Two weeks later, Runa took one last glance at her inventory list and dropped the notebook onto her desk. Closing the office door behind her, she walked to the front of the store. Her eyes scanned the room, and she smiled. A wave of pride washed over her as she took it all in. She had actually done it. It was opening day for Runa’s, and she had pulled it off. Her dream was finally coming true.
Fixing her eyes on the clock, she breathed deeply before opening the front door and flipping the sign from Closed to Open, signaling the start of business. Waves of excitement washed over Runa, and her stomach knotted in anticipation.
The one downside to the day was that Asta wasn’t there to share it. She had stayed in Departure Cove for two weeks, unpacking, moving, and helping her daughter settle in. As much as Asta wanted to be there for Runa’s grand opening, she’d needed to return to Portland. She had her own business to run, and she couldn’t afford to be away from it any longer.
“It’s all right. You can do this,” Runa whispered to herself. “All you need is customers.”
Runa had no way of knowing whether opening day would be busy or slow. She realized it might take a while for people to come in and check out the store, and she’d tried to mentally prepare herself for that. She’d run an ad in the newspaper, plastered signs all around town, set up social media sites on all the platforms she could find, and tried to get the word out as much as possible. All she could do was wait and see.
Asta warned her that the people of Departure Cove were slow to warm to newcomers. At first that hadn’t deterred Runa. However, after having been in town the past few weeks, she had to admit Asta was right.
Runa had experienced the town’s frigid reception firsthand. As a general rule, she wasn’t an outgoing person. For the most part, she kept to herself, preferring her own company to a crowd. But knowing her business depended upon the residents of Departure Cove, Runa had tried to socialize. She’d done everything she could to take herself outside of her comfort zone since she’d arrived. She drank coffee every morning in the diner next door, even going so far as to strike up awkward conversations with those around her. Most people barely acknowledged her existence, and she’d tried not to take it personally when folks didn’t engage.
As a last resort, she’d gone out the night before to the local pub. She’d had dinner, a glass of wine, and dessert. She’d tried to smile and appear open and ready for interaction, but in the end, she’d spent the entire evening sitting alone at a table in the corner. No one even glanced in her direction. In a last-ditch effort to do something out of the ordinary, she’d settled for leaving a stack of business cards next to the sink in the women’s restroom.
Runa had trudged home, discouraged and more than a little concerned about her future in Departure Cove. Normally she would have called her mother to complain, but she didn’t want Asta to know she’d been right. In spite of everything, Runa loved the little town. So far, it seemed the affection was one-sided.
“Today is a new day. Things are going to be just fine, and customers are going to come into my store,” Runa whispered to herself.
No sooner had the words escaped her lips than her body began to tingle. It was similar to that day on the sidewalk, but that had been more of a jolt. This time it was a hum, like her skin was vibrating. As the tremor passed through her body, Runa felt her discouragement leave, and in its place was a sense of calm.
“Why is my body tingling? Maybe I’m getting sick. I’ve been working myself too hard.”
The feeling wasn’t altogether unpleasant, but it was more than a little disconcerting. Trying to ignore it, Runa busied herself behind the counter. After a couple of minutes, the sensation faded. She was straightening her display case when the bell on the entrance door jingled. Runa’s stomach clenched as she realized she had her first customer.
Glancing up from her work, she was surprised to find the man walking through the door was the same one who had knocked her down a couple weeks ago. Runa frowned, her nose crinkling with distaste. She thought he was a very rude man, and she didn’t know why he had come into her store. Nevertheless, he was a customer, so she forced a smile and greeted him.
“Hello. Welcome to Runa’s.”
The man stopped about halfway to the counter and stared at her. Once again, his face grew pale and his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed hard. The look on his face was a mixture of sadness and disbelief. He didn’t move from his spot on the floor as he shook his head and took a deep shuddering breath.
Not sure what to do, Runa decided she would try again. “Is there something I can help you with, sir?”
“I… uh… well…,” the man stammered as he pulled a silk handkerchief from the breast pocket of his designer suit and wiped beads of perspiration from his forehead.
Runa noticed the man looked like he was going to pass out. “Sir, are you all right? Do you need to sit down?”
He dabbed his forehead once again, gently folded the handkerchief, placed it slowly back into his pocket, and took a deep breath. “Thank you, but I’m quite well.”
“You don’t look at all well,” Runa persisted.
She was worried about what she might have to do if the man fainted on the floor of her store.
“I’m sorry. I’m just fine. I guess I must be overheated or something,” he said with a wave of his hand.
Runa thought that seemed unlikely, as it was cool and cloudy outside. Rather than argue with the man, she reminded herself that she was a businesswoman and he was in her store.
“Well then, welcome to Runa’s. You’re officially my first customer,” she said with a tentative smile.
“Is the store named after you?” He took several steps forward until he was standing across the counter from her.
“Yes, I’m Runa Brandon,” she answered with a nod.
“Well, Runa Brandon, it’s nice to officially meet you. I’m Chase Everwine.”
“It’s nice to meet you, too. What can I do for you?”
“To be honest, I stopped by because I had to get another look at you,” Chase blurted, looking a bit embarrassed as the words left his mouth.
“Get another look at me? I don’t understand what you mean, Mr. Everwine.” Runa bristled.
“I’m sorry. It seems I just keep making an even bigger mess of things,” Chase said with a sigh. “What I’m really trying to do is apologize for my behavior the last time we met.”
“You’re referring to the day you knocked me to the ground and ran away?” Runa demanded. “You acted as if you’d seen a ghost.”
“A ghost… yes….” A strange look covered his face, and he cleared his throat loudly.
“Well, I don’t believe in ghosts,” Runa stated matter-of-factly, her hands on her hips.
“I didn’t think I did either,” he mumbled under his breath.
Runa gazed at Chase. He was tall, standing well over six feet. His hair, the color of mahogany, framed a jawline that was square and chiseled. His brown eyes, pools of melted chocolate, were deep enough for a woman to get lost in if she wasn’t careful. He was one of the most handsome men Runa had ever seen.
He exuded an air of sophistication, and a sense of brooding magnetism practically rolled off his perfect skin. She had taken an immediate disliking to him after their first encounter, but now he seemed kind, if not a little disoriented. Perhaps she’d judged him too harshly.
“Are you looking for something specific, Mr. Everwine, or did you come in simply to apologize?”
“My poor behavior has bothered me since that day. I assure you I’m not usually this awkward, and I’m sorry I ran off like that after I knocked you down. I was… well… uh… in a hurry, I suppose. But that’s no excuse,” he offered, shrugging his broad shoulders.
“Apology accepted. Let’s forget about it,” Runa said with a dismissive wave of her hand.
“That’s very kind of you, Ms. Brandon.”
“Please, call me Runa.”
“Very well, but that means you must call me Chase. What brings you to Departure Cove, Runa?”
“I needed a change of pace, and this place seemed to fit,” she replied, giving the most basic of explanations.
“And how are you enjoying our little town so far?”
“You mean besides random men plowing into me as I walk down the street?” Runa asked with a grin.
“Yes, besides that, of course.” He chuckled.
“Well, I think it will take some getting used to. It’s quite a change from Portland, and folks seem slow to warm up. I’m hanging in there, though, and I’m hoping I’ll be able to drum up some business and make a go of it,” she explained, surprised at the ease of their conversation. She hadn’t expected that.
“Give it some time. Before long, everyone in Departure Cove will be smitten with you.”
Chase gave her a lingering look, then turned abruptly on his heel.
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.” Runa chuckled.
“Why not? I already am.”
Smiling at the look of surprise on Runa’s face, Chase gave her a quick nod and walked out the front door.