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“You’re right dad. I know. I just have to make some time. That’s all.”
After we finish dinner, we all head out together. We say our goodbyes in the parking lot when I notice Rachel following me to my car.
“Do you need ride?” I ask.
“No you idiot. You’re parked right next to me.”
I look over and see her SUV parked next to me. I’m not sure how I missed it when I pulled in. It’s red and has a bumper sticker that reads “Honk if a kid falls out.” My sister’s sense of humor is unique.
“I miss our sibling banter Rach,” I say rolling my eyes.
“I know. I can tell Mr. Serious.”
I shrug my shoulders. “That seems uncalled for,” I say.
She laughs. “Jared c’mon. You’re all rigid and stuff. I get you have a lot on your plate with the business and this new project, but you have got to loosen up a little. Just sitting next to you I could see your jaw clenching. When’s the last time you did anything fun?”
I stop for a second and lean my head back. “Rach, work is fun.”
Rachel crosses her arms and gives me a stern look. “Jared. Work is work. You can like your work. But you have got to get out more. Talk to people. Talk to somewomen.”
I sigh. “Okay. I get it. I’m in my late thirties and I’m not married so I’m a failure,” I say surprising myself and Rachel. I look over and see her eyes getting glassy.
“Jared you are hardly a failure. And be glad mom didn’t hear you say that. You are a super successful guy. You are a great package for any woman. We just want to see you have something you enjoy other than work. You know?”
I nod. “I do. I promise I’ll make more of an effort.”
Rachel leans in to give me a hug. “Talk to you later okay? And seriously, stop by sometime. It’s not like we live that far.”
“I will. Tell everyone hi at home,” I say as I open my car door.
I pull out of the parking lot and head across town. My thoughts veer to the expansion project. I’m not really sure why I pushed for Lacey to be on it, and if I’m honest it was a bit impulsive of me. I know she has the ability to handle it and with David’s support I’m sure she’ll do really well. There’s something about her that is making me root for her. I want her to succeed. I sigh as a pull to stop at the redlight. Instead of going straight to head home, I decide to cross the bridge and take a left onto Main Street. The bright pinkBaked and Sugaredsign stands ahead of me and I pull into a spot on the street. It’s still early and I didn’t have dessert at the restaurant. A deluxe peanut butter cookie sounds delicious right now.
Chapter nine
Lacey
After Beth and I finish our quick dinner, we begin to clean the counters and get a count of needed items for tomorrow. Today was busy and we sold out of a few things before I got here, and with only a few more hours until we close, I suspect we will have a few hungry late night sweet-toothed customers. Something about cookies and brownies after dinner seems to lure people in. Just as I am writing down the brownie count, I see Shane enter through the door. His blond hair and oversized glasses make him hard to miss. I can hear Beth singing in the back doing some dishes, so I pop my head through the door.
“Hey. Beth! I need you to focus,” I say loudly at the same time giving her a stare like something really important is about to happen.
Beth puts down the muffin pan she’s about to wash and takes off her dish washing gloves. “What? Is everything okay?”
“Yes, just come out front please,” I whisper.
I go back to the counter to properly greet Shane. “Hey Shane. Nice to see you. I’m guessing a brownie or an Oreo bar tonight?” I ask hoping he wants one of those as everything else is almost empty now.
“Hi Lacey. You read my mind. I can’t get that brownie out of my head,” Shane says laughing softly.
“I know. It’s all that French chocolate. It has that affect on people.”
I grab a brownie for Shane and place it in a paper bag. Beth comes through the back door and meets me at the counter taking a glance at Shane before she looks at me. Her eyes tell me good news already. She has the look of“where did this good-looking guy come from?”written all over her face.
I nod at her. “Beth, I’d like you to meet Shane. He’s the COO at Whitmore Tech, and apparently a brownie lover.”
Shane guffaws. “That’s an understatement. I’m a proud chocoholic and I admit I might have a problem.”
I watch as Shane reaches over the counter to shake Beth’s hand. Beth reaches out with eagerness, and I can tell she is going all in. Beth isn’t shy when it comes to introducing herself to men. She has always willfully engaged in conversations even with men she wasn’t too impressed with, but right now her body language is telling me she is already interested. Shane is nerdy handsome and the exact type of guy I can see Beth with long term. I gesture to Beth to go around to the front of the counter. Within seconds I hear them talking and Beth is already laughing. It’s a genuine laugh and I can’t help but feel some excitement for her. I go in the back to give them a little privacy and finish the dishes Beth started. I’m just about done when I hear the front door chime. I dry my hands and walk out front only to see Mr. Whitmore standing, assessing the situation. I swallow hard wiping my hands on my apron.
