I had a signed copy. I’d even read it.A warmhearted exploration of family, self-discovery, and change, the blurb said, and never mind that the character of the youngest sister, May, made me cringe. Well, it was Jo’s book. Jo’s story.
“And your father’s cookbook.”Serviceby Eric Bhaer, with a foreword by Jo March.
Stacks of them, withLocal Authorstickers. My sister was a celebrity. I stifled the familiar pang of pride and envy.
“I want to show you something,” Trey said.
He guided us past the old brick warehouse near the center of town, abandoned now as long as I could remember.
“What’s this?” Alec asked.
“Farmers’ warehouse,” Trey said. “Built in 1904. They used to bring their tobacco here to be auctioned.”
“It’s big.”
“Too big. Granddad’s never been able to find a tenant. Costs more than it’s worth to keep it standing empty. He’ll probably tear it down.”
I tipped my head back to study the warm, ancient brick, the multipaned windows blocked with grime. “That would be a shame.”
Trey shrugged. “Tourism will never be able to replace tobacco in this town.” He smiled. “And here we are.”
I raised an eyebrow. “A shoe store?”
“It’s closed,” Alec said.
“Owners retired eight months ago,” Trey said. “Kids didn’t want to take it over, so they let it go.”
I peered through the plate glass window at the dusty retail space. Terrible blue carpeting, cheap veneer racks, soulless fluorescent lighting against ugly ceiling tiles. My heart gave a sudden, unexpected thump.
“The second floor is empty,” Trey said. “Lots of storage.”
“And you’re showing me this because...?”
“I thought you might be interested.” He shot me a bright, expectant look. “Want to see inside?”
I swallowed against temptation. “It’s locked.”
“I have the key.”
Of course he did. “You own the building.”
“Laurence Properties does. Jo said... If you were thinking of staying...”
“What did she tell you?”
“That Phee was trying to bribe you to come home.”
I half laughed. “Bribe or blackmail.”
“So...” He stuck his hands in his pockets. “You want to go in or not?”
His eyes dared me.Inorout?Stayorgo?
My heart thudded. Leave it to Trey to find the perfect venue for my dreams. I could love him again without even trying.
And he didn’t feel the same way.
CHAPTER 13
