Ed shrugged one shoulder. ‘I said I would, though I’m not sure there’s much I can add.’
Harry took a deep breath. ‘Did you know what Liam was on about when he talked about a vision statement?’
Ed nodded. ‘Yeah, we covered it in business studies years ago, and part of my course has dealt with how to put together grant applications for research projects. It’s not quite the same thing, but near enough.’
The fact he knew that much was more than enough as far as Harry was concerned. ‘Look, I was thinking about how I’m going to run the business and I’m going to need someone to help with the day-to-day admin. I could also really do with some help putting the business plan together. I know Liam said it’s pretty straightforward but I’m useless at that kind of thing. Once the school’s up and running, I’m going to need a partner, someone to handle the accounts, manage the bookings and what-have-you. I don’t think I’d need someone full time, but it would be a regular, paid position.’
‘That sounds like a good idea. Have you got anyone in mind?’
Harry smiled. ‘I was hoping you might be up for it. Think about it,’ he added, warming to his subject. ‘Okay, it’d still be shitty admin work, but you’d be doing it for me – for us – not some random boss who’ll give you a hard time. We’d be a partnership, back together like the old days. You’d still have time to study, I’d let you set your own hours – and I’d pay you the going rate, of course…’ Harry’s words died off along with his enthusiasm as Ed continued to stare at him, his face a blank mask.
‘I’m sorry, bro, I can’t.’
‘Can’t or won’t?’ Harry snapped, his temper flaring.
‘I just don’t think it’s a very good idea.’
‘But I thought you wanted us to spend more time together?’
Ed shook his head. ‘Not this, I’m sorry, it’s too big an ask.’
Too big an ask?‘You know I’d do anything for you, right?’ Harry couldn’t help an edge of hurt creeping into his voice.
Ed’s smile of acknowledgement was sweet and sad. ‘And I’d do the same for you, under most circumstances, but not this. This is yourdream, Harry, and I’m too much of a liability! You and Liam were right about what you said the other day. I’ll find a way to mess things up for you – I won’t mean to, but it’ll happen anyway and I couldn’t live with myself if I did that to you.’
Harry’s heart ached deep in his chest. ‘I don’t think you’d screw this up, Ed. I trust you more than anyone else on this earth. I trust you with my life and I’d trust you with this too.’
Ed took a step back. ‘You might trust me, but I don’t think I can trust myself. I’m sorry, bro, I really am.’
Disappointment was a bitter acid burn in Harry’s throat, but he swallowed it down. ‘Okay.’ He closed the distance between them. ‘Hey, it was just an idea, right? And I appreciate you being honest with me. No harm, no foul, yeah?’
‘Yeah.’ Ed swallowed. ‘I really am?—’
Harry clapped a hand over his mouth. ‘If you apologise to me again we’re going to have a problem.’ Ed’s lips stretched into a smile behind his palm and Harry removed his hand and slung an arm around Ed and pulled him in for a hug. Though he was pleased the two of them were on speaking terms again, he was left with one really big problem.
If Ed wouldn’t help him get his business plan together, who would?
21
Kat walked into the coffee shop with a sense of trepidation. It was the first day she and her dad were both scheduled to be working together since their showdown in his office the previous month. The only communication she’d had with him was their back-and-forth Post-it messages. She’d had a snoop around the office when he wasn’t there but she’d seen no further sign of his plans for the second franchise. Perhaps what she’d told him had actually sunk in and he’d abandoned the idea.
And perhaps a bacon sandwich would go flapping past the window.
There was no avoiding him today, though. Valentine’s Day was fast approaching and the promotions team at head office had been at it again. A whole load of promotional stock had been sent out and every franchise outlet had been set ambitious sales targets for the week. Kat eyed the glass display counter she’d filled the evening before with heart-shaped lolly cakes and biscuits. Everything that wasn’t Day-Glo pink was smothered in red icing or filled with strawberry jam, or both. The drinks menu had also been made over so everything was true love this, orValentine that. These theme events were a big deal for the Java Brava brand and they expected their branches to sell, sell, sell.
Bracing herself, Kat walked into the office to put her coat away in her locker. ‘Morning, Dad.’
Her father glanced up and, even partly shielded by the frames of his glasses, it was impossible to miss the dark circles under his eyes. He was smiling at least, much to her relief. ‘Ah, Kat, there you are. I’ve been working on something and I want to show it to you.’
That brief flash of relief vanished in a puff of anxiety. ‘Not the second franchise thing again, Dad…’
He shook his head. ‘No, you’ve made your feelings more than clear about that. Here.’ He held out a piece of paper.
Kat recognised the familiar grid layout of their monthly rota. She scanned it over, confusion filling her as she noted the number of gaps against her name. ‘What’s this?’
‘You were right when you said I have been taking you too much for granted, so I’m hoping this will help a little. I’ve adjusted the rota so for the next quarter you’ll have Monday and Wednesday afternoons off, starting today.’
Kat’s head shot up in surprise. ‘Surely you want me to stick around with the Valentine’s promotion going on?’
