“I didn’t know you would be here.” She placed a kiss right in the center of his cheek. “What a wonderful surprise.”
He leaned back from the table, pushing his cookie aside so he didn’t inadvertently knock it off the edge. “I texted last night and said I’d come by to help.”
“That’s right.” She smiled again, as if remembering. “Sorry. I checked it late and then completely forgot to respond. My mind is going in a million different directions.”
Faith came over with an empty chair and set it right next to Sarah. “Go ahead and have a seat,” she instructed. “Take a load off. I’ve got things from here. Lance? You still good if I use your cookie as the demo?”
He lifted it from the napkin and handed it to her, careful not to smudge the icing on the edges. “It’s all yours.”
“I figured you would be busy with work,” Sarah said to him, scooching closer. From the front of the room, Faith began giving instructions, taking charge of the afternoon’s activity.
“Not much going on over at the shop lately.” Lance breathed out. “Pretty quiet.”
Sarah’s throat pulled with a long swallow, and a line creased right between her eyebrows. “I think I have a little something to do with that.”
“No, Sarah—”
“But I do. I took your lodging, Lance. Booked up all of those rooms without even stopping to think how it might affect your business.”
He pushed his chair back and turned toward her fully. This was a conversation that needed to happen face-to-face. “I don’t own the Inn. I don’t have priority or first dibs on the rooms. Reservations are fair game, and truth be told, I’m glad they were all available when you needed them so you could host your retreat there. It looks like everyone is having an incredible time.”
She hesitated, as if almost reluctant to admit that they were. That somehow in acknowledging her success, she’d have to accept responsibility for the shop’s current downturn. But Lance had no intention of saddling her with that guilt. It wasn’t hers to have.
“It was just really insensitive and self-focused of me,” Sarah carried on. “I came blazing back into Snowdrift, only thinking about my goals with the library and my future position at it. I didn’t stop to think about the other businesses—and people—that have been operating around here far longer than I have. I mean, my own brother is part owner at your store, Lance. How did I not even stop to consider how this retreat might affect him?”
“You will not convince me that this retreat was a mistake, Sarah.” Lance placed a calming hand upon her knee, needing away to connect with her through more than just words. “Things will work out so we can both be successful at what we set out to do. I’m not worried about that.”
“I already told Sterling to release the dates I had penciled in for a reading retreat in February.”
Lance bristled. “Why would you do that?”
“So your clients can use them.”
“Sarah,” he lowered his voice as the bakery buzzed with activity, writers decorating and conversing around them. “I don’t want you to change your plans or postpone your retreats on my account. Please don’t do that.”
“I could shift things to spring when your shop is slower,” she suggested.
“But you mentioned earlier that’s when things pick up at the library.”
“I’ll figure something out,” she replied, her worry evidenced in the way she nibbled her bottom lip.
“I don’t want this to be a source of stress for you, Sarah. Keep the reservations.”
“It’s going to stress one of us, and I’d rather it not be you.” She gave him a helpless look.
“Hey, you two.” Faith approached with a piping bag and red stained fingers. “Why the serious faces? Everything okay?”
“Everything’s fine,” Sarah said, though her tone hinted otherwise.
Faith eyed them skeptically. “Fine doesn’t look like fine on either of you.”
Lance swapped a look with Sarah, wordlessly asking permission to share with their friend. “We’re just talking through some business things.”
“Well, considering I own my own business, maybe I can help?”
“It’s just that with the Inn full of writers for the retreat,” Sarah began to fill Faith in, “Lance has lost his usual accommodations for his clients.”
Faith’s eyes widened in understanding. “Yeah, that’s tricky. Have you looked into other lodging options?”
