Page 8 of Just One Spark

"It's a big deal to me.Is that what you mean?"

She brushed the crumbs off her hands."Not exactly.I just mean a reporter was interviewing you.It sounded like they were talking about it on social media, and the community is really involved in the opening."

"I think people get excited when something new opens around town.The last time we did anything was when we opened the restaurant.But this is different.I think people are curious about what it will be like."

"I'd never heard of a brew bath before people started talking about you opening one," Hattie said.

"I learned about them when I was researching breweries.I wanted to do something unique but also give people what they expect from a brewery with the huge windows and the equipment on display.Malcolm asked his friend Beck to let us know what he thought about the idea.He thinks it will bring people in."I hadn't talked to anyone outside of my family about this, but I trusted Hattie.I probably shouldn't.She could be a different person now.It had been years since we were friends, and I still wasn't sure of the exact reason she'd pushed away from me.

She'd been listening intently to me, and when I trailed off, she glanced away."It is different."

"When we open, you should try the brew bath."Would she wear a one-piece suit or a bikini?

She played with the edge of the blanket."I'm pretty busy with the hot-chocolate truck.I've been taking every gig I can get."

I settled back in the cushioned seat."It's not open yet, but the baths are done.You can come by whenever."

"That's nice of you," she said simply, as if she had no intention of taking me up on my offer.

She was skittish, and since I didn't know the reason she was distant, I'd have to be careful with her."We're thinking of hosting the family one night to give them the full experience.Not everyone was on board with the brew bath idea.I'm hoping once they experience it, they'll see why it's a good idea."

"Your family didn't support your business plans?"Hattie asked me, shifting so that she was slightly facing me.

"Malcolm was against it.You know him.He's always got to be the one who comes up with the idea.And he prefers to keep things simple.An inn.A restaurant.A brewery.Nothing different.Always go with the tried-and-true.We presented the idea to the family, and he didn't like it.Somehow, Beck convinced him, and I'm forever grateful."

"I had no idea.I just assumed that the Harts did whatever they wanted, and you all went along with it.You support each other no matter what."

I chuckled at her characterization of our family."I think you're forgetting all the arguing we did when you hung out with us."

She smiled."Yeah, but you were kids then."

"Not much has changed.Malcolm is still the leader, the one in charge.We're supposed to get an equal vote in the business, but he's used to getting his way.If the brewery fails—" I broke off, not wanting to say it out loud.

She touched my leg over the blanket, and I felt her touch through the thick material."I'm sure it will be great.How could it not be?You're a Hart."

That last sentence made me pause.What had she meant by that?"Not everything we do is successful."

She scoffed."Please.The inn has been in your family now for two generations going on three.Malcolm opened the restaurant, and it only made your property more popular.Now with the brewery, you've really built something you can be proud of."

She was giving me a compliment, but for some reason, it felt like she was critiquing me and my family."I'm aware that it's easier for me to open a business.My grandparents had already started the inn, and Malcolm added the restaurant.I'm not starting something from nothing."

She let out a sigh.

"How's your business doing?"I remembered when she came to the tasting I hosted at the restaurant, and Beck asked her questions about it.

The skin around her lips tightened."I'm doing everything I can to make it a success."

That wasn't really an answer."Why a food truck and not a storefront?"

"I'm selling hot chocolate.I can hardly pay the lease on a storefront with the profits from that."

"Then why hot chocolate?"I asked, wanting to get to know her.

Her face softened."I've always loved hot chocolate and how it transforms the winter season.It's comforting and sweet.You can spice it up with gingerbread or peppermint and add marshmallows or candy-cane shavings.Whenever you're out in the cold, a hot cocoa always hits the spot."

She liked it because it was a treat, warm and comforting."Why sell hot chocolate and not something else with it?"

"Whenever I was upset, my mom always made hot cocoa.I think that's why I love it so much."