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knowledge about the market and a good dose of common sense. Something she’d apparently missed out on when she’d been busy learning how to debone a chicken.
    At exactly six, Violet locked the front door and turned the sign to indicate they were closed.
    â€œIt was a pretty good day,” she said cheerfully. “Nearly five hundred dollars in sales.”
    Jenna nodded. “Great.”
    Considering the cost of the goods they’d sold, her over head and salaries, not to mention the ten percent off coupons, she was probably in the hole about two hundred dollars. And that was just on the first day. Imagine how much she could fail in a week.
    Violet crossed to her. “It’s okay,” she said. “This will get better. People will start to talk about the store, and before you know it, we’ll be bustling with activity.”
    â€œBustling?” Jenna managed a smile. “There’s a word I haven’t heard in a while.”
    â€œIt works in this situation. We’ll be slow for a while, but things will get better. You’ll see.”
    â€œI know you’re right,” Jenna lied.
    Violet tilted her head. “Want to get a drink? I know a bartender who makes a mean margarita.”
    â€œThanks, but my mom’s expecting me for dinner.”
    â€œOkay, sure. Tell her hi from me.”
    Violet left and Jenna quickly followed. No matter where she looked, all she had seen was potential. Now she felt as if she’d been playing a game where everyone knew the rules but her. The worst part was, the only person she could blame was herself.
    She crossed the parking lot to her car. On the drive over, she would have to figure out how to spin her day so her parents didn’t worry. They were already concerned enough.
    As she slipped into her car, she heard the sound of laughter and glanced up toward the store next door. Only Ewe was busy with customers. Dozens of people held baskets overflowing with brightly colored yarn. She could see through to the back where a large table was crowded with knitters. A tall, handsome man moved toward Robyn, put his hand on the small of her back, then kissed her.
    Jenna turned away and started the engine. Deep inside, she felt a stab of something that could only be envy. But whether it was for all the happy people filling her neighbor’s store, or for the fact that she missed having someone special in her life, Jenna couldn’t say.

Three
    V iolet passed out the list of ingredients to the half dozen customers sitting in front of the kitchen area of the store. It was the third day after opening and the first day of Jenna’s classes. Yesterday had been a little better, with more people dropping by. Sales had been unimpressive, but she knew that could grow with time. Assuming they had time.
    If she wanted to complain that it seemed as if Jenna had opened the store without much of a plan, she was just as guilty of leaping without looking. After all, she’d come to work for her without much in the way of guarantees. Still, her gut said this was the right thing to do. And if her gut had made its first mistake, she would simply find another job and start over. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t done it countless times before.
    Jenna adjusted the mirror over the portable cooking table. “Can you all see what I’m doing?” she asked.
    There were a few murmurs of agreement.
    â€œGood. I thought I’d start with a quick tip on how to chop onions. It’s fast and easy and will keep your fingers out of the way of a sharp blade.”
    Knives, Violet thought, making a mental note. They could do classes on different kinds of knives. What they were used for, how to care for them. That would encourage people to buy knives and sharpeners and knife blocks.
    Jenna continued her lesson, explaining how to cut the onion in half, through the root, then peel it.
    â€œSlice this way,” she explained, demonstrating, “at an