Unbound by Olivia Leighton Read Free Book Online Page B

and leaned up on the counter, glancing down at the fresh salmon and halibut filets in the glass.  “ I’d like to talk to you about buying that plane you have out there.”

5—Mac
     
    The more I thought of Tanner's plane, the more motivated I became. I let two days pass after I spoke to him, making myself wait before I did my creative budgeting to see if I could even afford the damn thing. I hoped that if there was any viable reason that I shouldn’t buy it, I’d come to the realization and talk myself out of it. But forty-eight hours later, I could find no reasons whatsoever. In fact, I wanted that plane more than ever.
     
    So I went to talk numbers and scheduling with Mr. Tanner. I had one of my part-time workers manage the shop for an hour or so while I went out and started what I hoped would be my path to getting the plane.
     
    I loved that The Pine Way is located right in the middle of Sitka’s central hub. This meant that I could walk just about anywhere during the day and not be gone very long. My first stop was the bank, just to make sure I had everything in order. After an in-depth look at my personal checking account and the store’s account from my home computer, I was pretty sure I’d need a small loan just to have as cushion for a few months. I hated numbers. I hated dealing with money, but it was a necessary evil I'd have to endure if I wanted the plane.
     
    I walked to the bank, dreading this step in the process. But as it turns out, it was pretty easy. I asked for a loan for $5,000 and submitted the paperwork for a credit check. I was told I’d know something for sure by the end of the day but, based on my credit history and the performance of The Pine Way, it was basically as good as mine if I wanted it.
     
    It was great news, but I relished being out of the bank and on my way to Tanner’s Fresh Fish. Being in an office and sitting behind a desk made me uncomfortable and trapped (especially when it was someone else’s office and desk). I'd never been a stuffy office girl, opting for more laid-back and relaxed environments.
     
    I made the half a mile walk between the bank and Tanner’s, passing a few people I knew and giving polite nods as we passed. Moments such as those made me wonder if I might be a little too anti-social. When my husband walked out on me three years ago, he’s taken a lot more than himself; he’d also taken a nice portion of our money, the better car, and my self-confidence. The one close friend I had in Sitka moved for a better job last year, leaving me in a town I loved dearly, but without anyone to share any time with.
     
    I was lonely, but I could admit that it was all my fault. A night out for me consisted of heading to Twin Moose Tavern for a glass of wine, getting irritated at nosy people, and then heading home to be by myself. My weekends were even more dull as I worked on a novel that I had forced myself to start after the husband had left (I referred to him only as the husband because the thought of his name made me nauseous even to this day).
     
    But maybe this plane would be the beginning to a whole new me. If all went as planned, the plane would not only give The Pine Way a huge boost in business, but it would more than likely open up my social life. This was not a pitching point that I intended to share with Mr. Tanner, though.
     
    Mr. Tanner was behind the counter, wrapping up a purchase for an elderly woman when I walked into his shop. I watched him roll a sheet of butcher’s paper around a three large salmon, fascinated with just how quickly and artfully he was able to do it. Once he had taped up the butcher paper, he placed it all in a plastic bag and handed it over to the customer. It was refreshing to see an older man that still loved his work, still able to perform his craft with the materials he was comfortable with and not forcefully pushed into technology.
     
    I waited for the elderly lady to pay for her salmon and then I approached the