Page 77 of Just One Moment

“How’sthe bread?”

Shepops the last of it in her mouth and chews slowly. “It’sgood.Imean, not to blow my own horn, butIdo it better.”

“Iagree.Itjust happensIknow the guy in charge of ordering in the stock.MaybeI’llput a good word in for you.”

Hereyes narrow. “I’mnot ready for that.Wehave a plan; you wrote it.”

She’sreferring to the three-month business planIdrafted.Allher books are in order now and she has an easy, clear recording system so she doesn’t get herself in the same messIfound her accounts in.Idid some forecasting for her, too, which illustrated a healthy incline over the next year.Shewas shocked to find her financial position was in a much better place than she originally suspected.

Yet, she’s still wary of taking these next steps.

“It’snot like we’re some big chain ready to screw you over.Youcan start out small, butIknow there are plenty ofbusinesses that would love to work with you.EvenRickymentioned buying some of your muffins to stock in his waiting room the other day.”

“Youspoke toRicky?”Shetilts her head.

Shit.

“Um, yeah.Hecouldn’t get through to your cell, but there weren’t any updates, he was just checking in.He’sready to start work when you give him the go-ahead.”

“Oh, okay.”

Ilean forward, catching her gaze. “Willyou tell me what’s holding you back from working with the restaurant?IfIcan help,Iwant to.”

Fora second,Ithink she’s going to brush me off.I’mrelieved when her shoulders lose a little tension, and she says, “Itfeels like cheating, you know?Ihaven’t earned it.I’monly getting this opportunity because of whoIknow—you,Booth,Patrick,Johanna.”

Heranswer leaves me more confused. “It’scliché, but in business, it’s about who you know.Networkingis a big part of success; it’s not cheating if it helps you get where you want to be.”

Shefiddles with the linen napkin on her lap.Discomforttwists her features, and she falls silent.I’velearned that when she closes up like this, her mother is usually involved.Justthinking about that woman has white-hot rage simmering in me, butIneed to stay calm.Quinnisn’t trying to avoid the question, but she needs assurances before fully opening up.Especiallywhen it comes to her past.

Myhand stretches out across the table, and she takes it without question. “Iknow it’s hard.Everystep of your journey to get here, you’ve done alone.Youshould be proud of that;IknowIam.Don’tlet pride get in the way of what you’ve built.Youthink my dad andGeorgedidn’t use their connections to help them out?”Igesture toward the brick and whitewash wallsof the restaurant, covered in old fishing gear and photographs of the town.Ithasn’t changed much sinceIwas a kid, something my siblings andItreasure.

“LennyandMartinWillisplayed a big part in helping them get this place open,”Icontinue. “Fromputting them in contact with local brewers and offering fair deals on produce.That’swhat business is about.Andwhat this town is about.Givingback to the people who live here.”

Iwatch her digest my words.

“WhatifIfail?” she whispers. “That’swhat my mo—whatshealways said.Shenever followed me, but she’d leave me texts and voice mails, reminding me that all she saw was a failure.Anytimea teacher sent me home with a new pair of shoes or food, she accused me of cheating my way through life and taking the easy way out.Itnever made sense whenIwas a child.Itdoesn’t excuse what she said or did, but a part of me wonders if she acted that way because she couldn’t afford those things.Idon’t believe her words anymore…but sometimes they still haunt me.”

Myheart cracks as her voice falters and tears pool in her eyes.Forall the joy and beauty she brings into the world,Quinnhas scars like the rest of us.I’mgreedy for her happiness, butIdon’t take her vulnerability for granted.

It’sin these moments thatIknow my words mean the most to her. “Weallfail.We’rehuman.”Ibring her hand to my mouth and lay a kiss to the center of her palm, then let it rest against my cheek asIspeak. “Mydad would say, ‘Letthe failures of today build the foundations of tomorrow.’Ican’t see it happening, but if you fumble or trip,I’llbe there every step of the way to help you get back up.”

Ashaky breath leaves her, and the tightening in my chest eases up when a small smile follows. “Okay.I’llspeak toBooth.Justlet me do it whenI’mready.”Herhand coasts up my jaw. “Thankyou for everything you’ve done for me.”

“It’smy pleasure.”Iplace another kiss to the inside of her wrist before pulling away as the server comes over to clear our plates.

“SpeakingofMr.Willis.Haveyou heard he’s thinking about selling a bunch of his properties?”

Shakingmy head,Ireply, “No,Ihaven’t.Whydo you ask?”

“I’mreally close to getting a deposit together andIdunno”—she shrugs—“maybe the banks will take a chance on me.Doyou think it’s a long shot ifIspoke to him about buying the bottom floor off him when the time comes?”

Pridesurges in my chest.She’sgone from doubting her credibility as a business owner to sharing this. “Ithink that’s smart.Hetrusts you.Getin there first before anyone else does.”

There’sa twinkle in her eyes, and she goes to open her mouth, when she’s interrupted by a voiceI’veunfortunately become very acquainted with over the years.

“Graham?”

Quinnhas never met the woman standing in front of us, but from the way she straightens in her seat and narrows her eyes, she knows exactly who this is.

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