Page 18 of Why Cheese?
“You sell it,” Roq says. “Twenty-year-old cheddar will fetch a high price.”
Will it?While I was a whiz at guessing the types of cheeses I ate, I had no idea what was or wasn’t expensive. All my kid heart cared about was what tasted good. Putting on airs I’ve never had, I walk over to try to inspect the cheese. It’s wrapped in a tight cloth which is probably good. “Is it all natural? Organic?”
“It’s cheese, not metal,” Roq fumes as if my question makes no sense. “Of course it’s organic.”
“Okay, okay.” Nodding, I walk back from the not-metal cheese. “Here’s the thing.” I clasp my hands together and tap my fingers to my lips because I’ve seen business people do it in movies.
All of the men gather around me. Even Cam returns with his sleeves rolled up. Taking a deep breath, I say, “I don’t know how to run a cheese shop. Or any shop…at all.”
I can work a mop and trash can, so my skills end in getting the place cleaned up to sell.
“We can help you,” Roq says.
“I happen to be renowned for parting people from their coin.” Cam places a foot on the rack and leans against it with a cheeky grin.
“The place is a mess.”
“I could maybe freshen it up,” Brie offers before he mumbles, “if you would want me to.”
“And I can carry things!” Cheddy shouts while half hugging Brie. “See!” He hefts the shocked man into the air, laughing the whole time.
“Well, Miss Violette?” Roq asks.
I’m only supposed to be here for a week tops. If I stay one day more my mother will go into a nuclear meltdown. “It’s just that, this realtor really wants me to sell…um.”
It hurts to watch their faces fall. No one rushes over to beg or demand I help them. Threaten me with being tossed into a vat if I don’t. They seem to accept their lot without question, which hurts my heart worse than if they had.
“What if…?” I rush forward, then flush at the sudden focus. “What if we open the shop long enough to sell off those cheeses? That would give you time to—”
“Make more!” Cheddy declares.
“Find a new home,” I say. “I’m sorry, it’s just that, I live across the country, and if I stay too long then my—”
“Say no more,” Roq cuts me off, but for once it’s with a soft tone. “What you offer is more than fair. We shall help you to refurbish the store, sell off the last of our hard work, then find a new home.”
“Because another vaunted cheese shop with a hidden cellar will just fall into our laps,” Cam complains.
Silencing him with a shush, Roq extends his hand. “Do we have a deal?”
What am I doing? I don’t really believe they’re cheese people…do I?
No, of course not. But if I honor their lunacy then maybe they’ll leave without hurting me or the store.Then again, this is going to piss off my mother, Jeremy, probably the lawyers, and especially my mom.
Back out. Refuse. Tell them to leave now and take their cheese with them.
Taking a deep breath, I look into the hopeful eyes of the four delusional men. I clasp Roq’s hand and shake it. “Let’s do it.”
CHAPTER SIX
Stilting Stilton
I WAKE IN a pile of cheesecloth like a princess trying to suffer from a single vegetable under her. Soft lantern light dances across the stones of the cellar. I have a vague memory of Roq talking and talking before my eyes grew heavy and I let them close. But that happened upstairs while the others were picking up the shelves they tipped over.
Placing a hand on my forehead, I sit up. A note tumbles from my chest to the floor. My joints cry out as I creak to my feet. Rubbing a sore spot on my back, I hunch over for the paper.
A swooping hand wrote in cursive:
“My darling. You looked positively exhausted after collapsing in my arms, so we left you to slumber on our fair, feather-adjacent bed. Attached are all of Roq’s numerous, unending requests. Please fill them at your leisure.
