Best Friend's Ex Box Set

"Not even close," I grumbled as I turned off the light and pulled the covers up to my chin.

"Oh Grace," Verity sighed as she pulled the door shut and left me alone in the darkness with my thoughts.

Chapter Forty-Four

Adam

Being able to explain myself to Grace in front of her family had been a relief, but her response had not been as positive as I'd imagined it would be, and now I was left wondering if I had blown my chance with her. I spent the night tossing and turning as I wondered what she was thinking upstairs in her room, and when Danny came to wake me up, I could barely drag myself out of bed.

"Morning, English," Honor said as she put a cup of coffee in front of me at the kitchen table. "You ready for your

big show today?"

"Huh?" I mumbled as I picked up the cup and sipped the steaming liquid, hoping that it would breathe life into my tired body.

"Up, up, up, man!" Honor urged. "We're counting on you to do what you do best today!"

"And that is?"

"Sell stuff, English!" she said giving me an irritated roll of the eyes. "C'mon, we need you to sell the turbines like you've never sold them before!"

"I never have sold them before," I muttered.

"Adam," she said looking around to make sure the kitchen was empty. "I'm gonna say this once and only once. Get your shit together, man."

"Honor Miller!" Grace bellowed as she walked into the kitchen and caught the tail end of the pep talk. "What on earth do you think you're doing, young lady?"

"Oh, get over yourself, Grace," Honor said rolling her eyes again. "I've heard worse, and I'm sure you have, too."

"What would Mamm and Dat say?" Grace asked.

"Dat swore all the time, Grace," Honor said as she refilled my coffee cup and slapped me on the back. "I'm just repeating his words of wisdom."

"I don't know what I'm going to do with you," Grace said as she poured herself a cup of coffee and rubbed her tired eyes.

"I'm sorry breakfast isn't ready yet," Verity said as she came in through the back door with a basket full of freshly laid eggs. "The hens were not giving their eggs up willingly!"

Verity quickly whipped up breakfast as Danny and Honor set the table. It wasn't long before we were holding hands and saying a silent blessing together. I could feel the warmth of Grace's hand in mine and I squeezed it gently looking for any sign of her ice melting, but I got nothing in return.

After breakfast dishes were done, I checked myself in the bathroom mirror and then knotted the tie I'd brought and pulled on my suit jacket. I surprised myself by sending up a small prayer that this professional look wouldn’t backfire on me, and then went out to join the rest in the buggy.

When we arrived at the store, the parking lot and hitching post were empty. I heard Grace breathe a sigh of relief as she hopped down from the buggy and went to open the back door. It wasn't long before the first group of people began to arrive, and as I watched the Amish farmers and their families grab carts and begin filling them tip, I felt completely out of place.

"C'mon, Adam," Verity whispered. "You're up!"

As the Amish families wandered the aisles, I picked up the microphone that was connected to the intercom system and began talking about the turbine systems and their benefits. I outlined the initial plan to install twenty turbines in the area and then explained how the excess energy generated by them would power the entire community of Corner Grove and then be sold back to the power company at a substantial profit. I explained the benefits of wind technology and the ways in which it fit perfectly into the Amish belief system and how it could support the community long after the elders had gone on to meet their maker.

Halfway through, Verity squeezed my arm and whispered, "It's working! Keep going, Adam!"

More families entered the store as I kept talking and the ones who had been there for my first pass at the information were filling in the gaps for those who hadn't heard my entire speech. I kept repeating the information and emphasizing how beneficial this would be for the community as more and more Amish entered the store. As the first group moved toward the checkout, I started the most important part of my sales pitch. I explained about the subsidies that would go back to the farmers who chose to allow turbines to be placed in their fields. As I talked about the amount per turbine the chatter reached a fevered pitch.

As families placed their items on the conveyer and waited to be rung up, Grace went from register to register handing out bags and telling people that there was no charge for the groceries today. She was met with shocked looks.

"What do you mean no charge?" an Amish woman in a stiff, dark bonnet yelled over the noise.

"I mean, no charge, Mrs. Stolfutz," Grace said with a smile. "Bishop Miller has decided to undercut our sales by opening a new grocery store at the end of the month, so we're giving away the store—literally."

"This is insane!" someone else yelled.