Page 102 of Lovestrung

“You’ve got it, babe.” She winked at me. “Who needs men anyway?”

I didn’t need men, I thought when I went to her bathroom. But I needed Ethan in my life. The question was, if I needed him to be my boyfriend again, or if we’d be better off as the friends we once were.

* * *

The City Market was one of the things I’d missed while travelling. I loved walking among the stalls and finding hidden gems – and there were plenty of those – and now, taking a tour with Ella, her arm linked with mine, I managed to forget my aching heart for a while.

“So, tell me more about the gorgeousness you’re going to have in your store,” Ella asked after we’d picked up several cheeses from a nearby farm.

I nibbled on my lip. “Are you sure you want to hear about it?”

She shook her head. “Don’t be silly. Of course I want to hear all about it. And I’m going to write a spread about it and run with it on opening day, too. You need all the publicity you can get, babe, and what kind of a friend would I be if I didn’t use my magnificent way with words and wrote about it?”

I was touched by her willingness to help. “It’ll take months of planning,” I warned her, “and I haven’t even found a place to rent yet. The first year is crucial for a new business. What if I fail?”

She waved off my worries. “Pfft. Details. Take it one day at a time, and you’ll get there.” She leaned closer. “And you won’t fail, I’m sure of it.”

“I hope you’re right. All right, here’s the deal…”

I talked her through each step I’d taken the last few weeks. She gave me her undivided attention, and even offered some advice. It felt good to talk to someone else but Ethan about my grand plans and knowing that she supported me and wanted me to succeed gave me the boost in confidence I’d needed. It was one thing to have your boyfriend do it, in my book; no matter what, he’d offer his support – or should, anyway – but your friends would always tell you the truth. Knowing Ella well as I did, she’d cut through the bullshit and tell me if I was on the wrong track.

We stopped at a stall that sold some amazing artwork and jewelry.

“So?” I glanced at her and picked up a beautiful watercolor of Lake Anna.

“I love your plans, Pippa.”

“Penelope,” I murmured.

She frowned at me. “What?”

I shrugged. “I’m not a child anymore – haven’t been for a while. I thought it was best I let go of that part of my life; besides, I’m not an adventurer anymore.” I squared my shoulders. “I’m about to become a successful businesswoman.”

“Huh,” she clucked her tongue. “That’s going to take me a while to get used to. But, it makes sense in a weird, unfamiliar way.”

“Yeah, it does.”

I turned to the middle-aged woman who manned the stall. “I love your work.”

She beamed at me. “Thank you, dear, but I’m not the artist. My son, Ciaran, is.”

I nodded. “I see. Is he here?”

She shook her head. “Sadly, not today. He’s a bit shy and doesn’t leave his studio often.” She leaned closer and wrinkled her nose. “A bit of a loner, my boy is, but I’m sure he’ll grow out of it. He’s only nineteen, after all.”

I smiled, understanding what she meant.

“That’s a shame.” An idea struck me, and going with my instincts, I pulled my wallet from my handbag and gave her one of my newly printed business cards. “Do you think he’d be willing to talk with me about showcasing his work?” Her mouth popped open in a surprised O, and I hurried to explain. “I’m opening a store later this year, and I’d love to feature a few pieces. I’m not an expert on art, but they’d blend in beautifully with the rest of my stock.”

My heart galloped with nerves. I’d never so boldly pushed myself on a possible business opportunity before, but it was now or never.

The lady snatched the card from my extended hand

“Oh, my. I’m sure he’d be overjoyed. I’ll make sure he calls you, dear.”

I smiled at her. “Thank you.” I looked down at the watercolor and glanced at the price tag. It wasn’t steep, but it wasn’t cheap, either. The strange thing was that I already felt a strong attachment to it. “I’d love to buy this for myself now but have a few more stops to make. Can I come back and collect it in about an hour?”

She gave me another beaming smile and took it from my hand. “No problem at all. I’ll wrap it up and keep it for you while you enjoy your shopping.”