was weird seeing her like that. She was formidable on a good day and a damn hurricane on a bad one.
“I don’t understand. What did you do?”
“Right after Mr. Cleary died all those years ago and I opened up this flower shop, I had a partner. A silent partner. Your mother. She invested the capital for it and when I tried to pay her back, she wouldn’t take it. We’ve always done a really good business.”
“My mother owned part of your shop? I never knew.”
“No one did. I don’t know why she wouldn’t let me tell people. She had this idea that no one should know. Your father knew, of course, and several financial people, but no one else. I was able to make a very good living. She sent customers to me all the time, sometimes very important and powerful people. She was a good woman, your mother.”
Bella smiled. Pride filled her heart. Yes, her mother had been a good woman, just as her father had been a good man. She missed them more some days than others and right at that moment, talking with Mrs. Cleary, made it one of the hard days. “I’m afraid I still don’t understand though. What does this have to do with me?”
“The initial investment money is still sitting in an account, untouched. It’s under the name of the flower shop in First National down in Knoxville. That money belongs to you , Bella. Half of this flower shop belongs to you,” Mrs. Cleary said, waving her arm to encompass the store.
“What?” Bella’s knees buckled and she grabbed the edge of the counter.
“Your mother was more than a financial investor. I said she was a silent partner, and she was. Under her maiden name, she owned one half of this shop. Everything reverted to me when your parents passed away, but when you came back home, it didn’t seem right not to offer you her half. Only… Only I needed to make sure you really were here to stay, to live, to work. I didn’t want to see any further harm come to the people of this town. You understand, don’t you, dear? I had already planned to talk to you about this, but after seeing you with Gilbert and what you were willing to do for him, that made my mind up that you deserved to know.”
“I…” Bella was at a loss for words. She did understand. How could she not? And yet Mrs. Cleary was offering half of her business? She grabbed for the stool at the far end of the counter and dragged it forward. She set her hip on the edge and tried to take in all that Mrs. Cleary had said.
“I had the papers drawn up and all they need is your signature.” Mrs. Cleary patted Bella’s hand then gripped it tight. “I won’t be around forever but I would love for my little flower shop to live on after I’m gone.”
“You’ll be around for many more years,” Bella said softly.
“For at least thirty. Forty if the good Lord will listen to me.”
Bella laughed and placed her other hand on top of Mrs. Cleary’s. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You say yes, of course. The money is yours too. It’s not a substantial amount by today’s standards, but it’s enough for you to get out of the ugly house you’re leasing.”
“I actually like that ugly house.”
“Then you can now afford to get it a decent paint job. You could buy it if you wanted. I know what they really want for it. Gossip, you know. The price was ridiculous to begin with. With the extra forty thousand they’ve added to the listing price, it’s beyond outrageous. Lakefront or not.”
“I know. They did that for my benefit.”
“Vultures. Well, if you do decide to buy it, you let me know and we’ll get them off their high horses. Thinking they can take advantage of people…”
“Thank you for trusting me with this.”
“You are a strong woman, Arabella Drake. You get that from your mother. You never deserved anything less than my trust and my support. I am so sorry it took me a little while to come around. Your brother, on the other hand…he needs a good swift kick for what he’s put you and
“I don’t understand. What did you do?”
“Right after Mr. Cleary died all those years ago and I opened up this flower shop, I had a partner. A silent partner. Your mother. She invested the capital for it and when I tried to pay her back, she wouldn’t take it. We’ve always done a really good business.”
“My mother owned part of your shop? I never knew.”
“No one did. I don’t know why she wouldn’t let me tell people. She had this idea that no one should know. Your father knew, of course, and several financial people, but no one else. I was able to make a very good living. She sent customers to me all the time, sometimes very important and powerful people. She was a good woman, your mother.”
Bella smiled. Pride filled her heart. Yes, her mother had been a good woman, just as her father had been a good man. She missed them more some days than others and right at that moment, talking with Mrs. Cleary, made it one of the hard days. “I’m afraid I still don’t understand though. What does this have to do with me?”
“The initial investment money is still sitting in an account, untouched. It’s under the name of the flower shop in First National down in Knoxville. That money belongs to you , Bella. Half of this flower shop belongs to you,” Mrs. Cleary said, waving her arm to encompass the store.
“What?” Bella’s knees buckled and she grabbed the edge of the counter.
“Your mother was more than a financial investor. I said she was a silent partner, and she was. Under her maiden name, she owned one half of this shop. Everything reverted to me when your parents passed away, but when you came back home, it didn’t seem right not to offer you her half. Only… Only I needed to make sure you really were here to stay, to live, to work. I didn’t want to see any further harm come to the people of this town. You understand, don’t you, dear? I had already planned to talk to you about this, but after seeing you with Gilbert and what you were willing to do for him, that made my mind up that you deserved to know.”
“I…” Bella was at a loss for words. She did understand. How could she not? And yet Mrs. Cleary was offering half of her business? She grabbed for the stool at the far end of the counter and dragged it forward. She set her hip on the edge and tried to take in all that Mrs. Cleary had said.
“I had the papers drawn up and all they need is your signature.” Mrs. Cleary patted Bella’s hand then gripped it tight. “I won’t be around forever but I would love for my little flower shop to live on after I’m gone.”
“You’ll be around for many more years,” Bella said softly.
“For at least thirty. Forty if the good Lord will listen to me.”
Bella laughed and placed her other hand on top of Mrs. Cleary’s. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You say yes, of course. The money is yours too. It’s not a substantial amount by today’s standards, but it’s enough for you to get out of the ugly house you’re leasing.”
“I actually like that ugly house.”
“Then you can now afford to get it a decent paint job. You could buy it if you wanted. I know what they really want for it. Gossip, you know. The price was ridiculous to begin with. With the extra forty thousand they’ve added to the listing price, it’s beyond outrageous. Lakefront or not.”
“I know. They did that for my benefit.”
“Vultures. Well, if you do decide to buy it, you let me know and we’ll get them off their high horses. Thinking they can take advantage of people…”
“Thank you for trusting me with this.”
“You are a strong woman, Arabella Drake. You get that from your mother. You never deserved anything less than my trust and my support. I am so sorry it took me a little while to come around. Your brother, on the other hand…he needs a good swift kick for what he’s put you and
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