“The only thing you need to do is to be honest with yourself. You’re sick. But you have the ability to get better. Go get better.”
“Okay, Mom. I’m going to try.”
They stood up. She hugged him. She didn’t cry, though. Not in front of him. D.J. had seen enough of her soft side in the last few weeks. Softness wasn’t going to help.
“Patrick’s taking me, so I’ll talk to you when I can.”
She nodded. “I love you.”
“Love you, too,” he said as he walked out of the trailer and to Patrick’s car. She watched her oldest boy walk across the street. She turned away.
There were still miles to go to get things sorted away.
ChapterTwenty-Four
“I need your help. Yep. No, you can finish what you need to, but no more slow rolling this out. This is how it’s going to play out over the next few weeks.”
J.J.’s conversation with Austin was very different from the one she’d had with D.J. Austin was going to start tomorrow and be here on the job. He was no more ready to take over the construction business than D.J. was, but he was of sound body right now. And he needed to learn the ropes of Tucker Construction.
By the time the sun went down, J.J. had a handle on the next few days of obligations and a better picture of what needed to be done for Libby. She’d meet with Libby later, but she knew she’d have to eat crow, as they say. So, she’d avoid it for a few more hours at least.
Plus, J.J. had no less than four missed calls from Stone. She saw the light at the salon was on, and it was time to have another tough conversation.
Lila was at the reception desk.
“Aunt J.J.! We’ve been swamped today. Totally nuts. We’re booked for the next month.”
“Wow, that’s excellent. And the app is working with the scheduling for each of the stylists?”
“Yep, perfectly. I had to do an update this morning, but that was fine.”
“Good.”
The Do was rolling; there were three ladies in the chairs, and it looked like a pedi was underway as J.J. passed by and headed for the backroom.
There, she found Stone Stirling, an internationally famous billionaire, twisting a garbage bag and tying it off.
He looked like he belonged there. And like he’d done it before.
“Hey! There you are! I called. I was worried that I had totally scared you off.”
He lowered his voice when he said it. The best place for great gossip was a salon. She’d warned him multiple times about that. She just didn’t think she’d be at the center of any juicy gossip.
“Scare me? Nah, no. But we do need to talk.”
“Yeah, want to take a walk? Since the stylists all do have ears.”
“Yes, perfect.”
They walked out back and down the sidewalk a bit. The gazebo in the center of town was a good place to sit. She knew it was a tribute to Dean, so maybe it was good he was there with them. Sort of.
“I want to apologize, but I can’t,” Stone said once they were settled.
“What?”
“I kissed you. And I was contrite, but I got to thinking about it last night, and what do the kids say? Sorry, not sorry.”
“Ah, so cocky. That’s on brand.”
