“I’m afraid so. I’m just here to get a few files for the lawyers and take some pictures. Plus, I wanted to tell you in person.”
“How soon?” Tess’s shoulders slumped.
“Tess. You know this isn’t personal, right? It’s just business.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“I can’t say for sure,” he said. “But probably by the end of summer.”
Tess stood. This had obviously moved past the point of input. He’d made up his mind, so she saw nothing left to say.
“I’m sorry, Tess. I’ll let the new owner know how awesome you are and do everything I can to protect your job.”
Tess nodded, shoving away the frustration. It felt personal, but she knew it wasn’t. Don had hired her right out of college and given her the freedom to spread her entrepreneurial wings. It had been five years. Maybe itwastime to fly on her own.
“Whatever happens,” she said. “You took a chance on me. I appreciate the opportunities and the loose reins you gave me to run the place. I’ve learned a lot.”
“You’re tough, Tess, and that’s important in the business world. I know you’ll land on your feet.”
Before leaving, she went around the desk and hugged “old” Mr. Moody. As irritated as she was, this was a bridge she didn’t want to burn.
Later that night, she was at dinner with her friends. For years, Tess and her team had gotten together almost every night, but times were changing. The core group of six had dwindled to four after Holly married and moved to New York City, and Maddie became an actress and moved to Los Angeles. And now that two of the remaining four were “taken”—Faith, married a year ago, and Alex, engaged three months ago—they’d cut back to only a few times a week. Drinks had arrived, and they were discussing the events of the last several days.
“Guess who came to town today?” Tess asked. Before anyone could answer, she continued. “Mr. Moody.”
“Wow,” Faith said. “What’s it been, like a year since you’ve seen him?”
Tess held up two fingers.
“What’d he want?” Alex asked.
“To rip me a new one over a bad review and invite me to his next wedding,” Tess said. “Oh, and to announce he’s selling the store.”
“What?” her friends blurted in unison.
“What does that mean for you?” Juliet asked.
Tess shrugged. “No idea.”
“You should buy it,” Alex said.
“The thought crossed my mind,” Tess admitted. “But he’s already put it in with a bunch of other businesses and plans to sell them as a lot. Even if I could get financing and scrape together a down payment, I don’t know if it’s even an option.”
“Did you tell him your new ideas?” Juliet asked.
“He told me to save them for the new owner.”
“Ouch,” Faith said. “What’d you say when he told you? Nick’s not gonna have to arrest you for assault, is he?”
Nick was the town sheriff. And Tess’s brother. And Faith’s husband. People wore many hats in a town as small as Green Valley Falls.
“I’d like to see him try.” Tess huffed out a laugh. “No. I kept my cool. I actually feel like I owe Moody a lot. Hiring me right out of college to run his business was pretty risky. I also thought for sure I’d have to leave GVF to find a decent job, and he made staying possible.”
“Maybe he’ll work with you then,” Alex said. “Did you tell him you want it?”
“I don’t know for sure that I do.” Tess shook her head. “Maybe it’s time to move on.”
“You have talked about starting your own business,” Juliet said. “Something about prepping?”
