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HAYLEY: TODAY
(Present Day)
San Francisco, California
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“LET ME SEE THE CHARMbracelet from the other side, Hales!” Kelly practically screamed at me through Video-Chat.
I smiled and held up the glittering diamond charm bracelet that had arrived at my office half an hour ago. The tag was addressed to me and signed “My Chum” just like this morning’s set of yellow tulips.
The five charms were a pink diamond coffee cup, a shiny silver airplane, a white window frame, a crystal cinnamon bun, and my favorite of them all, a set of diamond scrabble pieces with the letters from “My Chum” in bright red.
Kelly blushed as she looked over the jewelry, but before I could take my time discussing each of the charms with her, my door opened.
“Good afternoon, Hayley.” Jonathan walked in smiling, carrying a bouquet of red flowers.
“I’ll call you right back, Kelly.” I ended the call. “Good afternoon, Mr. Statham.”
He laughed and set the flowers on my desk. “Should I assume that these flowers are from your secret boyfriend?”
“No,” I said, honestly. “Those are from Mom.” I plucked the tag from the stems and showed it to him. Her message today was new, a simple, “I love you, Hayley. I’ll be here whenever you’re ready. (I’m just asking for five minutes)—Mom.”
He nodded and looked around the room, at the other flowers that were standing on my coffee table, bookshelf, and vanity. “Those from her as well?”
“Some,” I admitted. I’d stopped cutting them since Corey and I went to Anchorage, and I was somewhat grateful that she hadn’t stopped sending them. It seemed like she was really trying to talk to me this time.
He picked up the charm bracelet box and raised his eyebrow. “My Chum?”
“It’s an inside thing.”
He looked at me, narrowing his eyes. “Did you know that there were two meetings with the city of Memphis this morning? Meetings that you were supposed to attend on my behalf?”
“Those were today?” I pulled up the calendar on my screen, hoping he was simply getting the days confused, but he was right. Those meetings were four hours ago. “Jonathan, I am so sorry.”
He nodded. “I’m sure. Can you please try to act like you give a damn for the rest of this week?”
“I will, promise.”
“Good.” He walked toward my door. Then he looked over his shoulder. “Would I like this guy at all if I met him?”
You already have. “You would.”
