Page 42 of Another June with You

“Oh? Are you running late?”

“No, I’m calling to let you know I received an offer yesterday to purchase the building outright. I’ve been thinking of selling for a while now.”

“Wait, what? You’re selling?”

“Yes, I’m sorry to disappoint you.”

“Will the new owner be leasing the space? Can we talk with them?”

“He already has plans for the space, I’m afraid.”

Shannon’s stomach bottomed out, and she dropped her purse and sank to the sidewalk with her back against the door of the studio that would never be hers.

“I’m so sorry, Shannon. If I hear of any other available spaces, I’ll be sure to let you know. Best of luck to you.”

And with that, Vernon hung up and left Shannon staring blankly at the street in front of her.

“He sold the building out from under us? What the heck!” Jamie had obviously heard it all and was fuming.

Shannon’s heart beat loudly in her ears. The air, which had been warm before, was now stifling, and she began to sweat. She really should’ve eaten something before she came. The coffee wasn’t sitting right.

This couldn’t be happening. All her hopes and dreams had been pinned on this studio. Retail space in this area was hard to come by. Impossible, really. And it was gone.

Shannon stood suddenly and began walking.

“Where are you going?” Jamie called after her.

“I need to think.”

“Do you want me to come with?”

“No.”

“Wait!” Jamie ran over to deliver her purse. “Here.”

“Thanks.” Shannon turned and walked toward Reeds Lake.

“Call me when it’s time to go to Keely’s dress fitting and tell me where to pick you up, okay?”

“Okay,” she replied weakly.

“It’ll be okay, Shannon.” Jamie’s voice carried after her.

Shannon walked to the end of Wealthy Street and crossed the road to John Collins Park. She sat down on one of the benches and stared out at the morning sun reflecting off the lake. This was not how this day was supposed to go. They should’ve been walking through the space—their space—and signing papers. Instead it was snatched out from under them.

Her heart was broken.

And the first person she wanted to talk to … Micah.

Tears sprung to her eyes. Why did she still have to feel such a connection to him after all this time? Why did he have to come back into her life right now? It seemed one thing after another had happened the past few days to bring her down.

Her mind started to form a prayer and then stopped. She hadn’t been able to talk to God much in the past ten years. She would start to pray and get angry for all He had taken away from her and stop herself. She couldn’t remember the last time she had asked for His help.

The wind blew in off the lake then, causing a hair to tickle her cheek. She inhaled deeply and let it out through her nose. She knew in her mind that God was there for her, that He would never give her more than she could handle, that He wanted what was best for her. But if that was true, why had things taken such a turn ten years ago? Why had her life turned out the way it had?

Breaking up with Micah had been her decision, but she blamed God for allowing the circumstances that had led her there.

Chapter 14

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