But of course, there are people who would be a good match. People like Laura Bell, who has her family’s wealth behind her. She’d hire help and manage the people rather than the shop itself. But wealth…wealth weighs heavily in this town because people don’t want to have a lot of turnover in our businesses.
I pull on the corner of my lip with my teeth, my anxiety revving up my doubt.
This is humiliating. I don’t even know why I’m standing here.
“You know what, I don’t think I got the bid,” I whisper to Aunt Kitty. “I think we should go.”
“What are you talking about? Of course you got the bid.” Cupping her hand over her mouth, she shouts, “Get on with it, Sheffield.”
“Aunt Kitty.” I tug on her arm as she points to her eyes with two fingers and then to Mayor Sheffield, who looks extremely displeased with the outburst during his walk down memory lane of the history of Rudder’s.
Mayor Sheffield and Aunt Kitty don’t get along. So I’m certain I won’t win.
Clearing his throat again, Mayor Sheffield says, “Well, we don’t want to keep you too long, because we want this shop opened sooner rather than later with summer upon us and the arrival of tourist season along with it, so, without further ado, I’d like to announce our new owner.”
I press my lips tightly together, wringing my hands in front of me, clammy from the humidity of a Cape Meril summer and pure nerves. If I don’t get it, it’s not the end of the world, that’s what I keep telling myself. I have my business, which made me known as the Jackie of all trades around town. I help everyone with their odd jobs, help them fix up their own stores…
God, I want this.
I want this so bad.
I want to preserve the legacy of the store where I made some of my favorite memories with my dad before he passed.
I want to be able to have something of my own.
And most importantly, I want to be able to prove to this town that I’m not just Renley Gossage, daughter of the town screwup, niece of the quirky, hobby horse–riding Kitty Gossage, but thatI can make something of myself, and of the name that my father gave me.
“The Cape Meril Business Society and I are proud to announce that the new owner of Rudder’s Sweets is…” Marjorie plays a drumroll over the speakers, and for far too long, as Mayor Sheffield motions toward her, attempting to get her to turn it off.
She fumbles, causing the speaker to send an ear-piercing screech into the crowd again, only for her to scramble some more, knock a speaker over, and cause the crowd to gasp in horror.
“For the love of…” Mayor Sheffield mumbles before helping Marjorie right the speaker back up on the stage.
“Marjorie sucks! Fire her,” Aunt Kitty shouts from the side of her mouth and then looks around, surprised. “Who said that? I…I can’t believe someone would say that.”
Dear God.
When everything is settled, Mayor Sheffield brushes off the front of his button-up shirt and vest and then grips the mic, leans in, and says, “Congratulations to Renley Gossage.”
I’m so busy looking around myself to make sure no one heard Aunt Kitty that I don’t notice when the crowd starts cheering.
“Wait, did he say your name?” Aunt Kitty asks.
“Did he?” I ask. When I look around, everyone is looking at me, even Mayor Sheffield.
“Holy shit, I think he said my name.”
Aunt Kitty turns toward the stage and shouts, “Hey, Sheffield, did you say my niece’s name?”
He rolls his eyes and then nods. “Yes, Renley Gossage.”
Oh.
My.
God.
“He said it.” Aunt Kitty shakes me by the shoulders. “He said your name. Oh my God, you’re the winner. You’re the winner!” Then she smacks my ass and shouts, “Get up there, Renley, claim your prize.”
