Page 69 of Quintessentially

The buzzer on my phone goes off and with a deep breath, I turn the sign and unlock the front door. As the hours pass, we are even busier than we were the week before. By the time we close the store at a little after five, I’m exhausted. The problem is that my dad set up a meeting with Lynell Jacobs to look at the upstairs.

“Do you want to grab a bite to eat?” Chloe asks. “Mick is helping out at the Gordon farm today, and they always put on a huge spread for the workers.”

“You mean you don’t want to go eat with a bunch of men who have been lifting bales of hay all day?”

Her nose wrinkles. “I don’t even want to be withoneof those men until he showers. Twice.”

“We could go to the diner. Dad and Lynell Jacobs are supposed to be here at six.”

“Yeah,” Chloe says, “Mick said you were going to use both of them.”

“I’ll take anyone and everyone.”

“Do you need to do any closing before we go, add receipts…?”

I shake my head. “All of this with the store and Dax has me wiped out. I’ll come tomorrow with Molly and get caught up. After all, I’m now the boss.”

“Yes, you are.”

After locking the store, Chloe and I walk two doors down to the diner and find an open booth.

“I could eat a giant burger,” I say, looking at the menu.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were pregnant again.”

My lips come together as I shake my head. “Nope. There’s a prerequisite to that, and we haven’t done that.”

“What can I get you ladies,” Cheryl asks.

My stomach growls as I sip on an iced tea waiting for our meal. “I didn’t realize how hungry I was.”

“The sales were amazing today,” Chloe says. “That one woman, the one with the dog?”

“I mean, who brings a dog shopping?” I shake my head. “It was cute, but I was afraid it would wet on something. I’m going to need a no-dogs sign.”

Chloe laughs. “It was cute. And she bought over three hundred dollars’ worth of merchandise. As I rang her up, I told her that Quintessential Treasures is going online. She said that she’s excited to tell her friends.”

“Dax is right,” I say as our food arrives. “Thank you.”

“What is Dax right about?” Chloe asks.

“I need to invest in more inventory before going online. If I can’t fulfill orders in a timely manner, I’ll lose customers.”

“Maybe I can help you tomorrow. We can figure out which items sell best and when you start online, have a limited selection. That way you don’t have to stock up on everything.”

“I still need more room.” After a bite of my burger, I add, “You don’t want to be with Mick tomorrow?”

“The Gordon farm takes five times the workers and at least two weekends.”

“Dax could help next weekend.” I grin at volunteering him. His hands should be better by then.

“Maybe you can store things at his house,” Chloe suggests.

“Upstairs makes the most sense.”

Chloe sighs as she lowers her BLT to the plate. “Kandi, that’s your dream, your home for you and Molly.”

“I know, but I’ve been thinking about it. Maybe it should be more space for the store. I mean, living at my parents’ house isn’t awful, and like now, Molly’s with Mom and Dad.” I look down at my plate of French fries. “It will be less expensive, and I can spend money on the inventory.”

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