First Impressions

the stove. After pouring cocoa, she brought two cups to the table. “Here’s to little Charlotte or Samuel.”
    “Or Andrew or Justine,” Donna said as they touched rims.
    “How many kids are you planning to have?” Shane asked wryly.
    “Just one at a time.” Donna gave her stomach a proud little pat.
    The gesture made Shane smile. “Did you say Dave’s sister was watching Benji? Isn’t she still in school?”
    “No, she graduated this summer. Right now she’s hunting for a new job.” With a contented sigh, Donna sat back. “She was planning to go to college part-time, but money’s tight and the hours she’s working right now make it next to impossible.” Her brow creased in sympathy. “The best she can manage this term is a couple of night classes twice a week. At that rate it’s going to take her a long time to earn a degree.”
    “Hmm.” Shane stared into her cocoa. “Pat was a very bright girl as I remember.”
    “Bright and pretty as a picture.”
    Shane nodded. “Tell her to come see me.”
    “You?”
    “After the shop’s set up, I’m going to need some part-time help.” She glanced over absently as the wind hurled rain at the windows. “I wouldn’t be able to do anything for her for a month or so, but if she’s still interested, we should be able to work something out.”
    “Shane, she’ll be thrilled. But are you sure you can afford to hire someone?”
    With a toss of her head, Shane lifted her drink. “I’ll know within the first six months if I’m going to make it.” As she considered, she twisted a curl around her finger—a gesture Donna recognized as nerves. She drew her brows together but said nothing. “I want to keep the place open seven days a week,” Shane continued. “Weekends are bound to be the busiest time if I manage to lure in any tourists. Between sales and bookkeeping, inventory and the buying I have to do, I won’t be able to manage alone. If I’m going down,” she murmured, “I’m going down big.”
    “I’ve never known you to do anything halfway,” Donna observed with a trace of admiration vying with concern. “I’d be scared to death.”
    “I am a little scared,” Shane admitted. “Sometimes I imagine this place the way it’s going to look, and I see customers coming in to handle merchandise. I see all the rooms and records I’m going to have to keep . . .” She rolled her eyes to the ceiling. “What makes me think I can handle all that?”
    “As long as I can remember, you’ve handled everything that came your way.” Donna paused a moment as she considered Shane carefully. “You’re going to try this no matter how many pitfalls I point out?”
    A grin had Shane’s dimples deepening. “Yes.”
    “Then I won’t point out any,” Donna said with a wry smile. “What I will say is that if anyone can make it work, you can.”
    After frowning into her cocoa, Shane raised her eyes to Donna’s. “Why?”
    “Because you’ll give it everything you’ve got.”
    The simplicity of the answer made Shane laugh. “You’re sure that’ll be enough?”
    “Yes,” Donna said so seriously that Shane sobered.
    “I hope you’re right,” Shane murmured, then shook off the doubts. “It’s a little late in the game to start worrying about it now. So,” she continued in a lighter tone, “what’s new besides Justine or Samuel?”
    After a moment’s hesitation, Donna plunged ahead. “Shane, I saw Cy the other day.”
    “Did you?” Shane lifted a brow as she sipped. “So did I.”
    Donna moistened her lips. “He seemed very . . . ah, concerned about your plans.”
    “Critical and concerned are entirely different things,” Shane pointed out, then smiled as the color in Donna’s cheeks deepened. “Oh, don’t worry about it, Donna. Cy’s never approved of any of my ideas. It doesn’t bother me anymore. In fact, the less he approves,” she continued slowly, “the more I’m sure it’s the right thing to do. I don’t think he’s ever taken a chance in his entire life.” Noting that Donna was busy gnawing on her bottom lip, Shane fixed her with a straight look. “Okay, what else?”
    “Shane.” Donna paused, then began running her fingertip around and around the rim of her cup. Shane recognized the stalling gesture and kept silent. “I think I should tell you before—well, before you hear it from someone else. Cy . . .”
    Shane waited patiently for a few seconds. “Cy what?” she demanded. Miserably,