Page 29 of Butterfly Sisters
The crowed toasted, cheering Meredith.
“Stay,” he urged, reaching for her arm.
“I don’t have time to discuss it. I won’t be gone long, I promise. You’ll never miss me.”
Colton put up his hands with a frustrated frown. She’d have to try to offer an explanation later. She ran inside, grabbed her laptop, and headed for Greystone Properties, firing off a voice text to Jimbo that she was on her way.
TEN
On the way to the development, Leigh went over the facts she could remember in her head; not having any time to rehearse for the presentation, the rest she’d have to pull up on her laptop. When she arrived, Jimbo was waiting for her out front.
“This had better be good. You’re my last shot,” he said, as she got out of the car with her laptop tucked under her arm. “I just got the final note from the bank. I’ve got about six months to get the first rent payments or I’m closing it all down and putting it up for sale.”
“Six months?” she asked, but reined herself in. “Fine. We’ll get it done.”
They walked over the sandy mound of dirt that hadn’t been graded yet and stepped up onto the dock that ran along the length of the property. Jimbo slid the key into the lock on one of the storefronts, the smell of new paint and freshly cut wood hitting her along with the cool of the air conditioning. He put on the lights.
“This is nice,” she said, stepping onto the shiny white tile floor and taking in the sleek counter and the drop-lights above it. “This space would be great for Green Hat Coffee Roasters.” She set her laptop on the counter and opened it, pulling up their webpage on her hotspot. “It’s a coffee company that not only styles each of its shops around local history, but it also donates proceeds to providing food and water to the underprivileged across the world. Coffee and charity—a great combo.”
She clicked open the document she’d created, showing him photos of the other locations that the coffee shop occupied. “It’s doubled its revenue within the last year, and my bet is the CEO will be looking to acquire more real estate.” She pulled up the slide with the financials she could find online.
A flicker of interest showed in Jimbo’s eyes.
“Also on the list is Top Mountain Supply Co., an outdoor clothing company, specializing in boating and outdoor living, based in Florida. They’ve just opened a second store in Tampa and are now looking to expand.” She opened the next document. “At the end of the dock, I’d like to see Rocket Pizza, a new all-organic chain just getting a foothold and looking to open fifteen more stores across the South.” She brought up an article about how the company was looking for rural areas in Tennessee, Virginia, and the Carolinas. “And at the other end of the dock, I propose that we get in touch with Samantha Perkins of The Attic Light, a rapidly growing independent bookshop that has locations in three other Tennessee towns.” She showed him.
“And your work would be no charge to me?” he clarified once more.
“None whatsoever.”
“How can I say no then?”
She shut her laptop, feeling on top of the world. “Exactly.”
“As I said, I’ve got six months, so you’ve got four.” He opened the door and walked out.
“Yes sir,” she called after him, giddy with the thrill of doing what she loved most. Now she just had to make it happen.
Elvis ran over to Leigh when she walked around back after dropping off her things inside. The party was still going. Someone had turned music on, and the fire pit was roaring. As she walked down the hill toward the water, she spotted Meredith in her swimsuit, floating on an inner tube in the water with a beer dangling from her fingers, somehow not completely freezing, while everyone else mingled in the yard.
“How was work?” Colton said in a slightly clipped tone, coming up behind her.
She turned around. “Good.”
“Did you get whatever it was done?”
“I got it started,” she said, squashing the fizzle of excitement she had at seeing him. “Did Meredith know I was gone?”
“Nah,” he said. “But that’s not the point, is it?” He walked over to the hammock and fell into it, kicking back, putting his bottle of beer up to his lips and taking a swig.
Leigh followed him, and he rolled his eyes at her, clearly irritated.
“Don’t judge me,” she said, feeling defensive. He had no idea what she was going through and how low she felt right now. “You don’t even know me anymore,” she said. It was a low blow but his dismissiveness of her situation had flustered her.
“Clearly not.” He took another drag of his bottle.
“What I mean is, I’m not the girl who left you here that summer.”
He sat up, his eyes flashing. He tossed his empty bottle into the trashcan that only came out for parties, causing Elvis’s ears to go up. With a sigh, the dog lay back down in the shade of the tree. “You didn’tleaveanyone here. I stayed of my own accord. Not all of us want the life you lead.”
