Martha’s Encouragement
I invited Martha over for dinner that Friday – nothing fancy, just lasagna and a bottle of wine I’d been saving for a special occasion.
As we sat at my kitchen table, surrounded by printouts of business plans and coffee shop layouts, I finally worked up the courage to share my idea.
‘I’m thinking of buying Eleanor’s coffee shop,’ I blurted out, bracing myself for the reality check I was sure would follow. But Martha’s face lit up in a way I hadn’t expected.
‘That’s brilliant, Cathy!’ she exclaimed, reaching across to squeeze my hand. ‘You’ve always been organized, detail-oriented, and good with people. Those skills translate perfectly to running a business.
‘ She grabbed my notebook and started jotting down ideas faster than I could process them. ‘You could create a space that values experience instead of mocking it,’ she said, her lawyer brain already mapping out the possibilities.
‘A place where people feel respected, regardless of age.’ With each point she made, I felt my confidence growing. Maybe this wasn’t just a pipe dream after all.
Maybe this was exactly what I was meant to do next. ‘But what if I fail?’ I whispered, voicing the fear that had been gnawing at me since Eleanor’s suggestion.
Martha set down her wine glass and looked me straight in the eyes. ‘Cathy, you took down a corrupt CEO and his Instagram-obsessed girlfriend. Running a coffee shop will be a piece of cake in comparison.
‘ What Martha said next would change everything about how I approached this new chapter of my life.