Page 82 of Just For Her

Truth was… Kayla didn’t have to worry about money much for a while. After haggling with Kiersten, who still didn’t know that the breakup had already occurred, she talked the woman into the full hundred grand. While it wasn’t Kayla’s finest moment, Chrissy had summed up the reasoning quite succinctly: somehow, Kayla needed a payday from this.

She had also convinced Kiersten to give her the money in a lump sum instead of in five separate $20,000 payments. The fact that the woman agreed to never let Tove know where the money came from was a bonus. Especially since Kayla kept waffling on what to do with it.

She knew she should take the money and run. A hundred grand was more than enough to take some time off to figure out what she wanted to do with her life.

But she had another idea. One that was as crazy as lying to Tove in the first place.

She had the idea when walking back to her car after work one evening. It was a busy day for tourists, and the only place Kayla could park was close to Tove’s office. While Kayla was careful not to put her car in sight in case Tove was around, she took a chance walking by the storefronts and saw that Trudy’s Gifts was formally up for sale.

I’m crazy for thinking about it, right?

Kayla didn’t tell anyone what she planned. She also had yet to put in her two weeks’ notice at work, citing that there were no finalized plans for moving back to the Portland area. Her brother expected her whenever, and Chrissy had said there was no hurry for Kayla to leave. Any fire under her ass was her desire to get away from everything and anythingFredrikssonwhich, yes, was a good reason. Yet Kayla also didn’t want to rush into something as important as starting her life over yet again.

So she thought about it. If she were religious, she might have prayed about it.

One night when she detoured down that street, she saw Trudy updating the display in her window and took a chance on stepping inside. A bell jangled. The scent of candles filled the air. Trudy, who had followed Kayla with her gaze from the moment she saw her, stepped out of her display and kindly announced that she was about to close.

“I know.” Kayla waited for the older woman to approach her with curiosity in her eyes. “I was wondering if you had a few minutes to discuss how much you want for your store.”

The wonder glowed brighter. “I didn’t realize you were interested in the retail world. Especially after what I heard about… oh, don’t mind me. It’s none of my business.”

Kayla tugged on her brewery T-shirt. That time of year, she wore nothing else but shorts and a pair of sturdy tennis shoes to get her through her shift. Her hair had grown long enough those past few months that she now clipped it back as well as holding it in a strong ponytail. Even a single strand of hair in her face drove her crazy, including now, when she realized how silly she looked talking about this while wearing her waitressing uniform.

“I think you know why I’m interested… but I want to honestly discuss it with you first. I’ve come into quite a bit of money. I want to make sure I do something meaningful with it.”

“It’s safe to say that nobody has genuinely approached me yet. Including Tove, who I bothered. That woman will never give up what comfort her family has given her unless someone pushes her over the edge.”

“Are you implying what I think you are?”

Trudy grinned. “Why don’t I lock up and we talk this over in my office? It’s right back there. Or you can take a look first. I don’t suggest anyone make an uninformed purchase.”

While Trudy took care locking up, Kayla did a slow walkthrough of the large souvenir shop that dominated this part of the downtown core. From the soft clothing branded in BEND hanging on the walls to the trinkets lining the shelves, Kayla imagined this place being run by someone different. Someone with a vision.

Someone not her.

“Right back here, dear.” Trudy opened the door to her cramped office crammed with boxes overflowing with more T-shirts and hoodies. “I’ll go over some numbers with you, and you can ask me whatever you like.”

Kayla told herself that nothing had to be decided that day. Yet she had a feeling, as she stepped into Trudy’s office, that this was the start of something wild and new – once again.

Chapter 24

OnelateAugustmorning,Tove parked her car in its usual spot and was greeted by a group of hikers preparing to set out for the trails.

They were nice enough, if not too aloof to realize they blocked the sidewalk. Tove hustled across the street and took the long way around to her office, where a note was taped to her door.

“TOVE – Do me the honor of stopping by my shop today. I’ll be there until five doing admin work. Don’t mind the CLOSED sign. Give me a knock and I’ll let you in! – TRUDY.”

Naturally, Tove had no idea what this was about. When she finished settling into her office, checking her appointments for the day, and cleaning off a spot on her desk to keep it neat, she called up Trudy’s Gifts to ask what the note was about.

There was no answer.Don’t think I’ll be heading over right now.If nobody was answering, why would Tove bother?

It wasn’t until after her second appointment that morning that she remembered the request. Although her stomach rumbled for the lunch she had packed and left in the minifridge, she picked up her purse, locked the door, and headed down the sidewalk for Trudy’s, wondering what could be so important that Tove had to come over and visit one of her oldest acquaintances in town.

The first thing she noticed was that the FOR SALE sign was gone.So, she’s sold it.Was that what Trudy wanted to talk about? Selling the gift shop and moving away from Bend? This might be Tove’s last chance to have a heart-to-heart with Trudy, who was one of the only people in town who understood Tove’s retirement plans.

But Tove was also old enough by now to know that things had changed. People changed. Including her.

She knocked on the locked door and peered inside. Most of the lights were off, but she could still make out a couple of shadows moving among the merchandise. Opened boxes littered the floor.Inventory?Or was Trudy expected to ditch her stuff before handing over the keys? Was Tove in for a surprise when she stepped inside and saw half of the items packed away in what was essentially a Bend institution?

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