Carol Cox by Trouble in Store Page B

that,” the Professor agreed. “Everyone in Cedar Ridge has seen how hard you’ve worked.”
    Caleb rolled his eyes. “Not nearly hard enough, according to some people.”
    The Professor’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh?”
    Gratified by the other man’s interest, Caleb gave vent to the frustration that had built up since the moment Melanie Ross entered his store. “It’s this niece of George’s. My ‘new partner,’ as you called her. She sashayed in here assuming she owned his share of the business. I don’t think she has a valid claim, but I’m honestly not sure what will happen if it comes to a legal battle.”
    He groaned and smacked his palm on the counter. “We butt heads every time I turn around. She has a raft of ideas for ‘improving’ the store.” He spread his arms wide, taking in the displays of merchandise. “What needs changing? Keeping things the way they’ve always been worked fine for Uncle Alvin, so it’s good enough for me, but I can’t convince her to leave well enough alone.”
    The professor’s somber look reflected Caleb’s mood. “What kind of woman is she? What would happen if you just explained all this to her?”
    Caleb blew out a huff of air. “You think I haven’t tried? All she does is stiffen her neck and keep on doing whatever she wants. You wouldn’t believe some of the crazy ideas she’s come up with—rearranging the store every time my back is turned, reorganizing the merchandise in a way that makes no sense to me, but one she insists will be better for business. It seems her family owned a store back in Ohio, but that doesn’t mean she knows the first thing about running a business. But just try to convince her of that! She wants to have her finger in everything.”
    “Where is she now?” The professor looked around as if expecting to see Melanie pop up from behind the flour barrel.
    “I sent her out to explore the town. She’d hardly been out of the store since she got here, so it seemed like a good excuse to get her outside. Truth to tell, though, I’m the one who needs the break.” He glanced over at the mantel clock. “It’s been nice, but I can’t expect it to last much longer. She’ll probably stroll back in any minute.”
    Caleb looked at the Professor, whose features had taken on a faraway expression. “What is it?”
    The dapper man pursed his lips. “I was just thinking about your uncle and wondering how he would have handled this.”
    Caleb raised his hands and let them fall back at his sides. “I honestly don’t know. No, that isn’t true. Uncle Alvin was a God-fearing man. He probably would have welcomed her as George’s rightful heir with open arms.”
    The Professor nodded. “I suspect you’re right. Alvin wasone of the fairest men I’ve ever known. I expect he would have done just that.”
    “But he didn’t have a son to raise.” Resentment rose up, choking Caleb until he had to force the words out. “Levi needs stability, and it’s been hard enough for me to provide that for him without having some pig-headed woman keeping everything in an uproar.”
    “So what are you going to do?”
    “I don’t have any idea. I’m at my wit’s end trying to figure out how to make this work and still keep my sanity intact.”
    The Professor gave a dry chuckle. “It sounds as if you need some time to yourself, time to be able to think clearly so you can sort things out.”
    Caleb snorted. “How am I supposed to get that? It’s bad enough having her shuffle things around every night. I don’t dare leave her here alone during the day. There’s no telling what she’d do. I can’t seem to make her understand that this is a business, not a lark. She simply has no idea the amount of work that’s involved in managing the store on a day-to-day basis.”
    The Professor tilted his head and smiled. “Maybe that’s exactly what she needs to learn.” His smile broadened at Caleb’s blank look. “Think about it. If she really wants to have