Page 17 of Stirring Up Love
Half a year was no time at all to someone who’d grown up waiting for a miracle that never materialized. But would this show be a dream come true or another letdown?
His pulse slowed as reality settled in like an overcast sky. He had an invitation, yes. But the outcome was up for grabs. Uncertain. He might get sent packing, empty handed, hopes dashed. Why bother?
He had a good life. Friends who supported him. A fulfilling career, when he thought he’d been destined for dead-end jobs. Was it asking too much to go off in search of more? Was it greedy to want a place of his own in the world? Or was he mostly afraid to hear ...
Maybe next time, Finn.
These things happen, Finn.
It’s no reflection on you, Finn.
All the while wondering, What if itisme, after all?
CHAPTER 7
SIMONE
SUBMIT APPLICATION.
The cursor hovered over the submit button on the screen of Simone’s laptop.
“Go on and click it.” Tucked into the sofa next to her, Gran adjusted her glasses and squinted at the screen, then shifted her pale-green eyes to Simone. “What’ve you got to lose?”
“Her dignity, for one,” her grandpa piped up from the other side of the couch.
“Dignity? It’s barbecue, Pops, not a mayoral election.” Though becoming the first Black mayor of Hawksburg sounded like a worthy aspiration.
Pops tossed a kernel of popcorn into his mouth. “I get you wanna make the place your own.” He cleared his throat. Honey and Hickory had been his heart and soul for the past fifty years, and she couldn’t imagine that letting go came easy. “But you sure this is the best way?”
“Very sure.” Treading lightly, Simone grabbed a handful of popcorn. “My whole pitch forThe Executiveswill be centered on the things we love most about Honey and Hickory: community, locally sourcedingredients, and straight-up delicious barbecue.” The best barbecue in the state, no matter what Finn professed.
“The premise of the show is to fund up-and-coming entrepreneurs,” she continued, “and I think they’ll jump at the chance to invest in a community-focused business.”
Pops let out a satisfied harumph and turned up the volume on the TV. “That’s settled, then. Hit the dang button so we can get on with the evening. You know your gran’ll fall asleep if we don’t cue up this movie soon.”
On the other side of Simone, Gran tossed a piece of popcorn at her husband. “You’ll be the one snoring by the time the opening credits finish.” Guaranteed.
Friday flicks was a tradition they’d started when she’d moved back to town. Her teenage years hadn’t been smooth sailing, and with her move to the city, she’d lost some of the closeness they’d shared. But rebuilding the bond was a lot easier than she’d thought. All it took was opening up about her reasons for staying away.
Family was forgiving. But she couldn’t count on her childhood friends to be as accepting. Especially since rumor had it she’d only come home because things hadn’t worked out in the city. A half truth. They didn’t know she’d never wanted to leave in the first place and had jumped at the opportunity to move back.
She’d have to show them she was right back where she wanted to be. Home, and determined to build the life she’d dreamed of, the one she’d denied herself for years. Once they saw her commitment to Honey and Hickory and to building up the town she’d stayed away from for so long, then she could seek to rebuild old friendships. All that hinged on getting this investment. Without it, she’d be treading water.
Decision made, she clicked submit. She waited for the confirmation page to appear, then shut her laptop. “It’s done.” The first step in her application to be a contestant onThe Executives.
“Hmph.” Her grandpa spoke volumes in a monosyllable, but she reached over and ruffled his thinning white hair.
“It’ll be fine. Worst-case scenario, they send me home empty handed. But may as well try.”
She could apply for a small business loan, but the idea of taking on more debt on top of her student loans didn’t sit well with her. And the hours she’d spent bingeingThe Executivesin college had always left her wondering how it would feel to step out on that hallowed stage and present her brainchild for the investors to either gamble on or tear to shreds.
But in all her daydreams, her start-up had been nebulous, unable to take shape, because what she wanted most of all was to run Honey and Hickory. Pops could talk about dignity all he wanted; going onThe Executivesto pitch her plan for the restaurant would be a dream come true, no matter the outcome.
Putting her laptop into her tote bag, she said, “All right, you pair of old fogies”—she leaned over to plant a kiss on Gran’s cheek and nabbed the remote from Pops in the process—“let’s start up this movie before you’rebothsnoozing.”
“Are you sitting down?” Alisha never bothered to say hello anymore. Running an up-and-coming urban bakery left her in constant motion. Oh, how the tables had turned.
Simone was thrilled her sister had finally taken the leap and gotten her foot off the brakes of life, but Alisha had gone from zero to sixty in the past year, while Simone was puttering along in a car running on fumes.
