Don’t you?”
“Dad!”
Hope smiled. There was nothing more annoying to a teenage girl than having her parents say things. Anything.
“Well, you do. I’m not saying you don’t do a good job. I’m just saying you hate it.”
