“No, we won’t go quietly,” Tamsin snapped.“You can’t treat us like this.”
“You’re abominations.We don’t want you here.”
“A refund,” Liam repeated.
The woman glanced over her shoulder and saw they’d attracted an audience.“Oh, very well.”She thrust money at Liam and stomped off.
Liam handed the cash to Tamsin, and the tears in her eyes alarmed him.
“What’s our next move?”she whispered.“We must sell our pottery today.It’s been tough lately… I don’t enjoy seeing my men go hungry.”
“We’ll set up where she said and figure out a plan.Don’t worry—I have cash.It was in my jacket pocket.Enough to buy food to take home.”
“But you and Sienna will need that money—”
“We’re family,” Liam said, then paused.The words had come automatically, even though he didn’t remember choosing these people.Was he overcompensating, or was he naturally generous?He shook off his doubts.“We can argue later.Right now, we need a place to set up.”
“All right.”But the life had gone out of Tamsin.She seemed smaller.Crushed.
Liam helped her load the boxes back onto the trolley, noting the whispers and not-so-quiet laughter from those who’d witnessed the confrontation.
“Good job.We don’t want them here,” a woman said.
“Who is he?”another asked.
Tamsin flinched, and Liam stepped closer, wanting to protect her from the callous remarks.Once they’d finished, he wheeled the trolley toward the car park.Tamsin followed, her shoulders hunched, and her head slumped.It made him wonder how often this woman got the stuffing knocked out of her because the locals considered her family monstrosities.
“What about over there by the oak tree in the shade?”
“People like to sit there with their picnic lunches after the market finishes.”
“But no signs say we can’t.”
Tamsin hesitated.“Sometimes, a man selling lemonade sets up there.”
“We’ll leave room for him, and maybe we could sell our tumblers to fill with lemonade, and both get sales.”
Tamsin shrugged.
Liam unloaded the trolley again and set up the table they’d brought with them.“Do you have price tickets?”
“Yes.”Tamsin showed them to Liam.
“You need to increase your prices,” he said.
“It’s the only way we can sell anything.We sold out last week.One man purchased the lot.”
Because he was reselling them elsewhere and making a profit.The words popped into Liam’s mind, catching him off guard.His memory flip-flopped like a fish out of water, and it bugged the hell out of him.
“Why don’t I take care of the selling, and you do the wrapping?If that’s all right with you.”
“Yes.”
Liam scowled, his head aching again.He couldn’t tell if it was the exertion or something else.No time for self-pity.Tamsin needed help, and he wanted to do this for Sienna and her family.He pushed the pain aside and rapidly repriced the items.
Cars arrived, pulling into the car park, and many people stopped to browse the cups and other items on the table.They chattered, clearly familiar with each other.
“Where’s your hubby?”a blonde asked while picking up a blue and white platter.
