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Bodie wanted Cape Daddy to be his home, and the thought that the other patrons of the Little Diner might think that him and Nigel were friends was too much to bear.
‘W-w-w-what do you want?’ Bodie said, keeping his voice low and his eyes down.
‘What do I want?’ Nigel said, leaning back in the seat and looking around the diner with pure disdain on his face. ‘Ha! Well allow me to explain.’
Nigel went on to say that he wasn’t happy with Bodie’s move out of the city, that he felt like he couldn’t be trusted to work from home. He even used the fact that Bodie was in the diner as evidence of that…
‘But I was working!’ Bodie said, a tear forming in his eye as he struggled to stay composed. ‘Don’t be horrible! You’re just doing this because we broke up!’
‘Shut up! Long story short is that you’re not moving here. Not unless you want to find yourself out of a job,’ Nigel said. ‘I’ve checked with corporate and I am actually able to do this if I feel an employee is not suitable to work from home. Which, in my all-important opinion, a stupid Little like you isnot. See you around very soon…’
Bodie broke down in tears. But rather than show even a trace of sympathy, Nigel simply stood up and walked out of the diner cackling.
Bodie didn’t know what to do. He knew that Nigel was well connected with the high-level corporate bosses at work. Nigel wouldn’t lie about being able to do this either. No, this was planned out. A spiteful move designed to upset him.
Bodie felt like his world was caving in. He loved his job – and he also knew that if he quit, Nigel would make sure he bad-mouthed him all across the major companies in the industry.
What am I going to do?
I can’t lose this job, I just can’t.
I might have to leave Cape Daddy.
I might just have to break my own heart.
Chapter 8
The meeting with the Cape Daddy council was going exactly as these things always went. Taylor was being patient, showing his best side, and holding his tongue as the various council members rambled on and on about their own personal concerns.
I’d rather be anywhere than here right now.
I want to be with my Little, damn it.
I want to be the best Daddy I can be…
But Taylor being Taylor, and with the Modene family name behind him, he felt it was his duty to allow everyone their fair shot at airing their grievances.
Some members of the council were in favor of a big new media campaign to raise Cape Daddy’s profile in order to attract outside investment. This had its advantages, Taylor could see that.
Other council members were wary and skeptical of the idea, fearing that too much outside investment could see the townlose what made it so wonderful. Taylor could also very much empathize with this side of the coin.
Cape Daddy’s history was all about family and community. The businesses were all based on local people providing a service, and service with a smile too. Taylor loved this – and so did everyone else, locals and visitors alike.
But Taylor also knew that they had to keep on striving to bring money into the economy as without it, there was a danger that some of the smaller businesses might struggle in the future. It was a conundrum, but one that Taylor thought he might just know how to solve.
‘If you would allow me a moment,’ Taylor said, standing up from his chair and taking a moment to look around the room. It was a typical council room, all mahogany furnishings and portraits on the walls of various notable figures from Cape Daddy’s history.
Of course, there were plenty of Modene family members up on the walls too, from Taylor’s great grandfather to his various uncles, and then his mother as well.
‘Yes, Taylor?’ Mr. Dupree said. ‘What’s your take on this?’
‘I think outside investmentcanbe a good thing,’ Taylor said, making sure to maintain eye contact with as many of the councilors as he could. ‘But I think the most important thing to consider is how we keep Cape Daddy as the town we all know and love. That’s vital. I believe we can do both, Itrulydo. It’s just a matter of figuring out precisely how we do it. And I might just have an idea on that.’
‘Yes? Do go on, Taylor,’ Mr. Dupree replied, his large bifocals perched on his nose, as was his style.
Just as Taylor was about to explain further, he looked down and saw his cell phone vibrate on the desk. Immediately Taylor saw that it was Bodie messaging him. The first line of the message was alarming to say the least…
Daddy, I don’t know what to do! It’s urgent!
