exchanged a worried look with Maddie.
“Dana Sue, don’t ignore this,” Maddie said gently. “It can be really dangerous.”
“Don’t you think I know that?” Dana Sue snapped in a rare display of temper that proved just how worried she was. “I was there when Megan Hartwell collapsed at the prom, same as you. She nearly died, for goodness’ sake.”
Maddie backed off. That night had been one none of them would ever forget. It was the first time they’d seen what an eating disorder could do to someone their age. Heck, back then no one had even acknowledged there was such a thing as an eating disorder. Before that, Megan Hartwell’s dieting obsession had just been a joke among them. If Dana Sue’s daughter did have a problem, surely Dana Sue would recognize it and deal with it without Maddie or anyone else nagging her.
“Sorry,” she apologized.
Dana Sue gave her a hug. “No, I’m sorry for biting your head off.”
“Okay, let’s try to focus on this place,” Helen said briskly. “Maddie, now that you’ve seen it, what do you think?”
“I think it’s a very ambitious plan,” she said cautiously.
“Not for us,” Dana Sue said. “We can do anything we set our minds to. We are, after all, the Sweet Magnolias. Everyone at Serenity High knew we were destined to succeed. They said so in our yearbooks.”
“They also said we were most likely to raise a ruckus and land in jail,” Maddie said.
Helen grinned. “Okay, so it was a toss-up. But we’ve all stayed on the straight and narrow. And we have succeeded.”
Dana Sue nodded. “Pretty much.”
“Maybe you two can claim success,” Maddie said. “Helen not only made it through law school, but she’s built an incredible practice all over the state. Dana Sue, you’ve created a restaurant that’s as good as anything in Charleston, and that’s saying something. What have I ever done?”
“You put your worthless hubby through med school, managed a home and raised three great kids. That’s nothing to sneeze at,” Helen said.
“I just don’t know,” Maddie said. “This would be a huge time commitment and I really need to pay attention to the kids right now. They need me.”
“We know that. We probably understand your priorities better than any other boss would,” Dana Sue told her.
Maddie knew that was true, but she still wasn’t ready to say yes. There was one significant consideration she couldn’t ignore. “I’d be terrified of messing up and costing you a small fortune,” she admitted.
“If I’m not worried about that, why should you be?” Helen asked.
Despite the reassurance, Maddie couldn’t seem to shake the sick feeling in the pit of her stomach that she was getting in way over her head. “How big a hurry are you two in to do this?” she asked.
“I took out an option on the property yesterday for thirty days,” Helen said.
“Then give me thirty days to make up my mind,” Maddie pleaded.
“What will you know in thirty days that you don’t know right this minute?” Dana Sue argued.
“I’ll be able to do some cost projections, some market analysis, take a look at what’s being offered in other towns in the area,” Maddie began.
Helen grinned again. “I told you she’d focus on all that sensible stuff,” she said to Dana Sue.
“Well, it’s important to know exactly what’s involved,” Maddie retorted. “And I want to look at the job market while I’m at it. I should see if there’s something I’m better suited to do.”
“In Serenity?” Helen scoffed.
“I could be qualified for lots of things,” Maddie said, though without much conviction.
“You are,” Helen concurred, “but not a lot of folks are going to offer you a partnership in your own business based on your résumé.”
“I have to look,” Maddie said stubbornly. “I have to be sure that this is the right thing for all of us. I’d never forgive myself if I just said yes and you wound up blowing a small fortune because I was incompetent or hadn’t done my homework.”
“I respect that,” Helen said. “I really do.”
Maddie met her gaze. “But? I hear a but in there.”
“But you haven’t taken a risk in over twenty years, and look where that’s gotten you. I say it’s high time to just throw caution to the wind and do what your gut tells you to do. You used to trust it.”
“So?” Dana Sue prodded. “What’s your gut saying, Maddie?”
Maddie gave them a rueful smile. “It’s saying yes,” she admitted.
“Well, hallelujah!” Dana Sue enthused.
Maddie shook her head. “Don’t get too worked up. From what I can see, my gut hasn’t been reliable for some time now. Up until a few months ago, I thought I had a good marriage.”
“Don’t blame your gut for that one,” Helen said. “Blame Bill for being an excellent liar.”
“Maybe so, but I think this time I’ll be more comfortable if I do a little research before taking the plunge. Come on, guys, thirty days. Is that so much to ask?”
Her friends exchanged a look.
“I suppose not,” Dana Sue said reluctantly.
“I bet she’ll be ready in a week,” Helen told Dana Sue.
Maddie frowned. “What makes you so sure?”
“I looked at the want ads in this morning’s paper,” Helen said. “Trust me, you won’t beat our offer.” When Maddie started to respond, Helen held up a hand. “It’s okay. You need to see for yourself. I understand that.”
“Thank you,” Maddie said.
“Just in case, though, I think I’ll go ahead and start on the partnership paperwork,” Helen said.
“Keep on being so smug, and I’ll turn you down just to spite you,” Maddie threatened.
“No, you won’t,” Helen said with confidence. “You’re way too smart to do that.”
Maddie tried to remember the last time anyone had complimented her on her intelligence, rather than her baking or hostessing skills. Maybe working with her two best friends would be good for her. Even if this health-club idea went belly-up, she might walk away with her self-esteem bolstered in a way it hadn’t been in years, to say nothing of the fact that they were bound to share a lot more laughter than she’d had in her marriage for a long time now. She ought to say yes for those reasons alone.
Because
