Page 17 of Second Chances
Charlotte snapped out of her daydream. “Right. Yes, you're going to help me,"
"With what? And what did you have to tell me?"
"I want you to manage this coffee shop project. I can't be here with my feet on the ground, and you, you're the best baker I know. You can keep the project on track and you can help me source out all the ingredients, hire the staff, everything. I need you."
Megan felt her stomach flip. She had seen the drawings come to life and could practically smell the creations she could make. She could see the warmth of the space and imagine handing cups of coffee to people as they brushed snow of their jackets, but at the same time, she also felt sick.
"I'm a part-time bookkeeper and housewife. I don't know the first thing about opening up a business."
"This is where you and I differ my friend. Fake it 'til you make it. And you don't even have to fake it - you helped run a business, and you're practically Martha Fucking Stewart."
"I-I-don't know." Megan's heart was racing. She had never felt this kind of mixture of fear and excitement at the same time.
"I have faith in you, Meg. You can do this. I will pay you. This will get you back on your feet. And no, this isn't charity. I can't think of anyone else I'd want to run this project for me. Don't make me beg."
Timber sat up and put his head on Megan's knee.
"Ok. I'll do it. "The words came out of her mouth before her brain had time to register what she had just signed on for.
Charlotte leaned forward and picked up her glass and raised it in the air.
"To new partnerships."
Megan raised her glass to meet her friend's.
"Let's get started."
"Wait, what else did you have to tell me? It seemed serious."
"I shouldn't have said anything," Charlotte sighed and set down the drawings. "I haven't really been lying to you Megan, but I kind of have."
Megan had known Charlotte for years ever since they bonded over their love/hate relationship with their hot yoga instructor. She felt like she knew her friend well, they had spilled all sorts of secrets to each other over wine-fuelled dinner parties. She couldn't imagine what kind of secret she could have been keeping from her.
"Don't look so worried, it's not that bad."
"You better spill Char. I've just made up about three different lies in my head and they're getting more grandiose the more you stall."
Charlotte took a big gulp of wine from her glass. "You have to promise to keep this secret."
"I promi—"
"Wait. Before you agree, you should know that if you promise to keep the secret, you're going to have to live this lie with me."
"Well, come on Char. I can't agree to something until I know what it is. Out with it." Megan slapped her friend on the knee.
Charlotte stared at Megan and then dropped her gaze to her lap.
"My name isn't Charlotte."
