Page 10 of Spring Showers

“Not necessarily,” America said. “We can limp along through the summer, and hope things pick up enough, but we won’t be able to expand the way we need to in order to be able to offer all the luxe, high-end amenities that we envisioned. As it is, everyone in town has pitched in their time and resources as much as they can, but it’s still not enough.”

“And my job is expendable,” Thandie said and knew that she was correct. “It’s just pure business. I can get things going this week, and you both can fill in the gaps once I’m gone.” Disappointment dried her mouth like it was filled with cotton balls. “I was just getting to like this place, you know.”

America and Leo shifted their eyes to each other as though they were experiencing a whole conversation without speaking a single word aloud. A nod back and forth and a grin later, America spoke. “What areyounot tellingus?” America asked.

“It’s nothing.” Thandie realized she dismissed the question too quickly to be believed. “Fine. If we’re doing a wholebeing honestthing.”

“We are,” America and Leo said together.

“Do you always do that?” Thandie joked and got a shrug in response. “The truth is, I need this job. Like a lot. And I was hoping it would be for at least the season, through the summer.”

“I would love to tell you that is the plan. You’ve barely started here, and I can sense that you’re a great fit for the kind of atmosphere I want to create here. I just can’t promise you anything right now,” Leo said, and Thandie could tell he was being genuine.

“I understand, I really do. I’m grateful for the chance to work here, and—since we’re being honest—one paycheck is better than none.”

“Does that mean you’ll stay on through the week?” America clapped her hands together. “Please say you will.”

The arrangement would benefit everyone. If she did an excellent job, the investor would be happy, and the retreat could expand and stay open, which would mean she could keep her job. But it wasn’t what she thought she had signed up for, and twenty minutes earlier she had actually imagined herself staying for a while. That looked like a long shot now.

“So, you’ll stay?” Leo repeated America’s query.

This was it. Did she give The Foundry her all and stay on for a while, or did she limp back to her hometown and beg for whatever charity her friends or family were willing to dole out until she got on her feet again? The latter sounded terrible. Admitting defeat wasn’t something she felt up to.

“I don’t really have a choice. I have no money to go anywhere else,” she said. “It looks as though we three are in this boat together now. Let’s just hope it doesn’t sink us all.”

“I know I didn’t press earlier, but this is a small town and I’m bound to find out at some point. Can I ask about your situation?” America said and placed her hand on top of Thandie’s as though she sensed her need for compassion. “Jenny didn’t really say. She only said you could use the work and that you’d be a terrific addition to our little enterprise.”

“I do need the work. I’ve blown through my savings over the past few months, though it wasn’t much.” Thandie looked at Leo. “I suppose we have that much in common. I was stood up the night before my wedding and I’ve been running ever since. The son of a...He just left town. Didn’t even say goodbye or give me a reason.”

“I’m so sorry. What a low thing to do.”

“I had to get out of there. I was humiliated in front of the entire town and had nothing to keep me there. I was planning a life with a man who didn’t have the decency to look me in the eye and tell me he was done.” Tears pushed at the back of Thandie’s eyes and for the life of her, she refused to let one more drop fall on his account.

“It’s alright, you can let it out,” America said and came around to put an arm around Thandie’s shoulders.

“No,” she said, and America pulled back probably thinking she was being scolded for the hug. “Sorry, it’s not you. It’s just, I’m tired of crying about this. The next time I cry it’s going to be because I am the happiest person in the world. It will be for something good, not something bad.”

America gave her a hug like a sister would and looked her straight in the eye. “If we all work together this week, maybe we can make that happen. Are you in?”

“I don’t really have a choice. But that’s not why I’ll stay. You both have welcomed me here and have been nothing but great so far. JB—Jenny—vouched for me to have this job, and I want to help you succeed.”

She pulled her tears back from the brink as she steeled her resolve to stay and do the best job she could for The Foundry. What was, would never be, and there was no looking back at what could have been. That part of her life, the one with Davis as her husband, a cute house, and a cat, and a happy-ever-after was behind her and the only way forward was ahead.

“I’m sorry we weren’t truthful at first, but I hoped it wouldn’t need to come up,” Leo said. “Ideally, the week would go great, and we would get the money. You’d never need to know things were precarious. But now that you know, I’m sort of relieved.”

“Who else knows?” Thandie said and looked around, though they were alone, save for the noises coming from thecucina.

“My parents. They live in town now,” America said.

“And Pa,” Leo added.

“Which means that Carol probably knows too,” America said as they counted off on their fingers.

“Who are they?” Thandie asked and took another bite of the bread stick.

“Edwin, we call him Pa. I was telling you about him earlier,” America said. “And Carol is the gatekeeper around here. She’s been a fixture in these parts forever and knows everything about everything, you know?”

“I get it. My hometown has a few hundred people, but since most of them are farmers, they live scattered around the little main street. There’s a lady that lived across the street who was like your Carol. Love her or hate her, she’s sort of the glue that holds everything together.”

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