Page 12 of The Grinch who Loved Me
She had a hard time letting them purchase things after that but Aria told her that they were making money from the haters and that they deserved the money.
Raegan snickered, “They should pay up the nose for the disrespect.”
Aria chuckled, “It’s fine. Just let them buy what they need to buy and then leave.”
Raegan nodded, “Fine by me, but they won’t be allowed back.”
Aria smiled, “Do what you do. I’m gonna go work in my cave.”
Raegan rolled her eyes, “You aren’t a troll.”
It was Aria’s turn to snicker, “Might as well be. I’m scary enough.”
Raegan put her hands on her hips, “If I hear you talk like that again, you are gonna get it.”
Aria stuck out her tongue and then walked back into the back and let Raegan handle the sale.
And she stayed to herself and let Raegan handle the customers.
She felt it was best for her to stay in the back from then on. She was content to let Raegan work her magic in the front.
Aria hardly went anywhere outside of her store and her home. Sometimes she would go to the small diner one town over and order food to-go. She didn’t want people staring at her while she walked in and sat down. She got enough of that during the day in Celebration anytime she went anywhere. So, she would have someone bring her food out and she would drive slowly back home, and sometimes she would stop and just eat in silence.
Raegan never knew where she went, just that she went on drives and Aria didn’t want her friend to worry.
She just wanted to get away from life for a bit and from the stares. She wanted to be like everyone else and that was why she stayed in her car and to herself.
She just needed that time to get her head on straight and take a break from everything.
And then she would pull up her bootstraps and go back to work and not feel sorry for herself after that. She would work on rings and necklaces and other pieces.
They were busy every day and Aria could hardly keep up with the demand, but she did it and though the long hours weren’t always easy, they were worth it.
People liked their shop and often told her that it so perfect and love that how it was set up.
She even had someone ask if they could ask their fiance to marry them in the store.
She and Raegan loved it.
And they watched from the back and both cried.
It was magical. And Aria felt like she was doing something right.
She knew that only good things could happen in her shop and though not everyone was going to accept her for who she was, she had to.
She knew that feeling sorry for herself wasn’t allowed any longer and that if someone treated her badly it was because they were bad people. Not because of anything she did and she took it to heart.
She was doing something right with her life and her shop and she knew it without a doubt.
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Afew days later Raegan got a text from Rowen, asking for her to come help with the kids for a few days. That Scout wanted to take her on a small second honeymoon.
Raegan was hesitant to leave, but Aria assured her she could handle the business while she was gone.
It wasn’t a problem. They still had a steady stream of customers, but it was slowing down the closer it got to Christmas.
So Raegan left and would be gone for over a week.
