Page 8 of Crazy in Love

“She just lets it live here?” Alex asked.

“Honestly, I haven’t been around enough to notice until today. I certainly didn’t know it was spending nights here.”

Tess set her coffee mug of pinot grigio on the edge of the desk, and Faith made a note to bring in some wine glasses.

“Faith, you’re spreading yourself too thin. You’re not gonna be able to do this just coming over here an hour or two here and there. At least not at first. Maybe once you get things back on track.”

“Tess is right,” Alex said. “Have you considered putting the hair stuff on hold for a minute and moving over here full-time?”

Faith pulled a card out of the tarot deck. Something about despair and depression. Not helpful. She returned it to the stack and watched the cat trot out of the room.

“I’m considering it,” she said. Being booked to the gills at the salon left her no time and little brainpower to give the bookstore the attention it needed. “Irene has been managing things here. I was kind of hoping she’d stay on.”

“Except she’s managing it straight into the ground,” Alex said. “You gotta put on a business hat and make some tough decisions. You won’t be everyone’s best friend.”

“I know that’s not you,” Tess said, holding up a hand to ward off Faith’s protest. “You’re so sweet to everyone. But Alex is right. Irene shouldn’t stay on as manager.”

Faith plucked another card from the deck—the Knight of Wands. The small print said it had to do with energy and passion. Deeming it impertinent, she crammed it back in with the rest.

“You could take over that role,” Juliet said. “Assuming your mom was paying her more to manage, that instantly saves you money.”

“You make it sound like I could do better,” Faith said. “There is no guarantee of that!”

“You’re smart and a quick learner,” Juliet said. “And we’ll help you.”

Faith had her doubts but was encouraged by her friends’ faith in her.

“What about cutting hours? Would that hurt anyone?” Alex asked.

“Well, let’s see. Irene only comes in to avoid spending time with her husband. So she should be okay with it. Ruby just loves to read and would probably come in for free.”

“Nice. Who else?”

“Brandon goes back to school in a couple of weeks, so he’ll be less available anyway.”

“Whoisgoing to care?” Alex said.

Faith shrugged. “No one depends solely on their salary to live. Morgan’s saving for college, so she might get miffed.”

“Tourist season is almost over, so staffing won’t need to be so robust,” Tess said. “At The Outpost,everyonegets reduced hours in the fall.”

“True,” Faith admitted. “My mom did always cut down to one staff person in the off-season. They’re probably already expecting it.”

“You could also look at cutting the bookstore hours once the tourists are gone,” Juliet suggested. “Open later or close earlier. Or both.”

“If I do all that,” Faith said. “Maybe I can avoid firing someone.”

The cat returned and jumped onto Juliet’s lap. Juliet, lover of all animals, sat back to give it more room and pet it.

“What was your mom’s salary like?” Alex asked.

“Pft. Lame,” Faith huffed. “I easily make three times as much at the salon.”

“That’s too bad,” Juliet said. “But with a little work, you could turn this place around and start making some money.”

Faith pulled the Ace of Pentacles from the deck. The fine print on this one claimed, “new career or financial opportunities.” Finally, a card that made sense.

“You gotta believe in yourself, Sullivan,” Tess said. “You can do this.Without‘divine guidance.’” She put the last words in air quotes and nodded at the cards.

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