Page 20 of The Charming Checklist
“I know, but I mean it.”
“Thanks, then.”
Tonight, she’d gone with her Audrey HepburnBreakfast at Tiffany’slook. It went well with the tiara. Sleek black A-line dress hitting just above the knee, and classic black strappy heels. On her birthday, she tried to give her mother something, so she usually dressed in the elegant and sophisticated way of the woman that she was not. It was the least she could do for the woman she’d disappointed so much simply by being herself.
“You should know, we’re running a little late,” Ava said.
“What? Why?” He glanced at his wristwatch. “I’m right on time.”
“Don’t worry, my family is used to this. I’m always fifteen minutes late. It’s my thing.”
He scowled. “Damn it, Ava, being late isnothow I impress people.”
“Don’t worry, you’re not going to have any trouble impressing my family. I’ve already told them about you. I’ve paved the way.”
“Okay, let’s go over a few things first. Remind me again who I’m meeting tonight. Your mother, Dr. Katherine Long, your father Dr. William Long, and your brothers, right? Both doctors.”
“My brothers, Dr. James Long, and Dr. Robert Long. Their wives, Angelica and Makayla Long. And since I haven’t said so yet, please let me apologize for tonight in advance.”
“Why would you do that? I agreed to this.”
“If you thought that Mercedes was a snob...”
“I’m sure they can’t bethatbad.”
“If you say so.” She clicked her seat belt into place, the sound loud in the cocoon of the closed, top-up convertible. Wonder if Max ever drove it with the top down. “Um, have you had a chance to look at my business plan yet?”
“I was going to talk to you about that tonight.” Max pulled out onto the highway.
She took a shallow breath, steeling herself against the questionable wisdom of yet another coffee shop when there were already so many, at least one which dominated the market with their chain stores from coast to coast.
“Let me have your advice.”
“You’re in the perfect town, actually, to open up a coffee shop if that’s what you want to do. As you well know, the mayor and city council of Charming aren’t allowing the big-box stores, or any large chain, to lease space in town. I should know, because I’d like the Salty Dog to be a franchise, so I’ve researched their regulations.”
Excitement bubbled up and she jumped a little in her seat. “Youlikemy idea?”
“Calm down. If this is what you want to do, and if your heart is set on it, I think you should do it.”
“You?Youthink I should do it?”
Ava didn’t want to say so, but this was a little like the Grinch agreeing Christmas was a good idea. If she wasn’t sitting down, she’d get up and dance.
“Why does that surprise you?”
“Because of Starbucks, for one. There are tons of them in our neighboring cities. And there are already other coffee shops in town.”
“Don’t get me wrong. I think every entrepreneur should study the Starbucks business model. Don’t you think there were plenty of coffee shops around before them? What they built was a brand. And that’s what everyone in businessshoulddo in order to be successful.”
“A brand.”
Not for the first time, Ava wished she’d gone to business school, instead of getting the political science degree her parents had talked her into. They claimed there would be a lot of reading, which she thoroughly enjoyed, and they knew it. At the time, she had been shiftless, and uncertain about her future.
Now she was trying to play catch-up by taking courses at the community college.
“From what I read in your business plan you already have something special to offer that makes your coffee experience unique.”
“My beans. I learned the best way to roast them from an expert. I really do have to fix you a cup of coffee soon. You won’t believe what a difference the right kind of beans, freshly roasted, can make.”
