Just One Look (Castleton Hearts)

“Should I bring anything? I’d feel guilty showing up with nothing, if there’s going to be a ton of people,” I said.

“You should ask Amanda. She might need ice or cups or something. I think this party started out small and then she just invited everyone and now the party has a life of its own,” Paige said.

“I will,” I said, and sent Amanda a message asking if I could do anything to help.

“You should invite Theo,” Paige said, and Esme nudged her. “What? She should come.”

“Does Theo seem like a barbecue kind of person?” Esme said.

“No, but that’s why she should come. She can stand in the corner and glare at everyone. Like a disapproving parent,” Paige said.

I laughed at the image she painted.

“I’ll ask her, but I think the answer is going to be a hell no,” I said.

“You never know until you ask,” Paige said.

I went home and sent Theo a message.

I know the answer is probably no, but would you want to come with me to the barbecue at the Carr’s house this weekend? A friend would come with me, I sent.

Theo took a few minutes to respond and I was wondering if she was trying to find a way to tell me no fucking way was she going.

I’m already going. My brother wants to go, and my niece begged me, so I caved. I’m going to make an appearance to make her happy and bail, Theo responded.

That was surprising.

You can come complain about how terrible a time you’re having with me if you want to, I sent.

Even if Theo was grumpy and complaining the whole time, I still wanted to hang out with her. And I did want to meet her niece. I was super curious to see Theo with her.

I’ll see you there she responded, and I was really looking forward to this barbecue.

“I have to talk to you about something,” I said the next night when I called my mom.

“Is everything okay?” She immediately went into panic mode.

“It’s good, I promise,” I said. “I just think I figured out what I want to do.”

Her face went from extreme concern to warm affection. “Tell me.”

I took a breath and blurted it out. “I want to open a bookstore.” My heart pounded as I waited for her reaction

“Oh Kendra, that’s perfect for you,” she said. “You’re so good at managing people and you love to read. I’m mad at myself for not suggesting it because it seems so obvious.”

I breathed a huge sigh of relief.

“You think it’s a good idea, really?” I asked. Mom beamed at me.

“Yes, I think it’s a fantastic idea.”

Dad walked into the room and Mom told him what I planned, and he smiled too.

“I think it’s a wonderful idea, and I can’t wait to visit,” he said. “Let me know if you need any art for the walls.”

“Thanks, Dad,” I said. Having the support of my parents was so important. Now that they’d given me their blessing, I really felt like I could do this.

“Let me know if you need any help with your business plan, or anything else like that,” Mom said.

“I will definitely need your help,” I said. I wanted to involve both of them in this process because they were smart, and I valued their opinions.

“It’s all so overwhelming right now, and I don’t even have a location.”

“Take one thing at a time,” Mom said, and I told her about my shadowing day with Sarah. Now that I had both of them on board, I was feeling just a little less stressed about everything. This was still a huge risk, but my family was behind me.

The next day, I got an iced coffee for Theo and went over to the shop.

“I feel like I owe you a whole lot of coffees now,” she said as I handed it to her.

“You can just invite me over to dinner,” I said, sipping my own coffee.

“Okay,” she said. “You want to come over tonight? I’m going to grill again.”

“Yeah, that would be perfect,” I said. “I actually came here on a mission today.”

Theo raised one eyebrow. “And that is?”

“I’m going to open a bookstore.” I waited for her to laugh or scoff or tell me it was a ridiculous idea.

Theo nodded. “That makes sense. And I’ll remind you, it was my idea.” She smirked.

“Oh, so you want credit now?” I asked.

“I wouldn’t mind it.”

I snorted. “You’re impossible.”

“You’re the one who decided to be my friend,” she said, and sipped her coffee.

“You’re going to be smug about this now, aren’t you?”

She nodded. “Absolutely.”

I hadn’t expected her to take it like that, but I was relieved she hadn’t shit on the idea.

“Plus, I’m going to get business out of it, because you’re going to hire me to build all your shelves,” she said as we walked together toward the showroom and into the office.