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Authors: Bonnie Blythe
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enough. He figured his studious and responsible
side—which only really surfaced under duress, would appeal more to
her.
It had.
When he located the shop, Brad parked his
Jetta along a city curb where another car had just vacated, and
they got out. The area was filled with older shop spaces, and
depending on the way one viewed it, the buildings were either in
desperate need of renovation, or charming in an old-fashioned way.
The street had potential, Brad mused, if the wood trim was painted,
the brickwork repointed, and the sidewalk filled with some
welcoming benches and large flowerpots. Other businesses along the
block included a copy center, a pet grooming shop, and bakery.
All that’s needed is a candy
store .
Checking the scrawled directions, Brad led
her to a doorway next to a large picture window, sandwiched in
between a florist on one side and a shoe store on the other.
Business signs swung from metal brackets above each doorway. The
one above the empty shop indicated it had once been a deli.
Taking a deep breath, Brad unlocked the door
and led her inside. He felt his smile fade as he watched her
expression alter into something like regret. Looking around, he
experienced his own surge of disappointment.
Fluorescent lights hung crookedly from a
ceiling of stained tiles. A dingy linoleum floor in an ugly green
block pattern stretched all the way to the back of the room. The
windows were grubby and a layer of dust covered every horizontal
space.
Oh, great. My so-called
agent friend is peddling a dump .
Brad watched Delphine, wondering what she was
thinking. He hoped he wouldn’t lose any ground with her by bringing
her to a crummy shop. He had a feeling that once lost, her trust
would be next to impossible to regain.
Shoving his hands in his pockets, he wondered
if there were other properties available for lease.
****
Delphine took a step forward, struggling to
keep a polite expression on her face. She took a deep
breath—sneezed—and walked further into the room.
Be
opened-minded .
There couldn’t be that many spaces available
for lease. This location was good, especially situated next to a
florist shop. Half closing her eyes, she tried to imagine glass
display shelves at the window and at the center of the room.
Back in the kitchen area, she saw large
stainless steel sinks and lots of storage space. She mentally
placed a large wooden worktable in the middle of the area with a
rack overhead for pots and pans.
It’s not downtown Belgium,
but I think there are some real possibilities
here .
Blowing out a breath, she glanced over at
Brad and smiled.
He pulled a folded piece of paper from his
pants pocket and handed it to her. “Since this part of downtown is
undergoing a city-funded revitalization, the city has special
incentives you might be interested in.”
Delphine opened the paper and studied the
figures, calculating how to afford it with the other start-up
costs.
Lord, I think Your hand has
been with me in this so far. If this space is where you want me to
be, please confirm it by the lawyer giving the paperwork his stamp
of approval .
****
Mr. Hartung waved through the window when
Delphine walked onto his porch. She tried to discern his expression
as he opened the door and ushered her into his home.
This is it, God. Help me
accept whatever is the outcome .
“Well?” she asked after they exchanged
greetings, her hands clenched in anxiety.
Mr. Hartung’s face relaxed into a smile.
“Come in and have a seat.”
As she sat down in the chair facing his desk
in his office, he straightened some paperwork and placed it in a
file.
“Everything here looks good, Miss D’Arleux.
The loan is standard and adheres to all laws, and after a few calls
to some associates, I can tell you that Donald Larsen is a
respected businessman with nothing untoward on his record.”
The stress seeped out of Delphine, making her
return his smile. “That’s a relief.”
“And,” he
side—which only really surfaced under duress, would appeal more to
her.
It had.
When he located the shop, Brad parked his
Jetta along a city curb where another car had just vacated, and
they got out. The area was filled with older shop spaces, and
depending on the way one viewed it, the buildings were either in
desperate need of renovation, or charming in an old-fashioned way.
The street had potential, Brad mused, if the wood trim was painted,
the brickwork repointed, and the sidewalk filled with some
welcoming benches and large flowerpots. Other businesses along the
block included a copy center, a pet grooming shop, and bakery.
All that’s needed is a candy
store .
Checking the scrawled directions, Brad led
her to a doorway next to a large picture window, sandwiched in
between a florist on one side and a shoe store on the other.
Business signs swung from metal brackets above each doorway. The
one above the empty shop indicated it had once been a deli.
Taking a deep breath, Brad unlocked the door
and led her inside. He felt his smile fade as he watched her
expression alter into something like regret. Looking around, he
experienced his own surge of disappointment.
Fluorescent lights hung crookedly from a
ceiling of stained tiles. A dingy linoleum floor in an ugly green
block pattern stretched all the way to the back of the room. The
windows were grubby and a layer of dust covered every horizontal
space.
Oh, great. My so-called
agent friend is peddling a dump .
Brad watched Delphine, wondering what she was
thinking. He hoped he wouldn’t lose any ground with her by bringing
her to a crummy shop. He had a feeling that once lost, her trust
would be next to impossible to regain.
Shoving his hands in his pockets, he wondered
if there were other properties available for lease.
****
Delphine took a step forward, struggling to
keep a polite expression on her face. She took a deep
breath—sneezed—and walked further into the room.
Be
opened-minded .
There couldn’t be that many spaces available
for lease. This location was good, especially situated next to a
florist shop. Half closing her eyes, she tried to imagine glass
display shelves at the window and at the center of the room.
Back in the kitchen area, she saw large
stainless steel sinks and lots of storage space. She mentally
placed a large wooden worktable in the middle of the area with a
rack overhead for pots and pans.
It’s not downtown Belgium,
but I think there are some real possibilities
here .
Blowing out a breath, she glanced over at
Brad and smiled.
He pulled a folded piece of paper from his
pants pocket and handed it to her. “Since this part of downtown is
undergoing a city-funded revitalization, the city has special
incentives you might be interested in.”
Delphine opened the paper and studied the
figures, calculating how to afford it with the other start-up
costs.
Lord, I think Your hand has
been with me in this so far. If this space is where you want me to
be, please confirm it by the lawyer giving the paperwork his stamp
of approval .
****
Mr. Hartung waved through the window when
Delphine walked onto his porch. She tried to discern his expression
as he opened the door and ushered her into his home.
This is it, God. Help me
accept whatever is the outcome .
“Well?” she asked after they exchanged
greetings, her hands clenched in anxiety.
Mr. Hartung’s face relaxed into a smile.
“Come in and have a seat.”
As she sat down in the chair facing his desk
in his office, he straightened some paperwork and placed it in a
file.
“Everything here looks good, Miss D’Arleux.
The loan is standard and adheres to all laws, and after a few calls
to some associates, I can tell you that Donald Larsen is a
respected businessman with nothing untoward on his record.”
The stress seeped out of Delphine, making her
return his smile. “That’s a relief.”
“And,” he
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