Page 27 of Whispers at Seaside
“Not if I can help it.” He took in her jade-green tank dress, which set off the green flecks in her eyes and fit snugly across her hips and breasts. “You look gorgeous, baby. I bet tons of guys come into the store just to get an eyeful of you.”
“I wish.” She laughed.
“Hey,” he teased as they walked up the street toward the main road.
“I don’t mean it likethat. But more customers would be a good thing. Most of the people who come in these days only come in to chat with your dad. They love the familiarity and the feel of the family-owned shop, but if I had a dollar for everyone who came in and asked a hundred questions only to then say, ‘Thanks for your help. I’ll get it when I go into Hyannis to the Home Depot. Gotta watch my pennies!’ I’d be rich.”
They turned onto the main road and headed toward the café.
“You mentioned the other night that it was hard to compete. What’s the problem? The cost of inventory?” His father had bought the building more than thirty years ago, and he knew he no longer carried a mortgage on the property.
She nodded. “The big chain stores get volume discounts that we just can’t compete with, and people can usually get what they want online for around the same price. We have very little online presence, and unfortunately, we also need to update our inventory and accounting system to save on administrative time. We spend countless hours doing inventory when we could put that time into something else, like customer outreach. I know the cost of advertising is prohibitive, but we need it to stay in people’s minds as more than a store an old friend owns.”
As they made their way into the eclectic café, Mira described the challenges his father’s store was facing, and Matt realized they were some of the very issues he was writing about. They ordered at the counter and found a quiet table by the windows.
“I won’t bore you with all the details, but the book I’m writing focuses on the economic impact the Internet and societal changes have on small businesses. It’s much deeper than that, of course, looking at the effect the changes have on familial and employer-employee dynamics, and other psychological aspects and how they trickle down and impact future economics. But my father’s business is a prime example.”
She speared a forkful of lettuce from her salad and said, “It’s fixable.”
“You’ve been thinking about it?” Of course she had. She was brilliant.
“A lot, actually. I love working for your father, and I’ve gotten to know the community through working with him. Working there has become a big part of my life. I know that sounds silly, but there’s something wonderful about helping a pregnant woman to baby proof her house, and then a few months later, to help her get what she needs to put together a baby gate. And when the elementary school had their annual go-cart-building contest, all the dads and their kids came in for supplies. Half of them didn’t buy them there, but they came in to show us what they were building because the fathers knew your dad when they were building their own go-carts twenty years ago.”
“I remember building mine with my father.” Matt smiled with the memory. “My father really got into those things. He’s aware, then, of the trouble the business is in?”
“Yes, but he’s in denial. I know all those valued customers would love to see him compete with the bigger stores. Nobody wants to drive thirty or forty minutes to get hardware. And if his business goes under…”
“You’ll need to start over.” It was hard enough for a single mother to make ends meet, but the thought of her finding another place to work that allowed her the hours and flexibility she needed to work around Hagen’s schedule had to be stressful.
“Yes, but also, your dad takes so much pride in the business, and Pete told me about his drinking after you lost your mother.”
“That was a difficult time for all of us,” Matt said solemnly. “Luckily Pete was here to get him help.”
“Yes. Then you understand why I’m thinking about all of this. It’s one thing to retire and sell a business, but to retire because the business failed? After all these years?” Her eyes glassed over and she looked away. “I can’t even allow myself to think about it, or how it might set him back. Your father is such a proud man.”
She squinted, making those cute freckles across her nose dance. “Oh gosh. Do you think he would mind me talking about this? I just realized he might not want me to share it with anyone.”
He reached across the table and held her hand. His father was a proud man, and he had a feeling he wouldn’t want any of them knowing the business was in trouble. But that was an even bigger reason for Matt to know what was going on, so he could try to help.
“I don’t want to put you in an uncomfortable position, so don’t tell me anything specific about the company finances. But I’d love to hear your thoughts on how to fix the issues.”
Maybe together they could figure out how to save his father’s businessandsave the job Mira loved.
Chapter Ten
MIRA HAD BEEN working on the idea of an East Coast co-op for small businesses similar to Lacroux Hardware for months. Talking to someone who understood finances and economics, and how co-ops functioned, was beyond fulfilling. Accounting and economics weren’t exactly exciting subjects, but Matt listened intently and seemed not only impressed with her ideas, but he had solid suggestions that made financial sense.
After lunch they held hands on the way back to the store. Mira was on a high, not only from Matt’s surprise visit, but from their stimulating conversation and the way he was looking at her, like everything she said was important.
“I’ve already compiled a list of a dozen businesses, complete with the owners’ contact information and a few other important details. I’ve also structured a business plan and done some research on central warehouse locations,” she explained. “I know it’s jumping the gun, especially since your dad isn’t exactly receptive to the idea. But this is what I went to school for. It’s a solid plan, Matt. I’ve researched similar co-ops, and if we could get buy-in from five or six companies we could make our initial investment back within two years. From then on out, he’d be making a profit.”
He stopped walking and placed his hands on her hips. “It is a very well thought out plan, and you’re clearly passionate about wanting it to work. Maybe I can persuade him to at least talk about it.”
“Really? He’s put his heart and soul into that business. He tells me stories about your mom coming into the store with you guys when you were little and I feel like those memories are alive in the store. When he talks about Hunter following him down the aisles when he was just a boy, or you sitting behind the counter reading for hours when you were growing up—which reminds me of Hagen, by the way—I can practically see it all playing out.”
He folded his arms around her and pressed his lips to hers.Mm.She wanted to stay right there for the rest of the day.
“Me too, sunshine. Just hearing about it makes me happy.”
