A Lowcountry Bride by Preslaysa Williams

Derek and Jamila arrived at the store extra early. Derek sat at the front register of the boutique and tapped his pen against the glass counter. Maya should’ve started her first day of work as head designer by now, and he missed her a lot.

It would be another half an hour before he opened the shop, so he decided he’d brew a pot of coffee in the break room. “I’ll be right back, Jamila,” he said absentmindedly.

She glanced up from the magazine she was flipping through. “Okay.”

He smiled at her. Derek needed to get his head together for Jamila’s sake. Kind of tough since this emptiness had hovered over him since Maya left. The boutique was doing well financially, and an influx of customers arrived all the time, but he wasn’t feeling right inside. The store no longer held meaning for him.

His cell phone buzzed in his pocket and he took it out and studied the screen, hoping it was Maya. It was Marlon. Did something happen with the finances?

“Hey,” Derek said, unsure whether to sound casual or cautious.

“Derek! Nice to catch you. How’s it going?”

“Fine,” he said curtly.

“I was calling because people are really interested in the boutique after it gained so much publicity from Heather’s wedding.”

Derek held out a line of caution. “O-kay.”

“There’s someone interested in making an offer on the store. Remember Marjorie Wilkinson from earlier? She’s willing to double her price this time.”

Derek’s eyes widened. When Marjorie had made an offer before, it was already pretty generous. But doubling the offer? She must be serious. “That’s nice.”

“Nice? That’s amazing. I mean, you’d be a wealthy man if you sold the place to her. You’d be set for life.”

Wealthy and alone. Without Maya in my life. Jamila would probably disown me too. He pushed the idea out of his mind. “Like I said, it’s a nice offer.”

“Selling the boutique would be great for you. I know how much time it sucks out of your life. You’d get to focus on other things, like your daughter.”

When did Marlon start caring about Derek’s personal life? When it would give him a financial advantage, that was when. Still, Marlon had a point. Did he want to work at the boutique for the rest of his life? Always a Bride was his mother’s dream, not his. Besides, Jamila was turning thirteen, and before he knew it, she’d be a high school senior on her way to college. Derek wanted to make the most of the at-home years with Jamila, especially since things were getting better for the two of them. “I don’t know. I need some time to think about it before I commit to selling the boutique.”

“You said that the last time. You should really think about striking while the buzz is still happening for you and your business. You don’t know if someone will make this big of an offer again.”

That was another good point. He could use that money to pay for Jamila’s college, pay off the house mortgage, and still have plenty left over. “Maybe we could discuss the possibility of selling. I’ll think about it.”

“Okay, man. But make a decision soon. Marjorie may change her mind in an instant.”

“I’ll let you know.” Derek hung up and sighed. Selling was a major decision. He didn’t want to rush it.

“You’re selling Always a Bride, Dad?”

He froze. Oh Lord. Derek turned. “No. I was just . . . Were you eavesdropping?”

“Of course,” she said flatly. “Are you selling the boutique?”

Derek rubbed his temples. “No, I was just thinking about it. Considering it. That’s all.”

Jamila squinted her eyes at him. “You said that you would discuss the possibility of selling the boutique. That’s more than considering it.”

“I know, I—”

“The boutique is the only thing I have of Grandma. It’s bad enough that we won’t be seeing Maya any time soon.”

The weight of Maya’s absence returned. “I know, honey. It’s hard for us both.”

Jamila paused, her eyes distant and cold. “All that stuff you said the other day was a lie. You don’t care. You won’t be there. You’re just like everyone else.”

“Not true, Jamila. I am here for you. I will always be here for you. I’ve been playing around with the idea of selling. It will free up my time to focus on you. The potential buyer is making a very generous offer.”

Jamila glanced away, her face shrouded in bitterness. “I was right. Everyone leaves.”

“Leaves? What are you talking about, honey? I am right here. I am not leaving you.”

“You’re considering selling the boutique. That’s the closest thing to leaving. If my own father doesn’t keep his word, then who can I trust?”

Regret pricked at him for a split second, but Derek quickly pushed it away. There was nothing to regret.

“Jamila, I understand how you feel about Always a Bride. But we shouldn’t scratch out the possibility. Like I said, it would enable us to focus on each other. We could travel more. We could even go to Disneyland like you always wanted. I don’t know. I never envisioned spending the rest of my life working at a boutique.”

Jamila crossed her arms. She did an about-face and stomped out the door.

Great. Derek slumped into the hard-backed chair and his shoulders tensed. He couldn’t get anything right. Now his own daughter didn’t want to talk to him.

A part of Derek wanted to go after her and try to win her favor, but that would alienate her even more. The gains he’d made in their relationship were now unraveling. Was selling the boutique worth getting Jamila upset?

She was young, so she couldn’t understand all of these adult decisions and pressures. Maybe one day, Jamila would see his side of the story.

He wouldn’t make a full commitment to selling the place without meeting Marjorie for himself. Yes, that was what he’d do. Derek would set up a time to meet with Marjorie to discuss the possibility. One could hope.

Derek typed a message to Marlon on his cell phone, requesting an appointment with Marjorie. Then he pressed Send.

Derek’s heart crimped. Apprehension and doubt swirled within him—but talking with Marjorie was reasonable.

Reasonable—since Maya was no longer here.