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She scoffed. “That’s what I said!”
“Don’t get her started.” Justin shook his head on a laugh. “Once she gets going, she won’t ever stop.”
“Shut your trap, Justin.”
There was nothing wrong with working local, but I always pictured Anna to be the one to get her college degree, leave Beauville behind, and set her sights on a bigger business elsewhere. I’d also imagined she’d have married that college boyfriend in pre-med and have the perfect house and 2.5 kids. Again, elsewhere.
I leaned forward, elbows on my knees, my glass hanging in both hands. “Yeah, I figured you’d move to Baton Rouge, get your MBA or at least look for something bigger elsewhere.”
She tilted her head a little, studying me. “No, it’s not moving away from Beauville that I want.” Her sincere expression snagged me hard, as if she was disappointed I even suggested she should desire a life outside our small town.
Sitting up, I cleared my throat and took a gulp of my drink. “What is it you want to do in Beauville then?”
“She wants to open her own dance studio,” blurted Justin with a goofy grin.
She turned a death-glare on her brother. “Do you mind? I’d like to speak for myself, thank you.” She made a frustrated sound. “This is what the problem is,” she told me with narrowed eyes. “Everybody around here still treats me like I’m ten, playing Barbies.”
“So dramatic,” huffed Jonah, carrying a giant platter of barbequed chicken toward us. “Listen to Mom and Dad, Anna Banana.”
I caught her cringe at the nickname before Jonah added, “You need to build some experience before throwing away a shit ton of money on your own business. Now, come on, let’s eat.”
Justin popped up and hustled after him. “Ain’t gotta tell me twice.”
Jessie didn’t say a word as he stood and slid his phone into his pocket, following his brothers silently back into the house.
Anna didn’t move, her stern gaze on the patio floor. There was a deep vee carved into her forehead as she apparently grieved the fact that her family wouldn’t listen to her. So I did the only thing I could. I listened.
“What’s stopping you?” I asked quietly.
Her gaze shot to me, amber eyes round in surprise. She moistened her lips and swung her legs around, planting her feet on the concrete.
“I can use the money I saved in college for the down payment to buy the building, but it needs serious renovations to become the dance studio I envision. I’d need Mom and Dad to co-sign a larger business loan to make it happen.”
She wasn’t about to cry, but her eyes were glossy with emotion. More frustration and anger than sadness.
“You’re resourceful, Anna,” I told her.
Her expression softened into amused disbelief. “So much faith in me, Reed?”
I’d known Anna most of my life. I’d watched her accomplish every goal she set out to gain, and then some. She had been a straight-A student all the way through high school and graduated as valedictorian. She won multiple dance and cheer competitions. She earned a full-paid scholarship on her high ACT scores alone, even lived in the Honors dorm—rent free—through college. And she’d still waited tables to save a nice nest-egg, according to Jonah.
She’d always been the brightest light in this family. It physically hurt to see her feeling anything but their full support.
Granted, I understood what her parents were talking about. Opening any business, especially in a small town, was a big risk. But then Anna wasn’t the kind of woman to take a risk without intelligent calculation of the odds.
“Is this what you truly want?” I asked her.
The gleam of joy returned to her pretty face. “More than anything. And I found this fantastic building in the historic district on Main Street.” She cupped her drink with both hands, the glass propped on one knee. “It’s absolutely perfect, Reed.”
“It’s not me you need to convince.”
She glanced over her shoulder and blew out a frustrated sigh. “Trust me, they won’t listen. I’ve been working on them since January. They’re not giving in.”
I shook my head. “Not them.” I pointed to her. “You.”
She blinked. “What do you mean?”
“If this is truly what you want, then figure it out. You’re a smart woman, Anna. I know you can.”
