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After breakfast at Susie’s Cafe, Pete took me over to the nursing home to see Miss Elizabeth. She was waiting for us in the sitting room. There was a large fireplace in the corner and armchairs scattered throughout the room where people were gathered in twos or threes. She commandeered a small table in the corner. A grey-haired gentleman in a tailored suit sat next to her. They were engrossed in a conversation and they didn’t notice us until Pete tapped the man on the shoulder.
“Miss Elizabeth.” Pete leaned towards her and kissed her on the cheek.
“Oh, Petey boy,” she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him back. “I thought that you forgot about me.”
“I could never forget about you.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me closer to the table. “I heard that you met Melanie, yesterday.”
“I sure did.” She took my hands in hers and squeezed them. “Did you think about the shop, dear?”
“A little,” I admitted. I glanced over at Pete, heat rose up my neck, “He took me riding so I didn’t have much time to think about it.”
She cackled. “To be young and in love. Me, I’m just an old dreamer.” She gestured to the man next to her. “This is my lawyer, Mr. Joe Philips.”
Mr. Philips took out a pair of spectacles and polished them on his handkerchief before balancing them on the bridge of his nose. He reached down and pulled up a brown leather briefcase. He motioned for us to sit down at the table.
“Miss Elizabeth wanted me to go over her terms and conditions before you make your decision.” He proceeded to pull out legal document after document, placing them in an arc in front of me. It was a little overwhelming and it must’ve shown on my face, because Pete took my hand and squeezed it under the table.
“Just listen to the man,” he whispered to me.
Over the next hour, Mr. Philips went over every bit of document, spelling out Miss Elizabeth’s wishes for her little apartment and shop and how much rent I’d have to pay each month. I had enough money saved to pay the deposit and the monthly rent for the next couple of months. But was I ready to spend my money, to make the leap? Make an investment in myself? I wasn’t sure. Soon the paper was covered with little sticky notes everywhere I had to sign.
“This is quite a bit. I don’t know.” I wrung my hands at the amount of paperwork. "I haven’t thought about this.”
“My dear, do you have a job back home?” Miss Elizabeth patted my hand
“No,” I said.
“Do you have a boyfriend or a husband that needs you?"
"Um, not really." A blush started to creep up my neck.
“What’s the problem, then?” She crossed her thin arms over her chest and stared down her nose at me.
“Um, I guess nothing.” Especially, when she put it like that.
“That’s exactly right, young lady. You are going to sign these papers and go out there to make beautiful dresses for women!” She smiled triumphantly. “I can’t wait to see your creations.”
“She is pretty convincing." Pete leaned back in his chair and draped his arm over my chair. His eyes held mine for a moment before he winked and turned his attention back to Miss Elizabeth. I guess I could take the risk. I’d saved enough to cover my expenses for a couple of months. Worst-case scenario, I could always go home. I cringed internally. That was something I didn’t want to do, so I’d better make this work.
“Alright, where’s a pen?” I waved my hand around in the air. Mr. Philips handed me a pen to sign my John Hancock in all the little spaces.
I helped Melanie out of my truck in front of her new shop. Delilah and Damien were already waiting for us there.
“I am so glad you signed the papers!” She squealed and hugged Melanie. “I just knew you could not pass this up. Look, I even brought champagne.” She held up a foil-wrapped bottle and twirled around on the sidewalk.
“Where did you find champagne?” I thought only beer and a bottle of tequila sat on the pharmacy/liquor store shelf.
“I brought it with me from San Antonio.” She smiled so big that I thought her face might crack. I couldn’t help but laugh at her. Melanie shook her head and gave the brass key to Damien to open the door. Melanie threaded her arm into mine and leaned against my shoulder.
“It seems so unreal,” she said as Damien swung open the door and a cloud of dust erupted out of the storefront.
“Let’s open this before we go in." Delilah reached into her backpack and pulled out 4 solo cups. The champagne fizzed and bubbled as it poured out.
“Ew, that’s awful.” Melanie choked as the liquid passed her lips.
“I didn’t say it was good.” Delilah screwed her face up at her cup. “I’m just excited for my best friend to be stuck in South Texas with me.”
“Ah, Delilah,” Melanie’s eyes started to water. They embraced each other as tears fell from their eyes.
“Girls,” Damien said to no one in particular as he shook his head and dumped his cup out on the street. He retrieved a bucket and mop from the back of his car. “We might as well get started until they stop blubbering.” He headed inside. I swallowed my cup in one gulp, wincing as it slid down my throat. I headed inside to help Damien start the cleaning process. He took down the curtains while wiping the cobwebs from the dark corners. We worked in silence as the dust fell from the ceiling and settled on our heads and shoulders.
“So,” Damien started as he came in from the dumpster. “Did she sign all the papers?”
“Yup,” as I stifled a sneeze.
“Does she know that you own the building, not Miss Elizabeth?” He leaned against the back wall and crossed his arms.
“I don’t think that she read it closely. Mr. Philips was hustling her through the signing process.” I wiped some dust from my nose. “Why?”
He shrugged and grabbed the mop. “Are you going to tell her?”
“When the right time comes around.”
“I think you should tell her now.”
Melanie stood outside the big glass windows, talking animatedly with Delilah. She looked so happy at this moment. “She thinks she’s helping an old lady out. Don’t you tell her or Dee.”
“It’s not me you have to worry about blabbing. You know how it is. People talk.”
“Mr. Philip’s secretary?”
“You know how she loves a good gossip.” He splashed water on the floor and spun the mop around. A pit formed in my stomach. I will have to swim that river when I get there.