Page 58 of Dream a Little Dream

I quirked my head. “Here in town? Get out.”

“Yes. Small world. We were teenagers. His family was rich. My family was rich adjacent.”

“Ooh la la.”

“Don’t get excited. I don’t have my parents’ money.”

“Easy come, easy go.” I pushed her back on track. “Tell me more of the young Kyle story.”

“Well, our parents were just positive we’d be engaged by the time we were twenty-two.” She shrugged. “I came out at eighteen and ruined everything.”

“You bitch.”

“I know.”

“Anyway, Brent went on, got engaged, left at the altar.”

“Ouch.”

“It was horrible.” Kyle winced. “I was there to see the whole thing. But he’s good now. Found an amazing girlfriend, and they’re still together.”

“Good for him.”

“Well, not today. He’d just finished up a business lunch, came outside to a flat tire, and smashed his hand changing it on an incline. Never smart.”

I paused my ice cream enjoyment. “That gives me chills just thinking about. Gotta be careful around a jack. He’s so lucky. Brent’s his name?”

“Yes. Brent Carmichael.”

I frowned and stopped walking. This was hitting too close to home. “This is a long shot, but he’s not related to the Carmichael family who own BeLeaf Foods?”

“Yes, his dad does own a chain of stores, now that you mention it. That’s something you two would have in common. Brent went into the family business.”

“Which brings me to my big news. Faber, my boss, is selling my store.”

“Oh, wow.”

“He’s selling a grocery store, and Brent, who works for a grocery store chain, is in town for business.”

She turned to me, wide eyed.

“We’re going to become a BeLeaf Foods.” I blinked.

“I think you just might be.”

I was absolutely floored. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine we’d be acquired and turned into a national brand. The Bay was populated by mom-and-pop businesses. Recognizable corporations didn’t like the conditions the city leveled on them and generally stayed away.

“They’re going to come in here and install their own people.” I suddenly didn’t want the rest of my cone and tossed it in the nearby bin.

“We don’t know that. But whatever does happen? You’re going to be just fine.”

“How do you know that?” I asked, but my brain was only halfway engaged in the conversation, having downshifted to despair.

“No. Look at me. I meanreallylook at me.” She stopped us in front of the Miriam’s Antiques and Fun Finds. I loved the fun finds, butit was hard to find joy in this moment. “You’re smart and innovative and a go-getter. That conference you went to in Charleston was the perfect example. You now operate an amazing Airbnb, and I speak from experience.”

“Maybe I need to open five more. Do you think your rich parents would finance my venture?” That earned a laugh that I sorely needed. I loved Kyle’s laugh. The sound even helped lighten my spirits.

“I’ll give them a call. See what I can do.” She offered a playful wink and I was overcome with gratitude for the way she made a shitty situation feel manageable simply by proximity. She gave my chin a soft shake. “Do you want me to see what I can find out from Brent?”

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