Penny Serenade (13 page)

Audrey took a sip of her tea, the vanilla chai smooth down her throat.
“Sounds fun.
I haven’t been to
Seattle
in years.”

“I figure it will be a great way to meet and network with other artists.”

“And they’re all going to love your amulets.”

Heidi’s cheeks reddened. “Thanks. So I thought maybe, while I’m over there and all, that you wouldn’t mind if I plugged your shop. Get the name out there so people know it exists.”

Audrey blinked a few times, appreciative of the thoughtfulness. “You’re so sweet. That would be wonderful.”

“Oh good, I hoped you’d think so. I mean, might as well while I’m there, right?”

“Exactly.
You know, you must have read my mind.”

“Really?
How?”

“It’s easier if I show you what I mean.” Audrey grabbed the catalog she’d received in the mail and slid it out of the envelope. “This arrived yesterday and I’m expecting about four boxes of them to be delivered here tomorrow morning.” She set it in Heidi’s hands. “I thought I’d start taking phone orders. It would save some serious postage if you handed these out while you were there.”

Heidi’s grin spread wide as she opened the catalog. “I’d be happy to.”

Biting her lip she watched the young woman flip through the pages. “What do you think?
Bad idea?”

“Are you kidding, it’s a fantastic idea. I thought you should’ve been doing phone orders right away. You have incredible taste and know what the customers like. Everything you have in here is beautiful.” She closed the catalog and handed it back. Heidi looked around the shop and walked toward the jewelry area. “Betty’s bracelets are my favorite.”

Audrey walked up beside her. “My favorite part of opening this store has been meeting the both of you.”

“I’m curious. Why didn’t you do the phone orders earlier?” Heidi asked, changing the subject.

“I don’t think I was ready before,” she said, not knowing the real reason herself. Nerves, she guessed. Self doubt. “I needed the right time to push me to do it. It’s hard to believe I’ve had the store open for a year. Now feels like the right time to move forward and branch out.”

“It’s so good to hear you say that, and I’ll bet you get a ton of sales that way. And, this leads me to the other thing I wanted to discuss.”

She loved Heidi’s enthusiasm. She’d make a great businesswoman someday. “Lay it on me.”

“You know what you could do that would really get you noticed?”

Walk around naked holding a sign with her store’s name on it? Audrey shook her head. “What’s that?”

“Your very own website.”

“Website,” she repeated, her breath releasing in a quiver. The idea of learning computers made her stomach knot. “Oh, um…I don’t know. I’m not much of a computer person. I think I’m allergic to technology.”

Heidi smiled and shook her head. “Well, let me tell you what I have in mind first and then you can decide. Okay?”

“Okay, shoot.”

“I would create a website for you. I just finished an advanced web design class, and I know I could make you a beautiful and professional site that people will want to return to again and again. You do realize people shop online now more than ever.”

“Yeah, I suppose. I mean, I don’t, but they do.” The idea appealed to her in terms of exposure, but not where she’d have to learn the ins and outs of the Internet. “It sounds great, but I wouldn’t know how to do
updates
, or anything else for that matter.”

“I could do that for you,” Heidi explained. “I’d be happy to take care of the maintenance, handle the shipping and delivery, and whatever else you need. I have a light class load next year and more time on my hands.”

“Yeah?”
Audrey couldn’t come up with a single good argument to not go for it. “You know what, I’d love it. Let me take a few days to figure out what all I’d be looking at and together we can decide on a reasonable salary for you. I’ll also pay you separately for the web design and maintenance. Sound good?”

“Yes, thank you.”

“No, thank you. It’s a wonderful idea, and I appreciate you suggesting it. The added experience will be an asset on your resume.”

Heidi shrugged. “There is that, but it’s not why I want to help. I love being here. You do realize you’re my idol, right? Running your own shop and being a successful single business woman.”

Audrey cringed at the word ‘single’ but she knew Heidi didn’t mean anything facetious by it.

“Oh I don’t know about being your idol,” she said. “I enjoy owning my own shop, but…just make sure you take time out to have fun.”

“You don’t have fun?”

“Eh, sometimes, but not near enough,” she clarified. “Stay in touch with friends and go on dates once in awhile. It’s best to have balance.”

Heidi shook her head. “You’re the most balanced person I know.”

If she saw her outside of work, she wouldn’t say that. Still, it was nice to have someone rooting on her side.

“While I have you here, I might as well discuss with you a business idea that I have that includes you. I plan to take some vacation time. A couple weeks away somewhere, I’m not sure where yet. Maybe when you get back from the convention, or a few days after that, you might be available?”

Heidi’s jaw dropped.
“For two whole weeks?”

“Uh huh.”

“I’d
so
love it. You know I would.”

Audrey couldn’t help but smile back. “Okay. When I get return from my trip, we’ll get together and make some definite plans.”

“You make me want to not go to the convention.”

“Listen, the convention will be an amazing experience for you. If you don’t go, then I won’t go.”

“Yes, boss.”

“Oh, I like how that sounds,” she teased. “Okay,” Audrey clapped her hands together and looked around the shop. “Let’s go over the register. How much do you remember from when I trained you?
Which was what, over six months ago.
”

“I remember most of it.” Heidi tapped the folder she’d set on the counter. “This has all the notes I took and I study it every once in awhile, in case you needed me.”

She admired the woman’s organization and devotion. “I feel terrible that I haven’t called on you sooner. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m obsessed with working or something. A few days off once in awhile wouldn’t kill me.”

“But this place is all yours,” Heidi said, her eyes wide. “I’d have a hard time not working all the time if I owned my own store. I’d be just like you, not wanting to leave it in someone else’s hands.”

“It’s not easy to give up the control, but it leaves less time for other things.” And people, she thought to herself. “So first I’ll have you run through a couple transactions for practice and then go over how to process new shipment. I’m only expecting the catalogs and books tomorrow, so it will be easy. I think some bookmarks and goddess cards will be delivered the day after. It’s up to you whether you want to check the stuff in or not.”

“Okay. I’m so excited.”

Audrey spent the next hour being impressed by how fast Heidi picked things up, and how much she’d remembered. When customers started coming in, she let the young woman take over and stayed in the back, in case she needed help. By eleven she knew Heidi would do fine without her. It was a good time to go and she wanted to grab a bite to eat before she finished packing, and hit the road.

She waited for Heidi to finish with her transaction and then came up beside her. “I’m going to take off. Please take the full hour at lunch to enjoy yourself and give your feet a rest. Okay?”

“I will.”

“If you need anything, I’ve got my cell phone. I wrote the number on a sticky in the drawer.”

Heidi’s face crinkled. “I didn’t know you owned one. I thought you hated technology.”

“Trust me, I do. Take me back to a time before computers and I’ll be a happier camper. Anyhow, I bought the phone for emergencies. I’ve never needed it yet.”

“Cool. I promise not to bug you unless it’s super important.”

“Nah, you call whenever, please don’t feel like you’re interrupting me. I have to learn to use the thing sometime.” She gathered up her purse and gave Heidi her extra set of keys. “Have fun, and if you feel like moving merchandise around, go for it. I’d love to see your creative vision on what to do with the products.”

“I probably won’t touch a thing,” Heidi replied. “I like the way you have everything set up.”

“Still, you’re welcome to it.”

“Okay. Have a nice time visiting your aunt. Safe travels.”

A wave of nausea hit her. “I will. Bye.”

She walked out the store and stopped with her hand on the doorknob. This was the first time she’d ever left her shop without closing up or taking lunch. It felt odd to walk away with the door unlocked. Audrey knew the shop was in good hands with Heidi, and she forced herself to breathe. She could do this. She needed to do this.

Audrey walked by the café and peeked in. Not seeing Dominic she rushed in and ordered two bagels to go. One to munch on now and one for later, not wanting to rely on plane food. She drove back home, got all her stuff together, did a quick run through of the house, and called a cab. She couldn’t believe she was actually going through with her wild idea. Suddenly the thought of closure didn’t sound as appealing.

Dominic finished up the staff meeting and sent everyone off to work on projects. He only had a short time to grab something to eat and the nearest place was the café. After about twenty minutes of trying to convince his body that he didn’t need food, the hunger pangs in his stomach grew louder until he didn’t have any other choice. If he didn’t eat, Dan would give him hell for being a grouch. He’d get in, get out, and get back to work.

With a careful step inside, he snuck a quick look around, and deemed it safe. He didn’t want to make Audrey feel like she had to leave, or have either of them be uncomfortable.

His leg bobbed while he ate half a turkey and Swiss sandwich on rye. He kept glancing toward the door. It was stupid, and he knew it. Trying to avoid her hadn’t helped him forget her so far. It pained him to have left the way he did, but what could he have said? She all put pushed him away. The anger he’d had toward her came and went in waves. It was hard to be mad when he thought about the way she felt in his arms.

Dominic glanced at his watch and popped the last bite of sandwich into his mouth. He had a busy week scheduled and needed to get back. If he’d planned it the right way, he wouldn’t have any time at all to think of Audrey or the sensual glance she’d given him after they’d first kissed.

*****

Audrey had spent the night at a hotel near the airport, too tired and stressed from the flight to bother driving. As it was, the car rental place wouldn’t open until six in the morning and she didn’t want to ring her aunt too early. The less disruptive she was toward other people, the better she’d feel.

She laid in bed, listening to the thundering sound of planes coming and going. She’d only flown twice in her whole life, three counting this time around, and loathed the experience. Worse than the threat of death and the gut-wrenching turbulence, she didn’t like wandering around the airport. Loved ones parting from one another locked in a tight embrace, tears streaking their pained faces. None of her past boyfriends had ever moved her to tears, let alone made her feel some sense of loss when they parted. She wondered if those kinds of boyfriends were grouped together in a phonebook and if she should call to arrange to meet one. Yeah right. Knowing her luck she’d be stuck with some stalker guy she couldn’t shake. Not a good thought.

With a groan she threw the sheets off, determined to start her day.

First things first, food beckoned to her. She perused the restaurant menu and ordered eggs, toast and hash browns from room service. Ignoring her tousled hair, she slipped into her silky blue floor length robe and tied the sash tight around her waist. A knock at the door prompted her to open it and in stepped a nice looking sandy-haired man wheeling a cart into her room. His uniform looked crisp and pressed, though a bit dressy for such an early hour in her opinion.