Shop On the Corner, page 1
Books by J.L. and Lin Stepp
The Afternoon Hiker
Discovering Tennessee State Parks
Exploring South Carolina State Parks
Visiting North Carolina State Parks
Coming next --Traveling Georgia State Parks
Books by Lin Stepp
The Smoky Mountain Series
The Foster Girls Tell Me About Orchard Hollow
For Six Good Reasons Delia’s Place
Second Hand Rose Down by the River
Makin’ Miracles Saving Laurel Springs
Welcome Back Daddy’s Girl
Lost Inheritance The Interlude
The Mountain Home Books
Happy Valley
Downsizing
Eight at the Lake
Seeking Ayita
Shop on the Corner
Coming Next--The Red Mill Bookstore
Christmas Novella
A Smoky Mountain Gift
In When the Snow Falls
The Edisto Trilogy
Claire at Edisto
Return to Edisto
Edisto Song
The Lighthouse Sisters Series
Light the Way
Lighten My Heart
Light in the Dark
Coming Next ---The Light Continues
Shop On The Corner
Copyright © 2024 by Lin Stepp
Published by Mountain Hill Press
Email contact: steppcom@aol.com
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical photocopying, recording or otherwise—without the prior written consent of the publisher, except in brief quotes used in reviews or as expressly permitted by the 1976 Copyright Act.
This is a work of fiction. Although numerous elements of historical and geographic accuracy are utilized in this and other novels in the South Carolina Coastal series, many other specific environs, place names, characters, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously.
Scripture used in this book, whether quoted or paraphrased by the characters, is taken from the King James Version of the Bible.
Cover design: Katherine E. Stepp
Interior design: J. L. Stepp, Mountain Hill Press
Editor: Elizabeth S. James
Cover photo and map design: Lin M. Stepp
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Stepp, Lin
Shop On The Corner/ Lin Stepp
ISBN: 979-8-9877251-2-2
First Mountain Hill Press Trade Paperback Printing: March 2024
eISBN: 979-8-9877251-3-9
First Mountain Hill Press Electronic Edition: March 2024
1. Women—Southern States—Fiction 2. North Carolina - Smoky Mountains- Fiction 3. Contemporary Romance—Inspirational—Fiction. I. Title
Library of Congress Control Number: 2024900969
DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to all my fans and readers in the Western North Carolina area, who kept encouraging me to write a book set in the Waynesville - Sylva area. I listened, and I truly enjoyed all my visits to this area working on my new Mountain Home book.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I first visited the small town of Waynesville, NC, for a book signing for my first published book. The charm of the city captivated me and I returned to Waynesville and the nearby area for many book events in the years since at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville, City Lights Bookstore in Sylva, and at Malaprops and Barnes & Noble in Asheville. My thanks to all these fine bookstores for bringing me to Western North Carolina and for carrying my book titles.
Thanks also to the friendly staff members in Waynesville businesses who provided me with helpful information, including the Waynesville Visitor Center, the Chamber of Commerce, and Re/ Max Realty on Main Street. I so appreciate the maps, brochures, and information they sent to help me with my book. I am also grateful to the Haywood County Arts Council. Their staff answered many questions about Waynesville’s art scene and I am pleased to feature the Arts Council Gallery on Main in several scenes in my novel. Waynesville offers many colorful events during the year, too. like Art After Dark at participating galleries, including the Arts Council Gallery, and I enjoyed spotlighting this event and the wonderful International Festival held in the city every summer. Thanks to all those in Waynesville who work hard to make these events happen every year.
Grateful acknowledgement also to the shops, restaurants, historic spots, and churches peppered throughout my story, like Bocelli’s Italian Eatery, the Sweet Onion, the Haywood Smokehouse, Clyde’s Restaurant, Church Street Depot, Birchwood Hall Southern Kitchen, The Patio Bistro, and many others. Gratitude, also, to wonderful sites around the Waynesville area, included in my story, like Junaluska Resort and Conference Center, Biltmore House and Gardens, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Special thanks to Becky Fain at the Inn at Iris Meadows on Love Lane who graciously answered many questions about the town for me. You will find mention of the Iris Inn in my book and Becky allowed me to model my fictional dog Zoey after her dog of the same name. Check out this beautiful Bed-and Breakfast Inn if you are in the Waynesville area.
Acknowledgements to all those who helped with this book:
_ Elizabeth S. James, copyeditor and editorial adviser
_ J.L. Stepp, production design and proofing
_ Katherine Stepp, cover design and graphics
_ And ongoing gratitude to the Lord, who helps me with all my books.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
About The Author
CHAPTER 1
Laura shivered as she started coffee brewing in the kitchen. It was cold this January morning in Amory, Mississippi, the temperature in the low forties after dipping below freezing last night. She even saw a little frost on the windows. In the older house she rented, the insulation wasn’t everything it should be, but with a few space heaters she stayed snug enough.
She got eggs out now, deciding on scrambled eggs and toast before she headed to work. She’d already set a plate at the little dining table off the small kitchen, put out butter, jelly, and fruit beside the newspaper she’d rescued from the front porch.
Turning at a sound, she saw her sister Georgina hesitate in the kitchen doorway, wrapping her robe tightly around her. Actually, it was Laura’s robe; she wondered where it had disappeared to.
“It’s freezing in here,” Georgina said, scowling. “And it’s even colder downstairs.”
“I’m surprised you’re up so early,” Laura said, turning back to the stove. “You and Chance stayed up late.”
“We got into an old movie,” she said, settling on a kitchen stool. “But the smell of your coffee woke me up.”
“Do you want eggs, too?” Laura asked. “It’s no trouble to scramble another and pop a second piece of bread in the toaster.”
“I’ll just have coffee.” She wrinkled her nose. “I can’t believe you eat at this time of day anyway. It’s only seven.”
“You know I open the shop at nine.” It seemed ridiculous to explain this to Georgina. The upholstery business Laura ran now, since their father’s death five years ago, had kept the same operating hours since the day her father opened it.
Georgina shrugged. “You pay people to work for you. They could open the store so you don’t have to go in so early.”
Laura cracked her eggs into the skillet, deciding not to answer.
“I can’t believe when I look around this kitchen how many of Mother and Daddy’s old things you kept.” She laughed. “You still have those tacky rooster dishes we ate on when growing up—plus the matching glasses and canisters. Chance totally cracked up when he first saw them. Why in the world did you keep those old things when we sold Daddy and Mother’s house?”
“I like them,” she answered, putting her eggs and toast on a plate and carrying them with a cup of coffee into the little dining area.
Georgina followed her, sitting down across from her at the small table to nurse the cup of coffee she’d fixed herself.
Laura watched her out of the corner of her eye while she ate. Her sister was beautiful even with her hair mussed, no makeup, and dressed in one of Chance’s old shirts under her robe. Laura could tell Georgina had something on her mind, too, from the way she kept picking at her nails nervously.
“You probably remember Chance and I have another gig with the band this weekend. We’re going to leave this afternoon to drive to Memphis, and we’re staying with one of Chance’s friends through the weekend. We probably won’t be back until late Monday.” She offered a smile. “It’s a first-class club we’re playing at, and of course I’ll be singing, too. Chance said some important people in the industry often drop in at this club. It could open a good opportunity for us.”
“You’ve always had a beautiful voice,” Laura decided to say.
Georgiana picked at her nails again. “Well, it takes time to grow and develop in the industry. You have to work hard at it and keep believing one of your songs will catch the attention of a good agent or someone in the industry one day. Then you take off.”
Laura tried to think what to say. This had been Georgina’s dream for years now, ever since she quit college to run away with Chance Richardson and his country music group.
“I need to borrow a little money for this weekend,” Georgina said then. “The winters are always a little slow and we’re short right now.” She offered Laura another smile. “You know we’ll pay it back.”
Laura knew instead she’d be lucky if she ever saw a penny of this or any of the rest of the “little loans” Georgina and Chance had borrowed from her since they showed up at her house before Christmas. They’d been here for over six weeks now and continued to answer evasively when they planned to go back to Nashville.
Laura had felt excited when Georgina called before Christmas to suggest she and Chance come to stay with her for the holidays.
“We haven’t seen each other for a long time,” Georgina said. “I thought it would be nice if we came for the holidays, especially since Chance and I have a show or two scheduled in that area. Would it be okay if we come? I think you said you had an extra bedroom in the new house that you’re living in now.”
Laura hesitated answering for a moment, letting Georgina babble on about Christmas plans. The truth was Laura wasn’t fond of Chance Richardson. She never had been, and she wasn’t comfortable having the two of them in her home, unmarried as they were. She only had one sister though and their relationship had been strained for years, ever since their mother died and especially since Georgina ran off with Chance Richardson, walking away from a full four-year scholarship in voice at Old Miss.
Laura finally answered. “I could clean out the workroom downstairs for you, Georgina. There’s a queen size sofa bed there and a bathroom in the laundry room. Keep in mind my place is small though; it won’t be like the house we grew up in.” Laura still missed the lovely family home Georgina insisted they sell after her father was killed one rainy night when his delivery van skidded off the road.
“I’m sure it will be fine,” Georgina put in quickly.
Apparently, it had been fine. Whenever Laura quizzed Georgina about when they planned to head back to Nashville, her sister’s comments seemed vague and indefinite. “Chance and I decided to let our old place go in Nashville and we have some friends helping us look for another one. I’m sure we’ll track something down soon.”
In the meantime, they’d freeloaded on Laura, not paying a penny toward expenses or groceries or helping with any cleaning around the house. They also drank too much, and the downstairs smelled like booze and the subtle scent of marijuana. Laura was pretty naive about that sort of thing, but she’d seen all too clearly when the two of them—and especially Chance—were high on one thing or the other. While she worked every day, they hung around the house watching television or listening to music between the weekends when they met up with the members of Chance’s band to perform. It seemed obvious that Georgina and Chance didn’t plan to leave any time soon, and Laura had soon learned not to leave money around the house. She’d also locked up her jewelry and anything else of value after a few things mysteriously disappeared.
She studied her sister now, trying to decide what to say about yet another loan. “I think it might be a good idea if you or Chance, or both of you, got a part-time job to make a little money for your expenses.”
Georgina tossed her head. “You don’t need to be mean just because we’re having a slow spot. And we need our time between jobs right now to work on new songs. We’ve written several good ones together. I thought you’d be happy to help us with our work and our dream.” Her eyes narrowed. “It’s not as though you’re going after any dreams of your own to understand. You’ve always just worked at the shop with Daddy, and then he left it to you. Chance says that really wasn’t fair. It should have come to both of us, like the house.”
“Daddy knew you’d push to sell it.”
“So? Wouldn’t that have been right? You could have gotten a job in any little upholstery shop in any Podunk town around Mississippi or anywhere else. I mean it’s only a small-town store, Laura. You’re too sentimental about things.”
“It’s our family business and I love it,” she answered.
“Well, fine. But you can give me a little help with my business. You’re my only sister. I’d do it for you if you asked me. If you’d ever had any kind of real dream, I would have helped you to achieve it, too. Chance says you don’t really believe in us.”
The words hurt, and Laura knew they were partially true. She had her doubts about Chance and she worried about the path and the dreams he fed to Georgina. What should she do?
Glancing at the clock, she said, “I need to head to the shop.” She picked up her purse from the chair nearby and opened her billfold, peeling out several twenties. “I have a hundred dollars you can have for your weekend. I hope everything goes well.”
“Thanks,” Georgina said, smiling now and adding graciously. “I’ll clean up the kitchen.”
At the shop later, Laura sat at her desk, looking through her mail while indulging in a bout of tears. She tried to wipe them away as Lillian Greeley let herself into the store.
“Good morning. It’s cold as all-get-out in Mississippi today, isn’t it?” She walked into Laura’s office. “Bobby dropped me off and said to tell you he’s going to deliver that sofa and chair we finished to the Beckers before he starts his day.”
She paused catching sight of Laura’s face. “Bless your heart. It’s a rare thing to see you cry. What’s the matter? Did you get another of those letters reminding you of when we have to get out of this building here?”
Relieved at Lillian’s question, Georgina answered, “Yes, I did get another reminder.”
“It sure was a shock to us, and to everyone else around here, when the government came in and held those hearings to let us know they were taking ten buildings in that imminent domain thing to widen the highway that runs through town. It was a heartache at first to hear it. I remember a lot of people tried to fight it, but there’s not much you can do about a thing like that.”
Lillian sat down in the chair across from Laura’s desk. “But honey, we’ve known this was coming for almost two years now. And, blessedly, they’re giving you more than fair price for this old building your family has owned all these years. You can easily buy another one with that amount and have money besides to put away.”
She sipped on the coffee she’d brought into the store with her. “I know you’ve been looking around for another location and talking to Bobby and me about it. Didn’t you find a building over on Third Street you feel good about, the one that used to be a ballroom dance studio? You said it had a big back room we can easily convert for our upholstery shop, a front office and entry area, storage in the back and a rear entrance and parking places to keep our delivery truck. I thought you’d settled your mind to it.”
Laura sniffed and blew her nose on a tissue. “I guess it will be all right for the shop, but it’s not the same.”
“Well, it might not be the Shop on The Corner anymore, especially with the new location settled between two buildings like it is, but it’s a nice enough place.”
“I know.” Laura looked down at the letters in front of her. “I also know I need to talk to the realtor to start finalizing the sale. This last letter said that the money will be released Monday and then I’ll only have thirty to sixty days to vacate.”
“It won’t take us more than a few days to pack up and move, and like they’ve told you, there will be moving and relocation money, too. You’ve known worse heartaches than this, honey, losing your parents young and then having all this trouble with your sister. Are she and that deadbeat boyfriend she’s hooked up with still staying at your house?”
Laura felt the tears well again.
