Page 11 of Holiday Reunion
She nodded once more. “Since I’m already set up to sell food, I’ll have complimentary coffee and hot chocolate if someone purchases a treat.” Sarah flashed him a smile. “I thought that might bring me some extra customers. If they don’t want anything to eat, the drinks will be a reasonable price—sold at cost.”
“Seems like you have thought of everything.”
Sarah beamed at the compliment.
“Have you considered that it might suit your business plan to offer coffee on a regular basis?”
Her eyes flicked to his. “I have not.”
“Maybe you should consider it. As I pointed out, there are no beverage shops on that strip. Don’t you think that people would be in search of something like that when they’re wandering along the harbor?”
Sarah lifted a shoulder. “I suppose they would.”
He stared at her expectantly, waiting for her to catch on to what he was suggesting. When she finally looked at him, understanding flooded her face.
She shook her head. “Nope. That isn’t for me. I’m a bakery, not a café. The second the word escaped her lips, she frowned. “Is that what you’re trying to do? Convince me that I should take you up on your plan? That’s it, isn’t it? You want to turn my bakery into a café.” She spun away from him and marched around to the other side of the table, using the strewn out papers as an excuse. She picked up one and stared at it hard, so she didn’t have to meet his gaze.
“It’s a good idea,” he insisted, following her path. “You know I’m right.”
“Then you turn one of those buildings into a coffee shop.”
“There’s not much in the way of real estate. Like you said, your shop is already set up to serve food. It wouldn’t take much to add a few machines and hire a barista.”
Once again, she shook her head. “That bakery is everything I’ve poured my heart and soul into. I’m not going to turn it into something it’s not.”
“But—”
“No buts.” Her eyes darted to his once more. This time she didn’t waver. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but I’m not going to change anything. Pick one of the other ideas you had and change it to a soda shop or a coffee shop—anything you want. Don’t touch my bakery.”
She gathered up the paperwork and stacked it neatly in a pile. Based on her tone, he knew he shouldn’t push her no matter how much he wanted to help her. His only chance at doing so would be to continue getting on her good side. She’d warmed up to him lately, even he couldn’t deny that.
So James dropped the subject. He helped Sarah gather up the papers and everything else they had set up. He caught her stealing glances at him every so often. The room felt even larger and quieter.
The tension between them continued to mount to the point that James grew desperate to find a topic of conversation that wouldn’t rile her up or put her on the spot. They sat across from one another at the table, and James nearly blurted that he was glad they were working together when the lights flickered. The humming from overhead sounded like a dull roar after they’d been seated in silence for so long.
Sarah pushed back from the table and shot to her feet with a grin. “That’s that, then.”
He rose also and nodded. “That’s that.”
She pulled her paperwork to her chest and headed for the door. “On Friday, I want you there by noon for setup. We need all the tables and vendors ready for the lighting ceremony. Everything has to be perfect.”
“I’ll be there.”
Sarah gave him one last fleeting glance before she pressed a card to the reader. “I know.” She disappeared out the door, leaving him alone and wishing he could have just gotten through to her. There was a chance. He had to believe that. If he could just get her to warm up to the idea, then it would be smooth sailing afterward.
James grabbed his satchel from a chair and draped it over his shoulder. He glanced around the room one last time and smiled to himself. Then he took his leave.
SEVEN
The Christmas tree burst with light and color. Hundreds if not thousands of people reacted exactly the way Sarah had wanted. Ooohs and Ahhs filled the air. Cheers echoed down the street.
Decorations covered every storefront window, every streetlight, and even lined the perimeter of the lake. They’d even managed to get a Zamboni to smooth a section of the frozen water so that visitors could skate like they once had years ago.
The whole festival felt like a fairytale. Everywhere Sarah looked filled her with more joy.
Well, everywhere but one place.
Every time she walked past the bakery, she was disappointed that the sweets she’d prepared were slow to disappear. She didn’t know what was wrong with her bakery that people ignored it and moved on to other attractions.