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“I swear.”
“Good luck this week,” Ruthie said, taking Clover by the arms. “Let me know what you decide about the nursery. I’d hate to lose my job here, but I’d also love to be friends with a millionaire, so whatever you choose, I’m on your side.”
“Soon as I know, you’ll know. Be safe.”
“If I have to.” Ruthie grabbed her jacket just as her father stuck his head through the office door.
“Hey, girls.”
“Sexist,” Ruthie said. “Try again.”
“Hello, ladies?”
“Elitist.” Ruthie pulled her jacket on and zipped it up. “One more try.”
Erick dropped his chin to his chest, and Clover covered her mouth to stifle a laugh.
“Greetings, my fellow Americans,” Erick said, his eyes rolled heavenward as if praying for patience.
“Better.” Ruthie nodded her approval. “But only because we are Americans. You can’t assume that about everyone.”
“Are you ready to go, Ruthless? Please say yes.”
“Ready,” she said. “Just let me refill my water bottle real quick.”
She walked out of the office with her water bottle in hand, a normal errand but for the little wink she gave Clover as she walked past.
“How are you, Erick?” Clover asked, hoping that question didn’t sound as awkward to his ears as it did to hers. Now that Ruthie had planted the idea in Clover’s head of asking Erick out, she was having trouble making eye contact with him. And that was too bad. She really liked his eyes.
“I’m good. Ready for a few days off this week. You?”
“I hate days off,” she said, sitting on top of her desk. “I’m about to get too many of them for my taste now that we’re closed for the winter.”
“Will you be climbing the walls by Tuesday?”
“No, but check on me again in late January when I’ve run out of busywork,” Clover said. “Takes me a couple months to remember how to be lazy.”
“It wouldn’t take me nearly that long. But hey, thanks for giving Ruthie the whole week off. I know you could use the help cleaning up and locking things down.”
“It’s fine. She needs to see her mom and everything we have to do can wait until Ruthie gets back. I won’t be in much this week, anyway. Gets too lonely around here when she’s gone.”
“Tell me about it. I’ll be going nuts this week, too. Clean bathroom? No dishes in the sink? No bras hanging off the shower door? God, why doesn’t my kid leave more often?”
“You know you’ll miss me,” Ruthie said from the doorway.
“I do?”
“You do,” she said, punching him in the arm. “Come on, I’m ready as I’ll ever be.”
“You got everything?” Erick asked as he raised his hand to tick items off on his fingers. “Meds. Phone. Charger. Your homework. Sunscreen.”
“A Taser, a laser, a can of mace, an actual mace, a hunting knife, yes, yes, yes. I have everything I need for a week in LA. Let’s go, Pops, we’re going to be late.”
“Bye, dear,” Clover said. “Have fun or whatever it is that you do that’s like having fun.”
“Thanks, Clo. I left Sven’s number on your desk.”
“Sven?” Erick repeated as he grabbed Ruthie by her jacket collar and led her from the office. “Who’s Sven?”
