“Wonderful.”
“I’m not going to keep you. I just wanted to let you know that I found a place to stay and I’ll see you soon.”
“I can’t wait.” As Vanessa hung up the phone, Lisa slid the large chef’s salad in front of her, and placed a brown paper sack with the top folded over on the table as she slid herself right into the booth bench facing Vanessa. “Look. I know you might think that this is none of my business, but I just can’t let it go without saying my piece.”
The smile in her heart faded.
“I heard what you did to Bill and Edna today. That was wrong, and Edna is too much of a lady to say it for herself, but that woman loved that job. It was her whole life. What do you think she’s going to do home alone all day?”
“I’m really not at liberty to discuss this with you.” Vanessa kept her voice as friendly and calm as possible.
“I’m sure you’re not, and even if you did respond, I probably wouldn’t believe you anyway. I knew you were trouble when you came to town.” She circled a finger in the air outliningVanessa’s face. “You with your snow-white smile, perfectly streaked hair and fancy handbags. What do you know about life in North Carolina?”
“Location didn’t factor into the decision. I did what I thought was best for two employees who had shown years of dedication to the company.”
“If you think this was the good news, I sure hate to hear and see what the bad news brings!”
“Order up” came from the kitchen window, followed by the ring of a bell.
“Excuse me.” Lisa stood, and went to the counter to retrieve the next orders.
Vanessa ran her napkin beneath her eye. It shouldn’t have surprised her that the news had practically beat her here this evening, but she hadn’t expected it to result in negative consequences. She took out the compact mirror from her purse and brushed at the mascara below. Movement in the reflection caught her attention.
She closed the compact and turned around to face him.
“Buck? I didn’t hear you come in.”
“Hello. I’m here every night for dinner.”
“Every night?”
“Yep. Can’t make this kind of food for what I pay here, and they know what I like.” He leaned back and slung an arm up on the back of the bench seat. “You’ve had a day, huh?”
“You could say that. I thought it was a good day. I guess that’s a matter of opinion. I had good intentions.”
“You know what they say about good intentions. The path to h—”
“You know, I never really understood that phrase. Why is it that people want to turn good intentions into something bad?Is it that hard to believe that people really want to do good in this world?”
“Right. I know. I’ve been caught by that over the years too. Here’s the thing. Sometimes you’re so focused on what you think is the best in a situation, that you don’t see the collateral damage. The dominoes falling behind the scenes. Trust me. The older I get the more I realize how much I really don’t know.”
Before she could answer, he got up and came around to her table, taking the spot that Lisa had been sitting in. “All I’m saying is, just slow down. I’m sure you’re on a crazy schedule, especially with the holidays thrown into the mix. But if you take your time, you might realize there are other things right here in front of you that could change everything.” He pushed his hand through his hair. “You might be very pleasantly surprised what solutions you come up with once you get to know these people, and their talents. Talent doesn’t run out just because you get a few gray hairs on your head.”
She blanched. “Edna and Bill?”
He shrugged. “Just saying.”
“I honestly think that the very attractive packages I gave them were far more than they’ll get later. There’s no guarantee what’ll happen a year from now.”
“They were. But right now, it’s almost the holidays and you just took their jobs away.”
“But not their money. They can celebrate and relax and enjoy the whole thing.”
“Money isn’t everything. In fact, it’s the least of it. You’re a smart lady. You’ve got to know that.” He gave her a look that made her feel like a teenager being caught. She just wasn’t sure what she’d done wrong. That was the problem with smalltowns. Everyone was in everyone else’s business. She wished right now a few of them would mind their own.
She turned to see Buck walk out and Mike walk in. The two men paused for the briefest of moments. No hello. No conversation, just the tiniest pause that seemed uncomfortable.
A whoosh of cold air followed Mike inside.
