Living in the shadow of an older...
prettier... skinnier sister has taught Molly Richardson three very important
lessons. Don’t give up... ever. Even when the odds are stacked against
you. Love yourself, no matter what. Maintain your faith, even in the face of adversity.
Molly has always been at the back of the bridesmaid pack. Now, it’s her turn to shine as Jenna’s Maid of Honor. The only glitch to what should be a perfect day was having to share the dais with the best man, Andrew Temple, the developer trying to buy the entire block of properties and put Molly's Koffee Klatch out of business.
Andrew (Drew) Temple has never had a problem convincing people to sell to him, to cash in on a very lucrative offer. That is, until he runs into a cute spitfire named Molly, who refuses to give up her prime location for his next development venture. What’s worse, is he has to play nice with her for an entire day and evening as best man at his lifelong friend’s wedding.
Will playing nice be his downfall? And why, of all the women that have come and gone through his life, does this one get under his skin?
“Be reasonable, Molly,” Abe
Miller urged. “You and Ted Riley are the only ones still holding out. It’s a
great deal.”
“True,” Ted agreed. “I’m with
Molly on this. If we give in and sell to this investment company, we’ll be
turning our backs on our regular customers.”
“Easy enough for you two
younguns to say,” Melvin Tucker spoke up. “You’re not pushing seventy and
looking forward to retiring. The offer that investor fellow made on my corner
spot will allow Maisie and me to travel and enjoy our retirement.”
Molly hated herself for putting
a damper on the Tuckers’ plans... plans they didn’t have until Temple
Investments came knocking a little over a month ago. Yet, she couldn’t bring
herself to sell-out on all she’d worked for these past few years.
“Maybe you could find a buyer
for your business, rather than sell out like this,” Molly suggested.
Melvin shook his head, his
overly-long salt and pepper hair flying in the wake. “Nobody’s buying old-fashioned
hardware stores anymore, Molly. Those big box stores have all but replaced our
ability to sell pricier items like appliances. Now, all we’re good for is nuts
and bolts, and a half-dozen screws.”
“Same with my knitting shop,”
Elvira Simmons said. “Nobody knits anymore... except those who are old enough
to be my mother and, believe me,
that’s old.”
“That’s not true,” Molly argued
half-heartedly. “I still knit.”
“And yet you’ve not set foot in
my store in months,” Elvira pointed out.
“Okay,” Molly conceded, “maybe
I’ve not had time to finish my current project. That doesn’t mean I won’t be
back for more supplies. And, for the record, you’re not old. You’re seasoned.”
“Let’s face it, your fancy
coffee shop and Ted’s beauty salon are the only thriving businesses on this
wretched old block,” Maisie Tucker stated firmly. “Nobody wants our hardware,
or Elvira’s yarn, or any of the knickknacks in Prudy Rawling’s gift shop. The
butcher shop only gets business when Ralph runs a sale.”
“And when was the last time you
actually saw someone in the laundromat?” Elvira asked.
“Most of us own our buildings
outright,” Ralph Simmons reminded them. “If we go along with the co-op plan,
it’s not going to improve our business, but cost us a monthly fee for maintenance
we’ve always done ourselves. No matter what Temple Investments offers us, it’s
all profit. And, right now, that offer is mighty generous. The longer we...
you... hold out, the more we stand to lose.”
Molly raised her head and
scanned the room, taking in the hopeful expressions on the faces of her
neighbors. Blowing out a breath, she told them, “I feel like Cruella Deville,
here.”
“The big honcho from Temple
Investments is due back in town next week,” Mr. Miller reminded them. “Maybe he
can do a better job of convincing all of you... maybe even sweeten the deal
over what his representative offered.” Consulting his notepad, the attorney
added, “We have five definite ‘yes’ votes, and two ‘no’ votes.”
“Definite ‘no’ votes," Ted
added.
The attorney heaved a huge sigh.
“How about I set up an appointment with the two of you, and Mr. Temple for next
Friday? Let’s see if we can sort this out so the others can sign their deals.”
Molly pushed her chair back and
stood. “If you’ll excuse me. I’ve got to get back to the Koffee Klatch. Lunch
rush starts in an hour and I should probably try and make as much money as
possible, in the event I may have to move.”
She's also the granddaughter of a Methodist minister known for his fire-and-brimstone approach to his faith. Nancy has brought some of his spirit into her Christian romances. And, her own off-beat sense of humor to her clean & wholesome books.
When not writing (which is almost never), Nancy dotes on her five wonderful grandchildren and looks forward to traveling and reading when time permits. Nancy lives in Atlantic Canada where she enjoys the relaxed pace and colorful people.
