“Hey!” he snapped. “I never said any of those things!”
She leaned in close. “You didn’t have to. Believe it or not, I’ve been in the same spot you and Penny are. My husband used to live up in New York and I was here. His job prevented him from moving and I had to make a choice. I chose him.”
“A little begrudgingly,” Becca mumbled.
“Shut up,” Angie said, but there was no heat behind her words. “Anyway, I left here – the only place I had ever known and all my friends and my job – and moved up to New York.”
“For a few weeks,” Becca said quickly as she looked the other way.
“Oh, for the love of it, Becca! I’m trying to make a point here!”
“Then make it already!” Becca cried. “Sheesh!”
“I moved and I would have stayed – I would have found a way to make it work – but I wasn’t happy. Sean knew it even though I denied it. We got lucky – his job allowed him to make the move and work remotely with a little bit of travel. Once we talked about it and knew that it would only be like that for a short amount of time, we knew the right thing to do was to come back here. Mrs. J – Hailey’s mom and the original owner of Enchanted – she even offered me a job here when she thought I was going to be staying in New York.”
“Why did you move if you really didn’t want to?” Spencer asked. “Wouldn’t telling Sean how miserable you were about the whole thing make a lot more sense?”
She huffed with annoyance. “Actually, I did tell him, and we broke up and he went back to New York and I stayed here. Then I realized that I loved him enough to try to make it work.”
It was on the tip of his tongue to remind her that obviously she didn’t try all that hard since they came back but…he didn’t.
“In the end, we talked more about it and figured out a plan that worked for us both. And now we’re here and we’re both happy.”
There was a bit of an accusatory tone that caught him off guard. What exactly had Penny been sharing with them?
“All I want is for Penny to be happy,” he began cautiously. “And I have not in any way tried to convince her to move to Atlanta with me. I’ve asked her to come and visit – maybe come for a weekend to see how I live just like I’ve been doing by coming here – but she’s been turning me down because of the job. At least…she had been…”
“Oh my God!” Angie said with exasperation. “Are you seriously standing here right now telling us that she’s going to quit?”
“What?! No!” he said defensively. “I didn’t say that at all! I’m just saying that when I got here yesterday she was a little more open to asking for some time off to come see me!”
His heart was racing and he felt a little like he was under the shining light of an interrogation. Where were all these accusations coming from and how did this suddenly become about him?
With a steadying breath, he held up his hands to halt any further comments. “Look, Penny and I are trying to figure things out. As you obviously know, long-distance relationships are not ideal. On top of the stress from that, I hate seeing Penny upset about the business and having her plans fall through. It’s her dream and she’s really good at it and I just was hoping to find a way for her to have it. All I want – all I’ve ever wanted – is for her to be happy.”
“Aww,” Becca said with a small smile. “That is so sweet.”
Angie glared at him. “Mmm…maybe,” she grumbled. “Just remember that when you’re trying to get your way all the way in Atlanta.”
“What about Atlanta?”
They all turned at the sound of Penny’s voice. She had changed back into her casual clothes and her hair was up in a long ponytail. She looked happy and relaxed and…totally in her element.
Before he could say anything, she launched into a conversation with the girls about some of the gowns from the show and who was coming in tomorrow for them and then Becca started talking about the bridal party who was in need of Penny’s glam squad services and Spencer excused himself quietly and went back to moving chairs.
He had a feeling they were going to be talking for a while.
Chapter Eight
Something was up. She’d been saying it for days but as Spencer left Tuesday morning, her suspicion grew. He’d been a little distant after the show Friday night and even though they had a great weekend, it wasn’t hard to tell that he had something on his mind. It could have been work that was distracting him, but for some reason, she didn’t think so. At her meeting on Monday she had tried to feel out Becca and Angie about it – being that she had found them all talking together after the show, but they didn’t seem to have anything to share either.
Weird.
Penny wasn’t one to make waves or force anyone to talk about things they didn’t want to talk about, so she tried to push it out of her mind. She had asked for a four-day weekend off as soon as it could be arranged so she could go to Atlanta and Hailey had been more than accommodating. Well, as accommodating as she could be when Ella was out on maternity leave and they had shows scheduled.
All she had to do was wait three weeks.
While that might not seem like a lot, Penny knew Spencer had spoiled her. She was used to seeing him more often and it was going to be hard to deal with only seeing each other via FaceTime or Skype.
As they were closing up the shop for the night, it was down to just Penny and Hailey.
“I don’t know about you, but that last bride just about wore me out,” Hailey said as she sat down at her desk.
“I agree. It was almost as if she’d never even looked at wedding gowns before. I don’t think I’ve ever met a bride who didn’t have some idea of what she wanted.”
Hailey rubbed at her temples. “Hey, um…Jack’s working late tonight and I was going to go grab some sushi. Want to join me?”
For a moment, Penny was a little dumbstruck. As much as she and her bosses got along and spent time together, it was normally all work-related. She’d never gone out socially with any of them.
“Um…sure,” she agreed.
Within minutes, the shop was closed and they were both in Hailey’s BMW, driving to her favorite sushi restaurant. The conversation was fairly neutral – today’s clients and what was on the schedule for tomorrow – and Penny felt herself relaxing. Not that she wanted to only talk about work, but it was a topic she felt comfortable talking to Hailey about.
It wasn’t until they were seated and had ordered that Hailey brought up the glam squad.
“So, what are your plans for your business?” she asked.
For a minute, Penny wasn’t sure what to say. “Well…um…nothing. I need to work on paying off the last of my student loans and getting my credit in a little better shape before I can even think of doing anything.”
“I know you turned down our offer for help – and I totally respect your reasons – but I hate to think of you not moving forward with it, Penny. Your plan was spot on and I can envision the salon so clearly that it’s killing me that it’s not going to be there.” She paused and gave her a sympathetic smile. “Have you thought about asking your parents for the money?”
Just as she had explained to Becca on Friday night, she told Hailey all about her family and their situation. “Honestly, if I can’t get them on board to potentially help pay for my wedding – should I ever get married – how can I possibly think they’ll be able to help with money for a business?”
“Well, for starters, this is something you’d be paying back. You aren’t asking for the money free and clear, right?”
“No, but…”
“And it would show that you’re taking initiative to be an independent and responsible adult and business owner – one who could make enough money to pay for her own dream wedding when the time came,” Hailey went on.
“Maybe, but…”
“And you can draw up a contract with them so they know you’re serious about paying them back or maybe offer them some sort of share of the business. I know I�
��d be happy to sit down with them – as would my mom and the girls – and tell them how much we support the business and everything we’d do to help it grow.”
Penny’s head was spinning. She was so certain that this wasn’t going to happen and had resigned herself to it and to picking up and moving to Atlanta to be with Spencer that…
Spencer!
She must have gasped or said his name because Hailey reached across the table, concern written all over her face. “Penny? Are you okay?”
Was she?
At the moment, the answer was definitely no.
If anything, her heart was racing and she felt like she was hyperventilating. Hailey immediately walked around the table to her and forced her to have something to drink as she tried to calm her down. By the time she did, she was mildly embarrassed.
“Sorry.”
As she sat back down, Hailey smiled. “Don’t be. Are you sure you’re okay?”
Penny nodded but…right now, she needed…
“Can I ask you something?” she asked quickly before she lost her nerve.
“Of course. Anything,” Hailey replied.
“But I need you to be like…a friend and not my boss,” she said hesitantly.
And then Hailey gave her a reassuring smile. “Penny, I would have thought by now that you would consider me a friend.”
“I do, I really do, but…you’re also my boss and this kind of has to do with work so…”
Hailey held up a hand to stop her. “Okay. Got it. No boss here. Just two friends out for sushi.”
And then Penny poured her heart out – about Spencer, about how she was thinking of moving to Atlanta and how she was torn about the entire thing.
When she was done, Hailey didn’t say anything right away and then their food arrived so that was a distraction. It wasn’t until they had each taken a few bites when Hailey put her chopsticks down and spoke.
“I know I said no boss here, but for a minute or two, I might be.”
Penny nodded.
“I think I can speak for everyone at Enchanted when I say that the thought of losing you is just awful. You never were just an employee, Penny. You were one of the girls – family. That being said, I understand exactly what you’re saying and how you feel. You have this opportunity to be with an amazing man who you’ve been in love with since forever. The two of you have waited so long for things to go your way and it sucks that work – for the both of you – is such an obstacle.”
Then Penny explained about Spencer’s father and the opportunity he has at the firm.
“But that’s not what he wants,” Hailey said, and Penny shook her head. “Then it’s not an option to even take into consideration.”
“I know, I know but…it would be so great if…”
“You can’t think that way. Because it might not seem like a big deal now, but eventually it will be. Then not only will there be tension between the two of you, but tension between Spencer and his family. And that’s not going to help the situation.”
Damn, she hadn’t thought of it like that.
“So what do I do? What if I give up my job and move and end up miserable down in Atlanta? What if I can’t find work or I end up with a job I hate? Isn’t that the same thing?”
Hailey studied her for a minute. “There is that possibility, but you could also find something wonderful that you’ll love. And believe me, as supportive as I’m trying to be, the selfish part of me hates saying it!” They both laughed softly. “You know what I’m saying. Spencer already knows he’s going to be miserable working with his father, whereas you have the opportunity to find something that works for you.”
“I don’t know. I think that’s going to be hard to find no matter what. Even now.”
“What do you mean?”
She let out a breath and figured she might as well be totally – even brutally – honest. “I’m not happy right now,” she said. “I’m disappointed about my business getting rejected by the bank and I feel like I’m at a standstill. I enjoy doing the work with you in the bridal shop, but subbing all over the place is just starting to…well, it’s getting…”
“You hate it,” Hailey finished for her but there was no condemnation in her words. “I get it. Personally, I wouldn’t like it much either. And after all of the things you shared with me about Martin and how he’s running the tuxedo shop, we’ve had a long and drawn-out meeting with him to explain to him our expectations and how he needs to step up his game. We can’t have groomsmen coming in and feeling like they’re not being taken care of or being taken care of poorly.”
“Oh, well…that’s good. I guess.”
“I’m sorry if we took advantage of your willingness to help out. That wasn’t fair of us.”
Penny shrugged and gave her a weak smile. “For a while I didn’t mind it. But now? Now I think everything is going to be a disappointment because…well, because I’m disappointed. I know I’ll get over it eventually, but right now I think I might just need a change.”
“I see.”
They finished their meal in relative silence before Hailey picked up the check. After she handed her card to the waitress, she looked at Penny.
“I am going to support you no matter what you decide. I want you to know that. And I’m going to help you with whatever it is that you need. If you go to Atlanta and hate it and want to move back, there will always be a position for you with Enchanted.”
“Thank you.”
“Just one more thing, I want you to promise that you’ll come and talk to me and let me know what you decide or even if you just need someone to vent to. I’m always here.”
“I appreciate that.”
“So you were back in the tux shop? Even after Hailey talked to Martin?” Spencer asked a week later.
“Yup,” she sighed. “I don’t think his heart is in the business and to be honest, it’s killing me to sit back and watch him ruin it. It’s just so wrong how someone like him can have a business and doesn’t appreciate it, while I have all these ideas for a place of my own and I’m not allowed to have one!” She growled in frustration. “There is so much potential there!” She began to talk about promotional ideas and ways to fix up the shop and – again – there was an excitement in her voice that wasn’t there a whole lot lately.
Especially whenever she talked about moving to Atlanta.
“Have you given any more thought to talking to your folks about helping you with the business?” he asked.
She let out a long breath. “You know, as much as I want to, I just can’t. You have no idea how many times I’ve thought about it.”
“But…?”
“But then I remember how they told me about wanting to retire and all the ways they’ve helped my siblings and…I don’t know…I think I was just born too late.”
“Oh, Penny. You can’t think like that.”
“But it’s true,” she said sadly. “They already put eight kids through school, helped pay for weddings, welcomed a dozen grandkids – give or take – and I think they’re just done.”
“That’s not fair,” he argued lightly. “You’re their child too. Just because you were born last doesn’t mean you don’t deserve the same help they gave their other kids.”
“You don’t understand.”
On that, she was right. He didn’t. Not that he had any idea what it was like to come from such a large family, but how was it fair that Penny had to be the one singled out not to get the help her siblings had?
“Maybe you should do as Hailey suggested and bring them in to talk to her and the girls? Maybe if they saw the potential, they wouldn’t look at this as a financial strain, you know?”
She was silent for a moment. “All my life I was fine with hand-me-downs and not having all the things my oldest siblings had. But I had something none of them had – once everyone moved out, I had Mom and Dad to myself for a little while. With no one to share the attention, it was just the three of us and it was awesome.”
&n
bsp; He could hear the joy in her voice and it made him smile.
“They’ve done so much for all of their kids and really, what right do I have to stand there and demand more of them? How crappy would that be?”
“I wouldn’t call it crappy…”
“You know what I’m saying, Spencer. I love my parents and I’m thankful for all that they’ve done for me. And besides, if I had to ask them for anything, it wouldn’t be for a business, it would be for a…” Her words cut short before she quickly added, “It’s nothing. Either way, I’m not going to involve them in this.”
“But Penny…”
“Ugh…enough about me,” she quickly interrupted, “let’s talk about you. How’s work going? Everything on track with this project?”
He’d been sharing his work schedule with her, as well as the building schedule and how much of a struggle it is to keep on track when dealing with subcontractors and waiting on permits. “For the most part,” he replied. “I got an assistant assigned to me to help with a lot of the legwork so that I can focus on the bigger engineering issues and be in my office.”
“Oh…well…that’s good, right?”
“I don’t know. I kind of enjoy being on site. I’m always fascinated when we break ground and when I can watch things progress in person.”
“You can still go to the site though, right?”
“Oh, yeah. Definitely. But I feel like I’ve been relegated to my office and someone else is getting to have all the fun.”
She laughed softly and he loved the sound of it.
“Either way, it’s temporary and my bosses are already looking at the next project for me to work on.”
“Oh, wow. That’s kind of fast. I would think you’d only work on one project at a time.”
“Normally that’s the case, but there are some new jobs we’re bidding on that I expressed an interest in so…”
This was one of the nights that they were simply on the phone rather than using FaceTime or Skype and right now he wished he could see her face.
“It sounds like you’re going to be pretty busy for a while,” she said softly. “If it’s not a good time to come down…”
Glam Squad & Groomsmen Page 12