“I’m just not sure about him.”
Jane’s eyes softened, the crease between her eyebrows gone. “Well, I am. He’s a good man. He didn’t have to do all the kind things he’s done for me and my mother, but he has.”
He might seem nice to Jane, but she didn’t know how he made a habit of putting bakeries out of business. “Peter and Sandee came into the shop earlier. They told me about a bakery he put out of business in Bar Harbor. He acts nice then steals the very things that make a bakery successful, implements them, and out-advertises them until they can’t afford to compete anymore. I won’t fall into his trap.”
Maxi scoffed. She had frosting on her nose from eating Claire’s cupcake mistake, so it was a little hard to take her seriously. “Claire, consider the source. When has Sandee or Peter ever done a thing to help you? I bet they’d say anything just to chip at your confidence, including driving a wedge into what sounds like a good business decision.”
“You say that, but…” Claire hesitated. Maxi had a point, and last night Rob had seemed so sincere, not to mention that Tammi thought teaming up was a good idea. But then there was the water pressure issue.
“But what?” Maxi asked.
Claire stifled a sigh. She studied the horizon as she recounted what had happened last night. “I was at the store late, and one of my pipes started leaking. I wouldn’t be able to open the store without fixing it, and Sally was out of town. Rob showed up practically out of nowhere. He said he was working late too.” She turned, picked up another cupcake, and started to apply the frosting. “He fixed the pipe, and I thought everything was fine, but now the water pressure is lower than it was this morning. What if he did something to the pipes to put me out of commission tomorrow? It’s not as though I have enough experience to tell either way.”
“Impossible,” Jane pronounced. “I don’t think he could do something to the water pressure from the bathroom sink. That would only affect that sink. You’d have to do something to the main line. And anyway, Rob isn’t that sort of man.”
“Weren’t you just complaining that the pipes are on their way out?” Maxi asked. “I’m sure you mentioned something about it and the cost it would be to fix them. Ralph told you they had to be replaced, didn’t he? I don’t think it’s right to assume Rob did something.”
“Yes,” Claire admitted begrudgingly. She sighed and rubbed her forehead. What if she had made the wrong call in not teaming up with Rob? When she’d told him she’d changed her mind, he hadn’t acted angry or smug like she’d thought a competitor trying to sabotage her might act. He’d acted hurt. “I suppose you’re right. It’s not fair to make assumptions about Rob, but I still think I’m better off running the sale on my own.”
A deep groan sounded from the pipes, as if the very building disagreed, and they all looked at the ceiling. They went back to frosting their cupcakes. It was time for a change of topic.
“So did you find any facilities you liked? Are you really considering that?” Claire asked.
Jane’s expression turned grim. “I’m afraid I might have to. I’m finding it so hard to care for her and run the inn. Both are full-time jobs, and I’m stretched so thin.”
Claire had been careful about the advice she’d given Jane on the subject. She knew it was too much for one person to handle, but never being in that position herself, she didn’t want to push Jane into anything she wasn’t comfortable with. Jane was coming to the same conclusion on her own, and Claire was there to support her.
“I don’t know how much longer I can do this, but it feels so awful to put Mom into a facility,” Jane echoed.
“We know you want what’s best for her,” Claire said.
Maxi piped up. “And her well-being is important. This is about her health. If she’s going to hurt herself without meaning to, she needs help.”
With a heavy sigh, Jane brushed a short strand of hair out of her face. “I know that. But I feel like a terrible daughter for wanting to make her somebody else’s problem. I feel like I should be trying harder.”
“That’s not fair on you. You can’t do everything yourself,” Maxi answered.
Claire understood her friend’s thought process far better. It was difficult to trust someone, difficult to hand over work that she could be doing better herself. She was learning that this week too. Although a small voice in her mind still whispered that she would be able to bake and frost all these cupcakes better, she couldn’t do it as fast. She had made a sacrifice.
Maybe Jane needed to make a sacrifice too.
“I think you should really consider the way it would lighten the burden if Addie was taken care of by professionals. I know it isn’t what she wants, but she isn’t of sound mind, or you wouldn’t be in this situation.”
Every other time Claire had made the suggestion, Jane had dismissed it. Sometimes casually, sometimes with more heat. Today, she only nodded wearily.“I know. I am considering it. Rob stopped by today with some pamphlets and other information and walked me through the best choices for her. I know it’s the right thing to do, but there’s something inside me that just feels like a failure.”
In a small voice, Maxi asked, “Wouldn’t you feel like a failure if she hurt herself badly? If she had to go to the hospital or even died because she wasn’t able to care for herself the way she used to and you were stretched too thin to do it yourself?”
Jane nodded. “You’re right. I would. So you guys don’t think I’m being selfish?”
Claire’s brows shot up. “Selfish? You’re anything but. You’ve given up your retirement to run Tides the way your mom wants and take care of her. It’s not selfish to put her in a place where she’ll be safe and well cared for. If you continue the way you are, you’ll probably burnout and not be able to do either job.”
“Claire’s right,” Maxi said. “And remember, no matter what you decide, we’re behind you one hundred percent.”
Claire nodded her agreement. If anyone was selfish, it was Claire. Maxi and Jane didn’t think Bradford Breads was a threat, and she valued their opinions very much. Yet there she was, worrying over the store across the street when Jane had real issues to deal with. Claire picked up the next cupcake, determined to think things through more objectively just as soon as the big sale was over tomorrow.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Claire woke to sharp pinpricks of pain on her scalp. She winced, swatting at the offender. Her fingers met soft fur as Urchin climbed off her head with a disgruntled meow. The cat swiped at her hand with his sharp claws.
