Chapter Eight
“They can’t do this.” Julia strode across her mother’s bedroom, shaking the letter from the bank in her hand. She’d popped in early to see her mother and hadn’t expected a bombshell to greet her. She turned back to face her mother and Janet. “I’ve paid off the arrears. All the payments are up to date.”
Janet sent her a warning glance, one that told her she needed to pull herself together for her mother’s sake. Janet was right of course. Her mother needed tranquility now that her operation was scheduled.
“They can call in the loan. It’s in the small print.” Regret weighted her mother’s demeanor. “I didn’t want things to end this way.”
“I’ll talk with them,” Julia said. “I’ll take Susan. She’s good with financial stuff. We’ll show them the budgets Susan has done and tell them about the bookings we’ve lined up already.”
The lines on her mother’s pale face deepened and her posture sagged inward. “I’m sorry, Julia. This mess is my fault.”
Janet sat on the bed and took Elise’s hand. “Don’t worry. Julia will take care of everything.”
Julia sought her mother’s gaze and held it, pushing out confidence despite the quivers of fear dive-bombing like fishing seabirds in the pit of her stomach. “It’s not your fault, Mum. We’re on target to open this weekend instead of next. We intend to use the first week as a trial to sort out teething problems and have our grand opening night as I’d originally planned. I’ll ring the bank and arrange an appointment.” She folded the bank letter and tucked it into the pocket of her jacket. “How are you doing this morning?”
“Janet and I are going out for breakfast. I fancy some fresh air,” her mother said, still looking as if she blamed herself.
“That’s wonderful,” Julia said in a bracing voice. She would fix this if it killed her because she hated seeing the defeat sitting on her parent’s strong shoulders, weighing her down when she needed to focus on her health. “Do you need help getting dressed?” She didn’t ask if her mother was strong enough for the outing, despite thinking it. Her mother deserved sunshine in her life after working hard for as long as Julia could remember.
“Janet and I will manage.” Her voice regained a fraction of her normal determination.
Julia brushed a kiss over her mum’s cheek. “I’ll leave you to it then. I’ll be in the club if you need me for anything.”
She spent the next two hours practicing a dance routine and going through arrangements for their first private function.
Susan, Christina and Maggie arrived together and joined her practice. The music came to an end and they stopped, panting with exertion.
“That was brilliant,” Susan said. “I managed the entire routine without a mistake.”
“Did you get your confirmation fromFarmer Seeks a Wife?” Christina asked.
“You’ve received more details?” Maggie demanded.
Susan nodded, looking a little sick. “The first elimination event is in two months.”
“Where is the event? What do you have to do? Spill already.” Maggie glowered a little. “Don’t make me pull the deets out of you.”
Christina took a deep breath. “They’re busing us to a vineyard at Matakana, north of Auckland. Each of the farmers speed dates his group of girls, and he’ll pick his eight favorites.”
“What should I wear?” Susan wailed. “I’m so nervous I’ll fluff my speed date. Remember the speed dating thing we attended last year? I sucked.”
“We’ll practice mini interviews with you,” Julia said. “The clothes thing is easy because we have an expert in our midst. You should see the costumes Christina has picked out for our routine. They’re—”
Ryan and Caleb walked into the club, both carrying guitar cases.
“They’re what?” Maggie asked.
Julia ripped her gaze off Ryan and turned back to her friends. “Glamorous. They’re gorgeous and yet sexy too.”
“Morning,” Caleb said in a loud voice.
Ryan waved, and they continued to the stage. The guitars came out, and soon music filled the club.
“They’re fantastic,” Christina said, wiggling her hips and swaying to the beat. Her bracelets jingled. “I’d buy their music.”
She already had. Julia sighed, unaccountably disappointed because Ryan hadn’t come over and said good morning. “Susan, the bank has called in the loan. I need to make an appointment and go armed with budgets and lots of information to argue my case.”
Susan gasped. “I thought you brought the loan up to date.”
