Page 71 of Scoop Me Up
Tears threatened to fall again as I started thinking about the whole mess I was in. After a few minutes, Cooper replied.
Cooper: I’m sure you’ll figure something out.
I fought the urge to argue, and instead tossed my phone aside and turned on the TV. I watched nothing in particular, clicking around aimlessly until I settled on a game show until my phone buzzed. When I checked it, I found a text from Gabe.
Gabe: Can you come to the shop?
I frowned, sighed, and got up to put my shoes back on. I didn’t particularly want to go back to the shop today, but I was sure Gabe had a good reason for asking. Maybe he’d solved the furniture issue. Instead of walking, I drove the short distance from home to downtown, parking on the street near the shop. I rounded the corner and as I did, I spotted a steady stream of people leaving the shop a few at a time.
I frowned and made my way to the front door. Inside I found Gabe, surrounded by townspeople, directing foot traffic. The townspeople were placing folding chairs and tables in the room and rearranging them to Gabe’s liking.
Nobody noticed me at first when I stepped in. When Gabe looked my way, his face lit up. “Sam!” At that, everyone stopped and turned to face me. A few waved or called out a hello.
“What’s going on?” I asked, even though it was obvious. I could hardly believe what I was seeing.
Gabe beamed. “I rallied some friends to help out. People are volunteering the use of their tables and chairs until yours come in.”
I was speechless for a long moment. “This is… incredible,” I finally managed to say. “Thank you.” I fought the urge to hug Gabe just then, in front of what felt like half the town.
“I’m glad to do it. So are they. We couldn’t stand the idea of you having to postpone the opening. You’ve worked so hard. I knew the rest of the town would agree, so I started asking people for help.”
The bell above the door jangled and in walked Cooper, holding a table under each arm. “Where should I put these?”
I laughed softly and stepped back. “Gabe’s the guy with the plan,” I said. “He’s in charge here.”
It didn’t take long for the shop to be completely furnished and Gabe had to turn people away, thanking them as he did. Once we were alone in the shop, night falling, he turned to me.
“I told you I’d find a solution.”
I chuckled. “You certainly did.”
He pulled me close and kissed me, a soft press of lips. “Now, let’s go home and watch that movie.”
Chapter 28
Gabe
“I can’t believe you came to my rescue like that,” Sam said for what felt like the hundredth time as we sat on their couch, Sam curled into my side as we scrolled through streaming services, trying to find a movie to watch. “Nobody’s ever done anything like that for me.”
“One thing I’ve learned about Maplewood is that people will come running to your rescue if you need them. Especially you, Sam. People here love you.”
He shrugged and looked at me sidelong, skeptical. “I don’t know. It’s just how small towns are.”
“Maybe they are,” I protested. “But that doesn’t change the fact that people here adore you. You can trust that if you need something, people will help without a second thought.”
“How did you even put it all together?”
I rubbed the back of my neck. “I wasn’t a hundred percent sure what I was going to do until I ran into the mayor. I told her about your furniture situation and asked if she had any suggestions. Next thing I knew, we were running around downtown, asking people for help.”
“That’s incredible,” they said. “You’reincredible.”
I kissed them on the top of the head. “I didn’t do anything you wouldn’t have done for me.”
“That’s different.”
“Why is it different?”
“You’re an investor. You have to help.”
