Page 87 of The Fiancée Farce
Whose wedding is this again?she’d almost asked, biting her tongue only because she wasn’t in the mood for a fight that would only wind up making her look ungrateful.
It was possible Tansydidhave an appointment with this Caleb McCrory and had simply forgotten to write it down, herthoughts having been elsewhere. “I guess I better see what it’s all about.”
Tansy made her way to the front of the store, spotting who she assumed was her unanticipated appointment lingering near the bestseller shelf by the door. She approached. “Hi, Caleb, is it?”
He looked a few years older than her and was dressed in blue jeans and a white shirt with writing down the sleeve.
He turned and smiled, holding out his hand. “I’m guessing you’re Tansy Adams?”
“I am.” She smiled confusedly.
Caleb chuckled and reached inside his back pocket, withdrawing a business card. “Caleb McCrory of McCrory Contracting. I’m here to check out your... let’s see.” His eyes dropped to the tablet in his hand, scanning the screen. “Says here you’re looking to convert a storage room into a climate-controlled space for books?Rarebooks, sorry. I’m here to take a few measurements and put together a quote.”
She’d only told one person about her dream of starting a rare and used book room.
Tansy’s fingers trembled around the business card. “Can I ask who scheduled the appointment?”
“A MissVan Dalen.” He paused. “Is now not a good time? MissVan Dalen left a note that after six might be better, so as to not interfere with your daily operations, but I’d be happy to reschedule for another time.”
Gemma was already bankrolling Tansy’s purchase of the store. She was going to give Tansy six million dollars, just formarrying her. Something, at this point, Tansy would do for free. Not that she was brave enough to confess that, not yet at least.
Gemma didn’t have to do this. This was generous, but . . . it was too much.
“MissAdams?” Caleb prompted.
“Sorry.” She smiled. “You said this was for a quote?”
He nodded.
A quote wasn’t a promise. It was like a proposal.
“Then now’s perfect,” she said to Caleb. “Let me just show you the way.”
***
Caleb left the store half an hour later, just after closing, measurements taken, quote underway, and with the promise to be in touch. Tansy waited until he was out the door to whip out her phone and text Gemma.
Tansy (8:03 p.m.):I can’t believe you.
Gemma (8:04 p.m.):Uh oh. What did I do now?
Gemma (8:05 p.m.):Should I start apologizing?
She was in the middle of typing a response when another message from Gemma came through.
Gemma (8:09 p.m.):Oh, wait. It’s Thursday. Let me guess, you met the contractor?
Tansy (8:11 p.m.):I can’t accept this. It’s so thoughtful of you, but it’s too much.
Gemma (8:13 p.m.):You don’t even know how much it is.
Tansy (8:13 p.m.):Neither do you! You can’t say it’s not too much if you don’t even know how much it is.
Gemma (8:14 p.m.):And you can’t say it *is* too much if *you* don’t know how much it is. We can keep going in circles all night.
Tansy huffed at her phone.
Gemma (8:16 p.m.):Just let me do something nice for you, all right?
