Missy Tippens - Georgia Sweethearts

“No.” Jenna propped her elbow on the table and rested her chin in her palm. She looked totally forlorn. “That’s the church Ned’s been attending, wanting me to visit. I can’t say I’d relish having them around. They already tie up too much of his time.”

So much for taking her mind off her marital problems. “I don’t see how they could rent it until we finish the space, and we can’t afford that right now.”

“They’d be there all the time—apparently they’re pretty active with the community service projects all week long. Ned’s mentioned some kind of after-school mentoring program. He’s volunteering with a food pantry and a clothes closet ministry.” She rolled her eyes. “Reminded me of that old busybody neighbor we had, Mrs. What’s-Her-Name, who brought us clothes and reported Mom and Dad to the social worker.”

Humiliation nearly two-decades old stung Lilly’s face as if the act had happened yesterday. Mrs. Wiley had come from across the street with a bag of new dollar-store shorts and tops and, within viewing and hearing range of other neighbor kids, wrinkled her nose in disgust and offered to wash Lilly and Jenna’s clothing for them since their parents didn’t seem to care.

Even if the woman’s intentions had been good, she’d carried out the act of charity in a scarring manner. And set their dad on course to uproot and move his family once again, tearing them away from some good people of a local church who had been quietly helping her and Jenna—people who’d shown them kindness and love.

Old anger burned like acid in Lilly’s stomach. “I’ve done some figuring. If we hold a few small knitting classes upstairs, we’ll generate income from fees and selling the supplies. We should be able to get by until we can afford to renovate the basement to hold larger classes.”

“Who’d teach?”

Lilly eyed her sister for evidence she was poking fun, and immediately thought of Daniel, teasing, promising to come back to see her knitting. She ignored the warm, cozy feeling and checked her sister’s face. Not a hint of a smile. “I don’t know. But I’ll work on it. In the meantime, I’m going to check Aunt Talitha’s records for any information on the agreement with Daniel.”

Jenna pushed away her barely touched bowl and wiped her mouth. “You know, that rent money would be a sure thing.”

“Yeah, but we’d have to spend a lot to get there. Besides, building a sense of community is important for our type of business. I’d rather ask Ned to help us get started on finishing the basement, to create a place for customers to hang out. That way, there’s no deadline and no rush. Volunteer labor, of course, until we can afford—”

“He’s gone.”

A frisson of alarm passed over her. Surely Jenna didn’t mean that in the way it sounded. Surely he’d just left for work. “What do you mean, gone?”

Jenna looked up, her pain-filled eyes welling with tears. “Ned can’t help us with the store anymore. He left me.”

Chapter Two

Armed with two lists, Daniel headed to The Yarn Barn the next day, trying to keep his promise to his grandmother. He hoped to at least get a peek at the basement to see if it was as ideal a setting as Gran had asserted. Though he wouldn’t push Lilly and her sister, he did need to find the church a new location soon.

His first list included all the advantages of allowing the church to rent—including the idea for the church to renovate the space—as well as the perks they would offer.

The second list was extra incentive. An evaluation of her store’s current visibility in the community, along with suggestions to increase exposure. Might as well use his marketing expertise to help.

He pulled into the gravel parking lot and got a good look at the place in daylight. Granted, the building was old. But the structure, painted barn red, with a sloping roof and white trim, had charm. Was quaint and welcoming.

Wind chimes jingled as he walked in, something new she’d added since his visit yesterday.

“May I help— Oh. Daniel,” she said, voice flat. Disappointed. She may as well have said, oh, it’s just you.

He considered her attitude a challenge.

“Hello, Lilly.” For the first time, he noticed one whole wall lined with cubbyholes packed with yarn of every color. “The store’s certainly well stocked.”

“Our aunt’s inventory was depleted when we came on board. We had to place a large order of supplies.” Her sad gaze darted away as she ran her hand over a closed laptop computer, wiping away invisible dust. “Can I help you find something? A gift for your grandmother, maybe?”

If a sale would put him in her good graces... “Uh, sure. Do you have a nice scarf?”

Pushing long, dark hair behind one ear, she winced. “I’m afraid I don’t have many finished items left. A couple hats. A pair of children’s mittens.” Her expression brightened as she came from behind the counter. “I remember Aunt Talitha talking about Ann knitting. Maybe I can interest you in some yarn. Along with a new pattern book?”

The hopeful look in her eyes smacked him in the gut. “I need to come clean. I didn’t really come in to buy a gift. I stopped by to talk business.”

Her eyes shot sparks as they focused all her ire on him. “Thank goodness you’re honest, Reverend.”

Her sarcasm wasn’t lost on him. Though he deserved the censure, he had to battle a smile. With her big greenish-brown eyes and rosy cheeks, she had to be the prettiest angry woman he’d ever seen. “I’m sorry.”

“You don’t look sorry.”

“I’m sorry. For not looking sorry, that is.” A chuckle rumbled out before he could stop it. When she glared harder, he added, “Sorry.”

Before she could say anything else, he held up a hand. “I couldn’t help it. You’re just so beautiful when you’re mad.”

She rolled her eyes toward the ceiling and shook her head. “Words a woman longs to hear. Now...since I don’t want to talk business with you unless you’re here to buy yarn, I suggest you leave before you make me truly angry and find out how utterly gorgeous I can be.”

Even though he knew it would probably blow up in his face, he couldn’t help the grin that formed. “I like you, Lilly Barnes. I hope you’ll let me look at your basement and then listen to my offer.”

She crossed her arms but didn’t throw him out.

“We would pay rent, of course,” he said quickly. “And to sweeten the deal, we’d do any work you need to finish the basement, deducting the cost of materials out of the rent. Labor would be donated by church members, the teenagers I’m mentoring...and me.”

Something akin to interest flashed across her face.

He held up the paper with his first list. “The names of five women in my congregation who knit or crochet. Two said they’d be willing to teach you. My grandmother might even be persuaded to teach a class for you if you give her a call. She taught for Talitha when she opened the shop.”

“Bribery, huh? I have to say, you’ve caught my attention.”

“I prefer to think of it as incentive.” Incentive to follow through with her aunt’s promise.

She nodded toward a door at the back of the shop. “It couldn’t hurt to let you look.”

One small victory. He tried not to irritate her with a smile.

She led the way down a set of steps into a cool, damp space. Definitely needed dehumidifiers. But it was a nice large space that would easily hold some tables and fifty chairs. The walls were finished, but they’d need to paint and put in a drop ceiling. Add more lighting. Maybe build a small room for an office that she could later convert to a storage closet.

A plan began to take shape. He couldn’t imagine her wanting to deal with the renovation on her own. “It wouldn’t be too difficult to make the basement functional.”