“You’ve already done the research.”
“I’m trying to be responsible.”
“Terrible habit.”
She laughed.
Then her voice softened.
“I was afraid to tell anyone about this.”
“Why?”
“Because if I fail, I’ll have to admit I wasted money on a dream I should have abandoned years ago.”
I leaned back in my chair.
“Karen, you’ve spent twenty-two years being responsible for everyone else. Give yourself permission to try something that might fail.”
She was quiet.
Then she said, “You make it sound simple.”“It isn’t. But neither is staying miserable because you’re afraid of what might happen.”
The next day, she signed a preliminary agreement to lease the space.
I was proud of her.
Proud enough that I almost forgot I was supposed to be keeping my distance.
Then, six weeks after that first rainy night, she called me at midnight.
“I found out who she is.”
