It feels like we’ve been on display since we walked through the bar.
She looks around the room. “This place seems so full and alive,” she says after a brief pause.
And just like that, I can’t even be mad at her for continuing our engagement because she’s one of the most empathetic people I’ve met. The way she’s treated my grandpa, the way she’s treated me, the way she’s now worried about the people of this town, who she doesn’t even know.
I am in deep trouble, because I’m falling for her really fast.
“Henry’s the one to talk to. He’s kept up the space forGrandpa. He’d have all the information for you.” I spot the man of the hour. “There he is.”
Henry is a lean man with thinning hair. It’s hard to guess his age. He could be ten or twenty years older than me. He’s followed by a server, who takes our order as Henry greets us.
“Mine ordering for me?” Magnolia asks.
“Of course.” I order some extra-big baskets of fries and some burgers, then turn back to Henry. “Henry, I’m glad you’re here tonight. Grandpa was hoping I could introduce you to Magnolia here. She’s going to be using the big building for her business.”
Henry looks at her in surprise. “Alexander called me and said you were going to put in a distillery and a bakery? That can’t be right.”
“I know it sounds strange, but if the space is right for it, we’ll have two separate businesses,” Magnolia explains.
“Oh, okay. That makes a lot more sense. Most families around here wouldn’t want to take their kids in for cookies and end up with a glass of whiskey instead of apple juice.”
“Although it would be funny,” I mutter.
Magnolia flashes me a warning look.
“I would run the bakery, and also help my friend with the actual distilling, but she would handle the business front of that as well.”
Henry rubs a hand along his jaw. “I’ve never heard of someone who ran a bakery and a distillery…but if the products are good and there isn’t a weird crossover, I don’t see why not. Besides, it would be easy for you to supply the Willow.”
“Oh, do you know the owner of the Willow?” Magnolia asks excitedly.
“I am the owner,” Henry laughs. “I own the general store too.”
“Well then, you’re exactly the person I need to talk with.”
“Why don’t you come back by tomorrow, and we’ll talk business, and I can give you the keys to the building to check it out?” Henry suggests as he stands to leave again. “I’ve got to go make sure the kitchen is staying caught up on the food. It’s a busy night tonight.”
“Thank you!” Magnolia calls after him.
“See? That was pretty painless, wasn’t it?” I ask her with a grin.
“Thank you for giving me a chance at this. I know that seems so strange, but I would love to run a bakery while assisting Piper with the distillery. The distillery is more of her wheelhouse…but I enjoy experimenting with her. If we had a bakery as part of the business, we could keep income flowing while we get the first batches ready.”
Magnolia’s face lights up every time she says the word “bakery,” which tells me everything I need to know about their business plan. “If you make those cinnamon rolls and sell them, you’ll have a booming business.”
“So, do you think it’s something people would want here?” Magnolia asks as a server delivers our food. It’s steaming hot and smells amazing. Magnolia eats her pickle spears first, then smother’s her fries in ketchup.
“Yes, I do. There’s a café that serves a generic breakfast, but there’s nothing here like what you have planned. Would you have different store fronts?”
“I think we’d have to for legal purposes. And Henry’s right. A bakery needs to be family-friendly, especially if you don’t want to turn away some of your biggestcustomers. That’s why I’m hoping it will work with the space your grandpa has.”
“You realize that if you take on this project, it will mean living here in Pine Ridge,” I tell her.
She looks at me with wide eyes. “Really? I thought I would be able to live in New York City while I made cinnamon rolls here.”
I chuckle. “You don’t have to get all sarcastic with me.”
“Then don’t treat me like I’m a child,” she says with raised eyebrows.
