Chapter 21: Fourteen Leases

Caleb's POV

On Monday morning I stood on the sidewalk outside the Merrow Home on Abercorn Street with a padlock notice in my hand.

Forty-one people worked in that store.

They stood in a loose half circle around me in their green aprons, waiting.

I had known most of them for ten years.

"Sayre's fund closed all fourteen leases at midnight," I told them. "The doors stay shut starting today."

A cashier put her hand over her mouth.

"You'll be paid through the end of the quarter," I said. "Every one of you. I'll sign for it this morning."

"Can you do that?" the man from receiving asked.

"I'm doing it."

I did not tell them how.

I had spent the night with my bookkeeper and a calculator, and the sum was plain.

If I personally guaranteed the leases at the tripled rent, the stores could open on Tuesday.

It would cost me the warehouse, if the quarter went badly.

I had decided before the bookkeeper finished adding.

"Caleb."

I turned.

A white van had pulled up at the curb, and Hattie was driving.

Cassandra got out of the passenger side, in a black blazer, with a folder under her arm.

Behind her came Linnea, the baker and the potter, in a line.

"I told you to stay out of my way," Cassandra said, "and that was fine on Saturday. Today it isn't."

The staff was watching with great interest.

I put the notice in my pocket.

"I'm in the middle of something," I said.

"I know. You're about to sign a guarantee."

I looked at her.

"Your bookkeeper called mine," she said. "Don't be angry. They're friends. They both hate Sayre."

"It's my business."

"It's your business, and you're about to sign your warehouse away to keep fourteen doors open."

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