6. Courtney

Chapter 6

Courtney

I wake the next morning wondering what the hell is going on. Jack showing up early, asking to try again but still not wanting to give up his work, it’s just all too much for me. We are just days away from Christmas, and I definitely do not need this mental mind fuck that is happening.

Me: good morning beauty, can you stop here before going to the shop?

January: you bet I can. Blossom is opening today. I’ll grab coffee and come by in thirty.

Me:

True to her word, thirty minutes later, we are sitting on my couch together with coffees from Sweets n’ Spice.

“Tell me,” January demands.

I roll my eyes and sigh. “I don’t even know where to start. Actually, I do. Tell me what's happening with Dress Me Up.”

It's her turn to sigh. “Sales are bad. Lief and I have been going over the books, and it’s just not working anymore. I don’t know where it took a dive, but we have to make a decision. Either we pour money we don’t have into the place to build it back to what Dad made it, or we give it up.” She chokes up on the last words. This is her last connection to her dad, and it makes me sad that it’s burning out.

“Is that why he called Jack?” I ask quietly. I know Jack is a sore subject for her. They never saw eye to eye on a lot of topics, and Jack was always very vocal with his opinions. From taking off to New York, running a business, and right down to the guy she was dating, he let her know he didn’t agree with her actions. To me, it felt like he was looking out for her as a big brother would, but since Jack is an only child, he didn't understand how to voice his concerns in a way that didn’t come off as bossy or a know-it-all.

And when she got pregnant with Lily, well, he and Lief both lost their minds about it.

She nods. “Jack is actually doing the right thing, or at least I think he is. He and Lief spoke, and he said it comes down to what we want to do. If we want to sell it, he’ll get a buyer with the best offer. But if we want to keep it, he’ll give us the funding at no interest, but he wants to be added to the deed as a silent partner. I don't know what's best … just ending it all and starting new or trying to hold onto the old.”

“I don't want to tell you what to do?—”

“I need you to!”

I laugh and reach for her hand. Dress Me Up is something special. It's the only store in town that dresses you from lingerie to wedding gowns and everything in between. “The only thing I’ll say is that the boutique is a landmark here in Wintervale. I know it’s a lot of work, but how would you feel walking past that place once it’s turned into a chain shop? Or some other ridiculous store that this tourist town doesn’t need. Dress Me Up is one of a kind. And if you’re worried about adding Jack as a silent partner, I know he’d do the right thing by you guys.”

“I know he would too. Lief assured me of that. I know he hates me for all that went on years ago?—”

“He doesn’t hate you, January! It’s actually the opposite. He cares about you, about all of you, and just wants to do the best thing for you.”

She lets out a deep, weary sigh. “This is our family legacy. I want Lily to grow up in the store like we did. I want her to run it one day. I told Lief I don’t want to sell, but he’s not so sure.”

“What can I do to help? I’m being selfish and don't want to lose my summer job.” We laugh together. When school is out, I work in the shop, helping out with whatever they need.

She shrugs. “Tell everyone you know to shop there.”

“I will. We’ll get a new batch of parents in September. Lily’s group. They’ll want to support you.”

“Oh jeez, I forgot to tell you. Lily is making friends with the new delivery guy.” She laughs.

“What are you talking about?”

“I don't know, Blossom said they’ve got a new guy on the morning route, and Lily loves him.”

I furrow my eyebrows. “A new guy?”

“Blossom said he’s hot, but I’ve never met him. She’s been bringing Lily with her in the mornings so Lief and I can work the numbers out. I’ll have to go in early one day and see what the fuss is about.”

“You should do that.” When she looks away from me, I tap her thigh. “It’s okay to do that. Sean is gone, and you're allowed to move on. Lily and you both deserve to meet a good guy. ”

“My life has been nothing but loss since I was eighteen. Dad, Sean, the shop…” She trails off.

“Hey. No. I can’t change the first two, but if you don't want to lose the shop, we won't. I’ll make sure of it.”

“Thank you. You’re the best friend ever. Now, please tell me some of your drama so I can forget about my own.”

“Well, which would you like to hear first? The fact Jack is taking Joey home with him to New York for a week, or the fact he asked me to try again?”

She sputters her coffee. “Shut the fuck up!”

I laugh at her outburst. “Yep. So how's that for drama?”

She shakes her head. “I don't know how you do it. What did you tell him?”

“Well, I said yes to Joe going to New York. I won’t be the bad parent. And honestly, he says it’s for a week, but I don't think he’ll make it three days before they're flying back here. He has no idea how to be a parent, let alone a parent that works.”

“And trying again?”

“I told him no,” I snap.

“No?” she asks in clear disbelief.

“No,” I say, but with a bit more hesitancy.

“You're lying.”

“January, I can’t go back there,” I whine. “He’s been the love of my life since I was ten years old, but he broke my heart. And what am I going to do? Remarry him? No one does that.”

“They do it all the time! How many stories have we heard about people divorcing and going back?”

“It’s a trainwreck waiting to happen. There is a reason we came to that decision to begin with.”

She shakes her head. “You guys were different then though. You were young, and no one makes good decisions when they’re young.” She falls silent, and so do I, remembering all the things she told me about why I should leave him and move back to Montana. In the end, I did move back but she stayed, having found Sean. I knew he wasn’t the best thing for her but there was no changing her mind. In hindsight I should have stayed, if only for her. She may not have had the heartbreak she did. “I owe you an apology.”

“For what?”

“For making you leave him,” she says quietly.

“You didn’t make me leave him. I decided to.”

“But not without my help.”

“You were doing what any friend would do.”

“I’d like to think that, but I was also in a miserable state and probably didn't want you to be happy either.”

“That's what friends are for, right? Be happy together or miserable together.” I laugh it off, but she remains serious.

“No, Court, listen. I was wrong. I need to apologize for it, and I need you to hear me and forgive me. It’s been on my mind for some time.” She pauses, gathering her words before speaking. “I also think you should listen to what he has to say.”

My eyes are big as I study her. “Don't tell me you think I should go back with him!”

“No! I don't want you to move back to New York, but I think you deserve to see if there's something there. Joey deserves it. I won't ever get that second chance, so I need you to not miss out on yours.”

My heart breaks for her. Lily will never get to meet her father, and I know that is a regret January lives with every day of her life, even though none of it was her fault. I reach for her hand and squeeze it. “The only reason I'd try again is for Joey, but what if we just end up back at the same spot again? How good is it for Joey to see his parents fail twice? ”

“I don't think you’d fail again. I think you’re both older and have lived a life that wouldn’t allow that to happen.”

We finish our coffees, make plans to go Christmas shopping tomorrow for the loose ends, and I promise I’ll think about what she said. When she leaves, I do just that, over and over. Jack was always someone I thought I’d end up with. We just took a messy turn where it all was lost. But what if we can find how to clean it up now?