“Good thing she likes it,” Tag said. “Looks like the painter is half done out there outlining it on the sign.”
Viv turned to Tag.
“How about you come to get me in a few hours?”
“What?” Tag turned his good ear to her, and she explained.
“I’m staying with her and helping her get this done.”
“Hmm, you are weak as a kitten. What if I help too?”
“How could she say no? We’re offering two middle-aged assistants with three ears, three legs, and no boobs between them.”
“We’re cheap. That’s got to count for something,” Tag quipped.
“We’re a bargain at any price,” Viv said. And she kissed Tag on the cheek. He pretended to fan himself. Viv laughed. He made her laugh.
Siena, who had whirled in and out of the space half a dozen times in as many seconds, whirled back in.
“Okay,” Viv told her, “You’ve got Hopalong Taggert and the Cancer Queen ready to help.”
“Mother.” Siena didn’t like her joke. Tag chuckled though.
“Oh, it’s fine, we’re here for a few hours, boss us.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. How about we box up the rest of the career wear? We can put it in the back. And then I’ve got plans for it, actually. I’ll have it picked up.”
“What?” Siena asked the question, but she also seemed ready to move on to the next project of the million she was engaged in at the moment.
“Don’t worry.”
“Okay, yeah, get the stuff boxed up. That would help.”
Viv folded clothes and Tag taped boxes shut. It took about an hour, but by the end, Siena had a blank slate for the main showroom to repurpose the space.
As the day wore on, Libby popped in, and so did J.J. They marveled at Siena’s concept.
“This is it, really it is. I mean, the mercantile is all well and good for the necessities, cook wear, and such, but this place is class, all style!” J.J. said as she, too, pitched in to help hang three prints on the wall where blouses used to be.
As the day turned to evening, a call from Hope alerted them that she’d saved them a space at the counter for dinner.
“Sweet relief, I’m starving,” said Tag. It was the first complaint he’d issued in a day of doing a million little things for Viv and her daughter.
Viv was struck again. She’d lucked into finding a wonderful person to add to her circle. She may not be headed for marriage with Larson Taggert but he, as they say, was good people. What luck?
Siena locked up the store, and the four of them walked over to Hope’s.
They’d earned their appetites. And Viv sunk into the plate Lila put in front of her.
Her body was good tired for the first time in a long time. She’d moved it a lot today, and she’d helped her daughter instead of the other way around.
Not one dark thought slipped into her mind as she thought of what tomorrow might bring. Helping Siena launch Just The Thing was…just the thing.
ChapterNineteen
Siena
