Laney is ready to move forward with her business venture. She’s negotiated an affordable price on used equipment, established a source for wholesale flowers, and devised a stringent but workable budget. All she needs is Hugh’s approval before she signs the lease. She doesn’t want his money, but she could use his support. She’ll be working long hours at first, until she can afford an assistant. There will be times, primarily on the weekends, when he’ll have to pick up the slack at home.
On Monday evening, for the first time in years, she prepares his favorite dinner of lamb chops and homemade garlic mashed potatoes.
“What’s all this?” he asks, when he sees the table set with their fine china and a bouquet of roses. “Are you going to pester me about marriage counseling again?”
“Not marriage counseling.” She sits down opposite him at the kitchen table. “But I have something else I need to discuss with you.”
Hugh rolls his eyes. “Great. Where are the girls?”
“They have a team dinner to rally enthusiasm for their big game against Hope Springs High School tomorrow. They’ll be home in a while.”
He unfolds his linen napkin and places it in his lap. “So, what do you need to talk to me about?”
“Let’s pray first,” she says, and offers their family’s simple blessing.
“Out with it,” Hugh says, brandishing his knife at her. “If you’re buttering me up to redecorate the living room, you have my permission.”
She drags her fork through her potatoes. “I redecorated the living room last year. In fact, I’ve recently refurbished every room in this house.”
Recognition crosses his face. “I get it. You want to move into a bigger house.”
“Hugh, please! Be quiet and let me explain.” She inhales a deep breath. “I’m starting a floral design business. I’ve done a lot of soul searching these past few weeks. My unhappiness isn’t just about our marital problems. I’ve dedicated the past twenty years to meeting your needs and the needs of our daughters. I want more out of life than being a stay-at-home mom.” Her hand shoots up before he can argue. “Don’t misunderstand me. I was blessed to have had these years with the girls, but Ella and Grace will go off to college soon. What will I do with my time, then?”
Hugh grunts as he shovels potatoes in his mouth. “That’s years from now. We’ll worry about it when it happens.”
Laney pushes her plate away and reaches for her wineglass. “I’m worried about it now. I want to build a career for myself, to work and earn my own money. I’m tired of cooking and cleaning.”
“Then hire a housekeeper.”
“I plan to.” She runs a thumb around the rim of her wineglass. “I need to challenge myself. Use the creative skills God gave me.”
“If you’re asking for money, you’ve come to the wrong place. It’s too risky. You know nothing about running a business.”
“But I know plenty about flowers.” She cocks her head. “I don’t want your money. But maybe you can give me some advice about the business side of things.”
He levels his gaze on her. “Is that what you want from me? To do your accounting?”
“I want nothing from you, Hugh, except your support. God willing, I’ll be crazy busy at the shop. You’ll need to help with carpooling. I may ask you to pick up takeout and go to the girl’s games if I can’t make it. You should do that anyway. You haven’t been to a one since school started.”
“I have an important career, Laney.”
“Ha. You work for yourself. You can leave anytime you want.”
He stares down at his plate. “Where do you plan to operate this business? I won’t have strange people coming in and out of my house.”
Laney stares at him as if he’s lost his mind. “Give me some credit, Hugh. I’m not opening a floral shop in our home. There’s a small storefront for lease in the building next to Ruthie’s Diner.”
“And what will you use for working capital?” he asks, stuffing a bite of lamb into his mouth.
“The money I’ve saved from doing wedding flowers.”
“I see. And how much money is that?” She answers him truthfully, and for the next few minutes, he barrages her with questions, attempting to shoot holes in her business plan. But she has her answers ready.
He sets down his utensils and picks up his whiskey tumbler. For a long minute, he studies her with an expression she can’t read. He drains the brown liquid and sets down the tumbler. “I’m sorry, Laney. I can’t give you my permission. You lack the drive to run your own business.”
Laney stands abruptly, knocking the chair over. “You know nothing about me and what I’m capable of. You stopped caring about me the day we got married.” She snatches up their dinner plates. “I wasn’t asking for your permission anyway. And I don’t need your blessing.”
He stands to face her. “Like hell you don’t. When your venture fails, I’ll be the one to bail you out.”
“I have no intention of failing. I’m doing this thing, and you can’t stop me.” Laney drops the plates in the sink and runs down the hall. She’s halfway up the stairs when Hugh grabs her ankle and pulls her back down.
He jerks her to her feet. “If I wanted a businesswoman for a wife, I would’ve married one. If you move forward with this, I’ll divorce you.”
A smirk appears on her lips. “Promise?”
He balls up his fist and draws his hand back as though he’s going to punch her.
“Do it!” she says, bracing herself. “And I’ll go straight to the police.”
He lowers his fist, and she backs away. “So, you’ll give me a divorce?”
He bares his teeth at her and snarls, “Not on your life.”
“You no longer control my life.” Laney races up the stairs to the guest room. She falls back on the bed and stares up at the ceiling while her heart rate steadies. Hugh has threatened to hit her before, but he always stops himself. He’s aware of Virginia’s strict grounds for divorce, physical abuse being one of them.
Laney curls herself into a ball and has a good cry. What did she ever see in Hugh in the first place? And how will she get herself out of this mess of a marriage?
When she hears the girls come in, she wishes them goodnight before putting on her pajamas and getting ready for bed. She tosses and turns, but she can’t fall asleep. She needs to talk. She remembers that Bruce had given her his number, and the parting words he said. I’m not a stranger, Laney. Think of me as your friend.
When he answers on the third ring, she says, “Hey, Bruce. It’s Laney. I’m sorry to be calling so late.”
“Are you okay, Laney? You sound like you’ve been crying.”
She tells him about her argument with Hugh. “I feel like my soul is drowning. I can’t take this life anymore. What am I supposed to do, Bruce?”
“You save your soul. Starting your own business is the first step in doing that.”
“Hugh’s convinced I’ll fail. What do you think?”
“As long as you believe in yourself, and I’m absolutely certain you do, your business will thrive.”
“Thanks for your vote of confidence.” Laney rolls over onto her side. “Why do I care so much about what he thinks? Why do I feel I need his approval?”
“Because he’s conditioned you to feel that way. But with my help and a lot of positive self-talk, we’re going to recondition you. First thing in the morning, you call the building’s owner and sign the lease.”
She giggles. “Yes, sir.”
They talk for a few minutes longer. When they finally hang up, Laney is too excited to sleep. Staring up at the ceiling, she gives herself a pep talk, convincing herself she can do anything she sets her mind to.
She wakes before her alarm sounds, feeling stronger and more self-assured than she has in years. When she hears Hugh leave, she throws on exercise clothes, makes pancakes for the girls, and sees them to the bus stop. But instead of going for her walk, she returns home to call Diana Gladstone.
“Diana, this is Laney Love. I’m finally ready to sign the lease.” An awkward silence fills the line. “Hello? Diana, are you there? Is the storefront still available?”
“As of this morning, I have an offer on the building. I hate to be the one to spoil the surprise, but the prospective buyer is your husband. I assume he’s giving the building to you as a gift, so you can open your flower shop.”
“Actually, Diana, he’s buying the building to prevent me from opening the flower shop.”
Diana lets out an audible gasp. “Are you sure about that? He seemed so excited.”
“I’m positive. I discussed it with him last night. He’s adamantly opposed to me starting a business.”
“Why that rotten bastard. I don’t have to sell the building. The storefront is yours. I’ll have the lease drawn up right away.”
Laney’s spirits soar. “Do you really mean it?”
Diana chuckles. “I really mean it. I will take great pleasure in turning down your husband’s offer.”