Celeb held the door, waiting for Sebrina to exit the 4-H building. He looked into the building one last time before he shut the door. He slid his hands in his pockets and strode to keep up with Sebrina.

“We did it.” He shot a smile in her direction. He took a step closer to her, dodging a street light pole.

“You did it, I just stood there, letting you make the final call on the bid.”

“Behind every man’s decision is a supportive woman.” Celeb jerked his head forward. Why did I say that? Celeb glanced at Sebrina. She looked at him and smiled. Good. He never got tired of her smile, even though she smiled a lot. She never did that in high school. Then again, he gave her every reason not to.

“What woman was behind all your other decision? You’ve made a lot of them.” Sebrina looked both ways before crossing the street to her SUV.

Celeb waited for a car to pass, then jogged to catch up with her. He wanted to walk her to her vehicle, taking advantage of every moment he had with her. “My mom,” Celeb said, once he caught up with Sebrina.

He liked that she wasn’t afraid to say what popped into her mind. Something else she hadn’t done in high school. He probably knocked her so far down, she didn’t dare stand up for herself. Except for the pranks she used to pull, but even then, she never said anything, she just showed it in her actions.

Sebrina nodded, a slight smile on her lips. She halted in front of her vehicle and turned to face him. “So, what now? We own the store, when do we open it back up?”

“Oh well, there’s some more paperwork that has to be done and then I guess we start inventory. We can order most of our merchandise from the same company Landon did, but there are some things I’d like to change.”

“Okay,” Sebrina nodded, “tell me what to do.”

Eventually she would have to learn how to take charge of her own business and not depend on someone telling her what to do. But he partnered with Sebrina, not April and Sebrina would need some training. But he would’ve chosen Sebrina over April any day.

“Well—”

“So, the best sister won, huh? Does that mean you’re the best now?” April stood in front of Sebrina, hands on her hips.

Where had April came from?

Sebrina stood up straight and uncrossed her arms. “Business is business.”

Celeb turned his head from sister to sister, watching something he hadn’t seen in a while: a sister rivalry.

“I wanted that feed store.” April leaned forward, as though her sister would hear her clearer.

“If I’m not mistaken the ten commandment tells us not to covet our neighbors house, and I think that would also apply to a feed store.” Sebrina tilted her head, her pride weighing it down.

Okay, hold on. “Wait,” Celeb stepped closer, waving his hands in the air, “the Bible also says not to think highly of yourself.” He paused to looked at Sebrina, then he continued. “I don’t think our knowledge of the Word is meant to throw around; telling people about their flaws.” Celeb looked at April.

After a few seconds, he continued. “And I think we should be happy for someone when they achieve a goal they worked hard to get.” Celeb turned his head to study the two sisters.

The girls nodded and lowered their heads, reminding him of two 2^nd graders.

Her hands folded, April looked up at her sister and said, “I’m sorry.”

“Me too.” Sebrina lifted her head a few inches and smiled slightly.

Celeb nodded and slid his hands in his pocket. “Now, how about we look inside the building we just bought?” Celeb turned toward his vehicle.

“You didn’t look inside before you bought it?” April asked.

“We wouldn’t buy a building without looking in it first,” Sebrina said, as she opened her car door. “I’ll meet you at the store.”

“Why not just ride with me?” Celeb asked, standing on the other side of the hood.

“I want coffee first.”

“We’ll get you some coffee.”

Sebrina looked at April. “Are you coming?”

“No, I’ll see you at dinner.” April gave Sebrina a girlish smile, then began walking toward her car.

“No need for both of us to drive.” It was a short drive, and Sebrina probably wanted to go straight home from the store, but if she rode with him, then he could spend more time with her.

Sebrina smiled, closed the door and locked her vehicle. “Okay,” she said as she walked toward the passenger door.

***

Goodness! Sebrina wiped the blood off her paper cut. She hadn’t cut herself this much when she worked with knives in a restaurant. She lifted her skirt and counted the blood stains on the fabric. She shook her head and scanned the counter for the notepad. If she was going to deal with this much paper every day, she’d need band aides.

Celeb marched through the back door, to the front counter. “Sebrina, where are the . . .”

Sebrina stood in front of him, holding her “paper cut” finger. She stared at Celeb. “Where is what?”

“Did you cut yourself?” Celeb shook his head, before Sebrina could answer, he asked, “We need bags of horse feed: could you order them? Here’s the number for the supplier. I have to go to the clinic; someone ran over their dog.”

He laid the clipboard on the counter and turned to go. He tapped his fist against the door frame and turned around. “Are we still on for tonight?” A teenage-boyish grin covered his face.

“Yeah, I wouldn’t miss it.” She returned Celeb’s grin. Butterflies fluttered in Sebrina’s colon. She never thought she’d say yes to a date with Celeb Johnson.

After Celeb left, she walked into the office and sat down in front of the computer. She searched for the company’s website, while thinking about her date.

***

Celeb slid the chair away from the table and waited for Sebrina to stand in front of it before he slid it forward.

Cattle paintings hung on the walls, surrounded with western sayings. The smell of BBQ drifted into the dining area, causing her nose to wrinkle. The steakhouse was the finest restaurant in town, yet she would have chosen another place, had she had the choice. Celeb sat across from her, ordering his drink. Sebrina jerked out of her thoughts and quickly scanned the menu.

The waiter stood beside her, pen in hand, waiting to write down her drink order. “I’ll have a coke.”

Once the waiter left, Celeb focused his attention on her. “I thought you were quick at making decisions.”

Sebrina forced a smile. Obviously when Celeb left behind his bullying days, he took his unthoughtful remarks with him.

“Not when I’m in a rush.” Sebrina scanned over the menu and without thinking, mumbled, “You haven’t changed much.”

“Huh? What did you say?” Usually Celeb’s casual grin and caring eyes would have woken butterflies in her stomach, but today it only make her feel awkward.

“I—I just thought you haven’t changed much since high school.”

Celeb kept his smiling position.

“When you used to bully me.”

“Well maybe I thought you were pretty.” Celeb rested his elbows on the table.

Sebrina sighed, crinkling the napkin on her lap. “Guys who think girls are pretty don’t say hateful words to them.”

Celeb’s expression sobered. He nodded as he focused on his lap. “Nice girls don’t put snakes in other people’s locker.”

Sebrina’s jaw dropped and she raised her voice. “I didn’t put snakes in your locker.” The costumers at the other tables looked at her. She lowered her voice and twiddled with the table cloth. “I had Billy do it.”

A dry chuckle escaped Celeb’s lip. “That’s the same thing. At least I had the guts to pull my own pranks and not hire someone to do them.”

“You couldn’t hire anyone to be as mean as you are.”

Celeb started to frown. What did I say? Why is he frowning? Panic rose up her throat as she thought of the last word she spoke.

“I didn’t mean that you’re rude now, I meant back then.”

Celeb forced a smile. Couldn’t he handle one rude comment? One that she hadn’t even meant to say. If he expected other people to handle his comments, he should handle other people’s comments.

“I didn’t mean anything by it.” The waiter set their drinks on the table; after he left, she focused her attention on Celeb. Was he going to say something?

“Just that you haven’t forgiven me for our high school days.”

“You never did apologize.” Sebrina sipped her coke.

“I thought I showed it by treating you with respect and kindness—now.”

Sebrina nodded. “An apology would’ve been nice.”

Celeb studied her for a few seconds. Maybe he’ll apologize now. He took a sip from his water, then let his eyes drift to the corner of the restaurant. Sebrina lowered her head, and focused on the kitchen door. Every few minutes the waiters walked out with trays of food, but every time they walked pasted their table. Sebrina sighed and drank her coke. This was going to be a long night.

***

“How did your date go, the other night?” April asked, dusting off the counter.

“Not good. I don’t think there’s going to be a wedding.” Sebrina wiped down the coffee area behind the counter.

“You didn’t talk about your wedding on the first date, did you?” April stared at her sister. “You scared him off.”

“No, I didn’t talk about a wedding.” Sebrina shook her head. “We talked about high school, how we used to bully each other.”

“Oh,” April dropped the duster and sat down on a bar stool.

Sebrina leaned her back against the counter, holding the cloth; studying her sister. When April didn’t say anything, Sebrina said, “I called him mean—on accident and he just stopped talking, like a little boy. How childish of him!” Sebrina let out a stressful chuckle.

“Did you ever think that he’s ashamed of his old self and that calling him rude now, would remind him of the person he used to be?”

Since when did her sister hand out motherly advise? Maybe that came with age, whatever it was, Sebrina didn’t have it. Otherwise she wouldn’t have ruined her date, by acting like a twelve-year-old.

Sebrina clapped her hands against her legs and sighed. “What do I do now?”

April shrugged.

“Sebrina!” Celeb stepped into the store and waved her toward the door. “Come out here for a minute.”

Sebrina dropped the cloth on the counter and walked out the door, April following.

“Why didn’t you order horse feed?” Celeb pointed his hand to the pallets of feed in front of the store.

“I did. It’s already here? I only ordered it two days ago.”

“Yes, it’s here, but you ordered chicken feed, instead of horse feed.” Celeb dropped his arms and squinted, avoiding the harsh sunlight.

Sebrina bent over the stacks of feed and read the labels on the plastic. A chunk of tears clogged her throat, making her unable to speak. She backed up and focused on Celeb.

He studied her for a minute, his expression softening. “We don’t need chicken feed: we had a lot.”

“We can have this as extra.”

“Now we don’t have money for horse feed.” Celeb’s gentle voice made it hurt more than it would have if he’d screamed.

The chunk in her throat vanished, and embarrassment filled its spot. If only her sister hadn’t witnessed it all. She was probably laughing on the inside, waiting for Sebrina to cave in and give up her share of the store to April.

Sebrina walked inside and continued wiping the counter. She couldn’t help with anything outside, she already lost half their costumers by not supplying horse feed. She didn’t need to ruin anything else. Not to mention, she’d ruined a date with her business partner. Maybe she should quit while she was ahead. But then she’d give her sister the satisfaction of being right. More than that, she’d disappoint the man she’d grown to love.

 

To be continued . . .

Sebrina parked in front of the coffee shop and took the keys out of the ignition. She grabbed her wallet and opened the door. Celeb sat in the outside dining area, drinking coffee. The mid-morning sun beat down on her cheeks, making it nearly to warm to drink coffee outside. But the breeze made it doable. Through the window Sebrina saw a waitress filling a cone with ice cream. Maybe she should have chocolate ice cream instead.

The top edge of the iron fence jabbed against Sebrina’s hips as she bumped into the gate. Her lips shaped an O as she took a step back. She scanned the area: children smiled to themselves and adults pretended not to notice. The pain in her hips subsided and she focused on Celeb’s table, walking with her head held high. Pretend like it never happened.

The waitress walked by with the ice cream cone in hand. “Ma’am.”

The waitress turned toward Sebrina.

“Could I have a coffee please?” She asked, sitting down across from Celeb.

The waitress nodded. “Sure.” She handed the child the ice cream cone, then walked into the building.

Sebrina focused on Celeb, sighed and smiled.

“When did you have your last cup of coffee?” Celeb asked, leaning back in his chair.

“This morning.” Sebrina brushed her hair behind her ears and smiled.

“If you like coffee so much, why don’t you open a coffee shop instead?”

“Who says I want to open anything?” Sebrina shook her head.

“News travels fast.” Celeb leaned forward to drank his coffee.

“Only if you listen to news. If you didn’t listen then you wouldn’t hear about it.”

The tip of Celeb’s lips formed a hit of a smile. “What did you want to talk about?” Celeb focused on Sebrina.

“Business.” She sighed and scooched forward on her chair. “I hear you’re buying the feed store?”

“I’m going to bid on it at the auction.” Celeb nodded. “Don’t worry,” he winked, “I’ll treat you just like any other bidder.”

“If I don’t get someone to co-sign for me, I won’t be able to bid.”

The waitress stood beside Sebrina, coffee in hand. Sebrina turned and took the coffee from the lady’s hands. She thanked her, then turned toward Celeb.

“Find someone to co-sign for you.” Celeb studied Sebrina over the brim of his coffee cup.

“No.” She shook her head. “I need a partner.” She took a sip from her coffee.

Celeb sat his cup down and stared at Sebrina. The birds chirping and the surrounding conversations became clearer.

“So—”

“—I thought you never wanted to work with me again?” Celeb tilted his head slightly.

“What makes you think I want you as a partner?”

Celeb lifted his eyebrows.

“We both want the feed store and if we don’t buy it, my sister will. And what’s worse: running a business with me, or having my sister run another business in town?”

“Have you ever operated a business before? Why do you want the feed store?”

“No, but neither have you.” Sebrina sat up straight, cleared her throat and wrapped her fingers around her coffee cup. “I know the feed store didn’t go bankrupted because people around here didn’t have a use for it. I believe if it’s managed properly it good do very well.” Sebrina leaned back. “Why do you want it?”

“Same reason.” Celeb swung his left arm over the top chair rail.

“If this is what it takes to . . .” Sebrina trailed off. There was no need to voice the rest of that sentence. “I’m willing to work with you.”

Celeb chuckled. “So, it’s true: you still don’t like me?”

Sebrina jerked her head up and shook it slightly. “Who said that?”

Celeb looked into Sebrina’s eyes and smiled. After a few seconds he looked into the café and stood up.

“All right, well, we’ll meet up tomorrow to sort out a plan.” Celeb’s figure shadowed over Sebrina.

“Yeah sure!” She nodded. “You can come over tomorrow after dinner, if that works for you?”

“I’ll see you then.” Celeb smiled, then turned toward the door to pay the waitress.

Sebrina nodded. When had Celeb started smiling like that? She tilted her head and picked up her coffee cup. She’d spent her entire freshman year despising him, yet she’d never noticed the feature of his jaw before, or his broad shoulders. Maybe that happened after high school, otherwise she would have noticed.

***

Sebrina stood in her room, staring at the full-length mirror. She held the jeans against her legs, then held the maxi dress against her body. If she wore a dress, it’d look like she put effort into their business meeting. If she wore the jeans it’ll look like she just got back from work and she had nearly forgotten about their meeting. Or she’d look like a busy working woman. Better to go with the jeans.

She pulled her hair from underneath her t-shirt as she walked into the kitchen. On the day when she wished her sister would work late, she was home early. She expected Celeb to be there at eight, giving her plenty of time to eat and clean up dinner.

“Why did you change?” April licked the marinara sauce off her finger.

“Celeb Johnson’s coming over after dinner.” Sebrina grabbed two plates from the cabinet and set them on the table.

“I thought you didn’t like him? Why are you dating him?” April poured the cooked noodles into the meatball mixture.

“I’m not dating him.” Sebrina poured them each a glass of water.

“Why is he coming over then?”

“To discuss business.”

“What kind of business?” April set the pot of spaghetti on the table and sat down.

Sebrina set a plate of buttered toast on the table and said, “You don’t have to know everything.”

“I didn’t become the number one business woman around here without asking questions.”

Sebrina folded her hands in her lap and looked at her sister. “Let’s pray.”

The girls said grace and ladled themselves each a plate of spaghetti. Buying the feed store would pay off even if it didn’t make any money. If she could knock April’s pride down a notch it would all be worth it. But if the store wouldn’t succeed, she’d not only make Celeb and her look like a fool, but she’d fuel April’s pride. But with Celeb on her side they were bound to make some money.

***

“He’s here.” April nodded toward the window.

“He is?” Sebrina looked out the window. Then she turned, punched April’s arm, and continued rinsing the dishes.

“I’ve never seen someone that excited to see their business partner.” April studied her sister, while placing the silverware in the dishwasher.

Sebrina focused on scrubbing the pot. Avoiding the urge to smile.

“But no, he seriously is here now.” April stood up straight.

Sebrina looked out the window. A dark green ford parked in front of the house. Half an hour earlier than she thought he’d be. Maybe he wanted to get home early. She dried her hands, then walked to the door. She took a deep breath before she opened it.

“Come in.”

Celeb nodded and stepped inside. Sebrina stood beside him, hands folded behind her. She took several glances at Celeb as he slid off his shoes. His military green t-shirt highlighted his blond hair color. The strands of hair covering his ears showed signs of an over do haircut. Sebrina’s eyes shifted toward the muscles on his arm as he set his shoes against the wall. Had he started working out? In high school a strong wind gust could have snapped him in half. What happened to “high school Celeb?” How come had she not noticed the difference before?

“I have the forms we need to fill out and hand to the banker.” Celeb looked at Sebrina as he walked to the kitchen table. “Tomorrow we can bring him the forms and he can tell you what size loan you’re eligible for.” He set his files on the table and sat down. “I have everything on my end set up, but if we could maybe get a little extra money on your side it would help us with inventory.”

Sebrina nodded and slid a chair away from the table. She started to sit down, when her sister began to yell, she stood up straight.

“What inventory? Why do you need a loan?” April stepped closer to the table.

“We’ll need it to buy the feed store,” Celeb answered.

“You’re buying the feed store?” April stared at them. “You can’t, I’m buying the feed store.” April pressed her fingers against her chest.

“You’re not used to someone going up against you, are you?” Celeb asked, placing his folded hands on the table.

April’s mouth remained open, with her head leaned forward.

“May the best sister win.” Sebrina tilted her head, smiled at Celeb, then at her sister.

 

To be continued . . .

Sebrina stepped into the office and closed the door. The room resembled a family living room more than it did a real estate office. Blankets draped over couches, deer antlers hung on the wall, surrounded with horse and cattle paintings. Maybe she stood in the wrong office. Sebrina turned around to read the lettering on the door window: Home and Farm Real Estate. She stood in the right office. She stepped forward and glanced into the extra rooms.

“Hi, how can I help you?”

Sebrina turned toward the lady and stood straight. Smiling she said, “I’m interested in buying the old feed store.”

“Oh.” The lady stopped mid-office and studied Sebrina. “Have a seat.” The lady motioned toward her desk.

Sebrina nodded and followed her to the desk. “How much is the owner asking for it?”

The lady adjusted herself on the chair and placed her hands on her lap. Scanning the top of her desk, she said, “A lot.”

“I’d like to know the exact amount.”

The lady nodded. “Uh-huh.” Leaning forward she asked, “Where do you work again?”

Sebrina smiled. “You might have seen me at Benny’s café as a waitress.”

“Yes, I know your sister.”

What did that have anything to do with this? Did the lady know that she got fired? How could she already know? Sebrina hadn’t even told her sister yet.

The lady sat up straight. “She’s a very smart business woman—your sister.”

“She is; I’m hoping it runs in the family.” Sebrina smiled.

“Mmhmm.”

“So, who’s all interested in buying the store?” Sebrina scanned over the papers on the desk.

“I can’t tell you that.” The lady leaned back in her seat. “Would you be running the business?”

Sebrina’s eyes landed on the desk calendar. Celeb Johnson—four O’clock on the 27^th—feed store: Sebrina looked at her phone. The 27^th—that’s today. Why would Celeb want to buy the feed store?

“Sebrina? Sebrina?”

Sebrina jerked her head up. “Yes.”

The lady stared at Sebrina. She licked her lips and placed her hands on the desk. “I feel it’s my responsibility to tell you that running a feed store is a lot of work. The last owner went bankrupted. And even if it would succeed, you still have to have enough money to buy it first. I think it might be too much to chew for your small mouth.”

The lady smiled as she shook her head.

Sebrina stood up, hands on her bag. “My mouth’s big enough to chew whatever I bight off.”

The lady tilted her head, crinkled her nose and shrugged her shoulders.

Sebrina inhaled deeply, and lifted her shoulders. Well! Sebrina began walking toward the door. “Last I checked, anyone with money can buy a building.”

“But sweetie . . .”

“I’ll figure it out.” Sebrina pushed the door open and stepped under the warm afternoon sun. She unlocked her vehicle and climbed inside. She sighed as she put the keys in the ignition. How could she compete with Celeb or April? Especially with April. Competing with Celeb would be fun, especially when she won. “When” she won. She wasn’t even in the competition.

***

Sebrina glanced over her shoulder, biting her lip. Her sister mouthed the words she typed into her laptop. Probably another business email. Sebrina stacked the dry plates on the counter, as she unloaded the dishwasher.

“Have you heard: the feed store’s for sale?” Sebrina put the cups in the cabinet.

“Yeah I’m buying it.” April continued typing.

“You’re putting up a restaurant already, maybe you could let someone else buy this store for once.”

“You thought I was taking on too much when I bought the lot for the restaurant, now I’m doing this yet. Isn’t that great?” April glanced at Sebrina, smiling.

“I think you should let someone else run this business. You’re already working to much.” Sebrina closed the dishwasher and leaned against the counter.

“You can never have to much work.”

“When Paul said whoever doesn’t work, shouldn’t eat, he didn’t mean you should never take a break.”

April closed her laptop and stacked her books on top of it. “I take breaks. Look, I’m quitting for the day.”

Sebrina poured herself a glass of water. Swirling the water in her glass, she said, “I want to buy the feed store.”

April laughed. “You can’t even keep a waitressing job, now suddenly you want to own a business?” April grabbed her phone from the table and walked into the living room. “Is this a way of turning your life around.”

Sebrina followed her sister to the couch. “I’m not turning anything around. I’m continuing with my life.”

April grabbed the magazine off the coffee table, then plopped down on the couch. “You haven’t kept a job longer than eight months and you still live with your sister.”

“I’m twenty-two,” Sebrina stood up straight and placed her hands on her hips, “I think I’m early to the party.”

April laughed as she flipped through the magazine pages. “Get a steady job first, Sebrina. Then think about buying a business.”

Sebrina shook her head and plopped down on the lazy boy. Why would Celeb want to buy a feed store? Even though Celeb was a likeable, kind adult now, to her he would always be the boy who bullied her in high school. Something that happened over and over wasn’t easily forgotten. The nicest thing he ever did for her was leave for college, but after veterinary school he came back. Celeb and April both had their own business, why did they need another one? Why couldn’t she run one for a change? But without a co-signer or a partner no one would loan her the money. And without a loan she didn’t even stand a chance. There had to be someone who would co-sign for her.

Sebrina lifted her shoulders and swung her feet onto the floor. She stared at the floor, twiddling her thumbs.  Yes. It could work. Sebrina reached for her phone. She shook her head, then walked to the office, holding her phone. The phone book had to be around there somewhere. Ah-huh! She flipped through the pages until she found their town, then slid her finger down the Johnson phone numbers.

“Uh-huh! Celeb Johnson.” Sebrina dialed the number and tapped the back of the phone, waiting for him to answer. “Hi, Celeb? Yeah, this is Sebrina. Would you have time to meet me for coffee tomorrow?”

 

To be continued . . .

“You can’t do everything at once.” Sebrina followed April into the kitchen.

“Who says I can’t?” April grabbed a coffee mug from the cabinet and filled it with the remaining coffee.

“April . . . think about this.”

April placed the lid on the mug and stuffed it in her bag. She sighed as she looked at Sebrina, “Someone has to.”

Sebrina slid the chair away from the table and sat down, staring at her sister. “Let someone else do it. I’m sure you’re not the only one wanting to put up a business. Let someone else buy something for a change.”

April shook her head. “I’ll be home late, eat dinner without me.”

Sebrina nodded and watched April walk out the door. Her sister owned or managed almost every business in town, while Sebrina couldn’t even keep a job. But of course, April didn’t know that. Sebrina sat up and poured herself a cup of coffee. She stirred a quarter teaspoon of creamer into the coffee and walked away as the teaspoon clinked against the kitchen sink. Sipping her coffee, she grabbed the newspaper from the desk, then circled every decent job available.

In a town of 10,000 people there should be more than two options. She didn’t like computers, so the mechanic shop secretary wasn’t an option. And that left only one place: the animal clinic. She promised herself she would never work with Celeb Johnson and that’s a promise she wouldn’t break. When she wouldn’t pay her share of the rent money, April would ask about Sebrina’s employment. But she planned on having a high-income job before her savings ran out—or at least a job. Her sister would need waitresses in her restaurant. But if April bossed her around at work, she’d start bossing her around at home and that wasn’t acceptable.

Sebrina stood up and swallowed the rest of her coffee. Then she set the mug on the counter and walked into her room to get dress for the day. I should have gone to college.

***

She hit the lock button twice and dropped the keys in her purse. Why would a feed store be empty in the middle of the day? Sebrina stared into the windows on her way to the door. She forgot about the curb and hit her tows, nearly stumbling over the fire hydrant. She reached for her tow, tempted to hop on one foot. But people already stared at her.

“Closed!” Sebrina balanced on one foot, reading the door sign. “Why would they close the store?”

“Bankrupted.”

“Huh?” Celeb Johnson stood beside her; arms folded across his chest.

“I said they closed because they went bankrupted.”

Sebrina slid her handbag over her shoulder, balancing on one foot. “Since when? Where am I going to get my coffee now?”

“The coffee shop is still open.”

“Their coffee couldn’t keep a puppy energized.” Inside the store everything looked like it did yesterday. “A store doesn’t go bankrupted in one day.”

“There’s been talk about them shutting down for months, I’m surprised you hadn’t heard.” Celeb dropped his arms and shifted his feet.

Another thing I didn’t know anything about. Sebrina sighed and slid her foot across the concrete. She winced as pain shot through her tow. She hopped closer to the building and leaned against the store windows. On the store floor laid a for sale sign.

Sebrina jerked her head up. “I could buy this place!”

Celeb lifted his head, his eyes focused on Sebrina. “I—uh, think there’s already a buyer lined up.”  Celeb slid his hands in his pocket and shifted his wait on one foot.

“If I buy it first the other guy won’t have a chance.” Sebrina shuffled through her bag; lifted her keys and unlocked her SUV.

Celeb scanned the street and glanced into the store. “Maybe you shouldn’t mess with someone else’s plans.”

“Anyone can buy a building if it’s for sale.” Sebrina opened the vehicle door and hopped inside. After a cup of coffee from the coffee shop, she would head to the bank. If everything went well, she would be drinking good coffee again within weeks.

***

“So, you want to buy the old feed store?” The banker dropped his pen on the notebook, leaned forward and folded his hands.

“That’s right.” Sebrina nodded, adjusting the handbag on her lap.

“What made you decide this?”

Sebrina sat up straight and set her bag on the floor. She lowered her head and used her elbow to steady herself on the arm rest. Biting the inside of her lip, she began twiddling her thumbs. She brushed her feet against the carpet, then crossed her ankles.

She blinked several times before she looked up and said, “I don’t know.”

“You’re asking for hundreds of thousands of dollars and you don’t know why?” The man leaned back in his chair.

“I know why I want the money: to buy the feed store.”

“The feed store closed because it went bankrupted, meaning it didn’t make any money.” The man leaned forward and rested his forearms on the desk. “How are you going to pay off the loan if you don’t make any money?”

Sebrina stared at the banker.

The banker shook his head. “People don’t need a feed store. They go to the city to get their feed in bulk for a lot cheaper, that’s why Landon’s Feed closed. How do you think that you can make money off of the same feed store that already went bankrupted once?”

“Everyone around here owns some type if animal. And animals need feed. The owners need tack for their horses, they need supplies; they need a feed store.”

The banker sighed and picked up a pen, ready to write. “How much is your average annual income currently?”

“I have some money saved up.” Sebrina nodded.

“Good.” The banker focused on Sebrina. “How much are you expecting to make this year? I’m assuming you have an extra source of income until you get your business on track?”

Sebrina lowered her head, twiddling her thumbs. Uh-oh. She lifted her head and said, “You’ll get your money back.”

“I’d like to have a laid-out plan of how I’ll get my money back. Where do you currently work at, Ms. Hutcheson?”

“I’m unemployed as of now, but I will have enough to make the annual payment.”

The banker dropped the pen, sighed and focused on Sebrina. “Unless you have someone to co-sign or you have a partner, I can’t loan you any money to buy the feed store.”

Sebrina scanned the room. She clapped her legs, then reached for her bag. Holding the bag on her shoulder, she said, “Thank you for your time.”

Where would she get the money from now? Her parents might lend it to her, but they would have the same point of view as the banker had. Since when did bankers care how they got their money back? If the customer says they’ll get their money back then why fuss over it? Sebrina fastened her seat belt, then put the keys in the ignition. Across the street April watched a local real estate employee unlock the door to Landon’s feed store. Why is April allowed in a closed building? Sebrina’s mouth dropped. Her eyes grew wide as she watched her sister examine the store.

“Nah!” Sebrina shifted the SUV in reverse. “April will not own this business.”