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“Yes!” CeCe exclaimed.

“Do you have a name for the room in the back?” Cory asked Cat.

“Yeah, I think I’ll call it The Bottom Shelf.” Cat grinned. “But let’s not tell Mom about that part.”

Cory chuckled. “You have to watch out for the quiet ones.”

“So, little sister. Do we get a discount?” CeCe asked.

Cat laughed. “Do you think this is what Dad had in mind?”

“I can see it now!” Cory exclaimed. “Our clients can stop by and get a drink, a book, and get their hair done.”

CeCe held out her hand. “I’m in.”

“I’m in,” Cat said, placing her hand on top of CeCe’s.

“Watch out,” Cory said, placing her hand on top. “Here come the Sloan Sisters!”

1

THREE MONTHS LATER

Laughing boisterously, Cory Sloan walked back into The Liquor Box through the opening that connected her store to her sister CeCe’s beauty salon.

“What’s so funny?” Taylor asked. She was the one employee Cory had hired so far and was standing behind the register ready for Cory to open the new store.

“Oh, Taylor,” Cory snorted. “My sisters wanted to have a quick toast before we unlocked the doors for the open house and Cat made the nicest toast about spreading joy and when we looked at CeCe she said…” Cory paused, holding up her champagne glass and chuckling.

“She said?”

“She said 'may we live happily-ever-after.'” Cory burst into laughter again.

“What’s so funny about that?”

“It’s kind of a strange toast to make when you’re opening up a store, don’t you think?” Cory chuckled.

“I guess so, especially since none of you have a girlfriend at the moment,” Taylor said.

“Exactly!”

“Still, it was a nice thing to wish.”

Cory quickly glanced around the store. “Are you ready?”

“Yes, boss. The samples are ready over there.” Taylor gestured to a display in the middle of the store. “We have discount coupons for CeCe’s salon and Cat’s bookstore at the register."

“And the wheel is set up over here for prizes and discounts,” Cory said, giving the wheel a spin.

“Like Wheel of Fortune!” Taylor laughed.

“Not exactly, Vanna.”

Each store had been completed with the occupants in mind. Cory’s had an open floor plan with rows of shelves for various liquors and wines. Refrigerated cases were along one wall that held cold beer, wine, and a wide variety of hard seltzers. In the back Cory had set up a small bar where customers could get a quick drink on their way home from work.

There was a hallway in the back that led to the restrooms and a storage room where Cory kept her inventory stocked. Her store was on the end and on the wall that she shared with CeCe’s salon they’d made a large opening so customers could walk from one store to the other. They hoped to help drive customers to each other’s businesses.

“Okay, let’s do this.” Cory unlocked the door and held it open to several people who were waiting outside. “Welcome!”