“Shh!” Marie said, holding up a finger. “That’s not where I was going. I’m not worried about your money. I’m worried about your relationship.”
Angie held Hannah’s hand more tightly under the table. “Why?”
“Normally I’d be having this conversation a little sooner in the piece, as it’s part of my job. But it’s harder to say this stuff to friends. I don’t just say it to couples. I tell anyone who’s planning on going in to business together. That includes families. But it goes double for couples, and especially for you two, given that this is a new relationship. You’re living together, and now you’re going to be working together. Are you sure you’re up for all of this?”
Marie’s shoulders were drawn up tightly. Angie bowed her head toward Hannah, indicating that she should take this one. Hannah reached across the table and put a hand on Marie’s arm.
“Thank you, Marie. I appreciate you looking out for us. But we’ve talked about that, and we’re confident we can work through it. We didn’t just talk about protecting ourselves financially. We’re taking on different parts of the business so that we won’t be living in one another’s pockets, and we’ll be checking in with one another every step of the way. We both really want to do this.”
There was a long silence while they all looked at one another, and finally, Marie let out an exaggerated sigh of relief. “Oh my god, I was so scared to say that to you, but you’ve really thought of everything, haven’t you?”
Angie’s hand was on Hannah’s knee now.
“You know what? I think we have.”
Marie leaned back in her chair. “You know I was skeptical about all of this. Angie, I’m sure Hannah’s told you. But I’m happy to say when I’m wrong. You two…I think you two are the real deal. You’re in this for the long haul, I think.”
Hannah shrugged. There was no need to say it when she was sure that time would bear it out. People would see for themselves.
Hannah and Angie were drowning in one another, but they had their eyes open. They could always see the shore.
They were in those deep waters together now, and Hannah couldn’t think of a better way to be.
Bella Books, Inc.
Women. Books. Even Better Together.
P.O. Box 10543
Tallahassee, FL 32302
Phone: 800-729-4992
www.bellabooks.com
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