AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He wasn’t sure why anyone would, but he imagined Heather would explain it all to him at some point. “Not long,” Heather said. “Are you here alone?”
“I’m waiting to meet a few girlfriends. We take turns going out to eat and choosing the restaurants. It was my choice but another person pays. This way two people decide.”
“That’s a good way to do it,” he said. Though he wondered whose idea it was.
“Your friends could be here already,” Heather said.
“No,” Gretchen said. “I’m the first one here. I always am. And how is your leg doing?”
Gretchen bent over as if she was trying to look under the table. He found that rude.
“It’s wonderful,” Heather said. “I’d say I’m pretty much healed up. I’m not going to run any marathons, but I never did before.”
Gretchen waved her hand. “Who would want to do that anyway? I also heard that Jasmine’s sister is moving to town in a week. Dahlia? Amazing how Lily and her sisters give jobs out to people like that. Helping out family the way they do.”
He could see Heather’s face turn red. “Dahlia is a CPA and more qualified than Sidney was. No one is handing out jobs.”
“No, no,” Gretchen said. “I didn’t mean it that way. Just that, you know.” The woman leaned closer to speak quietly yet her voice was still loud. “I’d heard they did that with Ivy. That she’s still a work in progress and needs to be by Jasmine.”
“Not sure where you are getting your facts from,” Heather said. “But it’s not the case.”
Luke knew some of that might be true with Ivy, but this woman obviously loved to gossip.
“You know how some people talk,” Gretchen said. “Well, I’ll let you get back to your meal. I’m sure you’ve been busy with some of the women out having babies. Who knows? You might be next.”
He kept his lips sealed and saw that Heather might be bleeding from biting her tongue. “What was that?” he asked.
“The town gossip. She talks about everyone and everything and then tries to play it off as if she’s best friends with my bosses. She’s all smiles and sweet when she says things.”
“But you see the jealousy and hate in her words and in her eyes,” he said.
“Yes,” she said. “That. Exactly that.”
“You didn’t say anything about Jasmine’s sister moving here. Is that true?”
“It is,” she said. “I don’t talk too much about those things. I mean I know you’re busy and it probably doesn’t interest you.”
“They are your friends too,” he said.
“I know. Anyway, I think I told you how Lily’s accountant was moving and she had an open position. She’s changing things around for a higher type of position and then hiring more of a lower position. So two new people. But Dahlia is starting first and then Dahlia will help Lily hire the next person since she’ll be overseeing them. I only know this from Daisy who heard it from Ivy or overheard more talk. It’s not like I’m in the building often and no reason for them to tell me.”
“But you work with Jasmine a lot, right?” he asked.
“I do, but she’s been out on maternity leave. She returns next week. I can’t wait to have her back. We did talk a lot more, but she wasn’t there all day long either. Just daily she’d stop in at some point.”
He nodded his head
“You talk to Lily more, correct?”
“A few times a week. More about work, but lately it’s been more personal. Nothing about you directly,” she rushed out to say. “I don’t ask. But you know, Zane and all.”
“I know. She’s happy I’m here for him.”
He didn’t see his buddy much, but they did text now and again. They tried to get a beer once a month if they could. Zane was busy with his job and family.
Luke was busy with his new job and Heather.
Just knowing his best friend was so close by though was enough comfort for him.
