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She had to remind herself that he was outgoing and sociable. More than she’d ever been.
“You ready to start decorating?” Sarah asked her. “I heard you go all out for Christmas. Or Caden said you used to as a kid.”
She looked at Cal, but he wasn’t even paying attention. He was talking with Cooper about something.
“It’s the only holiday I’ve decorated for in years. Not all out or anything. My last place was tiny. I’ve got more room where I am and plan on getting stuff out soon.”
“Tomorrow,” Caden said. “I know you. I remember you were decorating your room as a kid before Mom started.”
“Not quite tomorrow,” she said and then changed the subject. She knew there was no way Cal would decorate and she’d have to figure out how to get through the next month without upsetting him or stepping on toes.
When dinner was done, Harris moved over to talk to Cal. She’d always been in awe of him, being a professional athlete, former pitcher with the Mets, but she’d gotten used to it now. He was just her brother’s brother-in-law at this point.
One who had a massive baseball clinic, along with other indoor sports being used out of his facility.
“I was going to talk to you at the picnic,” Harris said to Cal, “but I hadn’t gotten everything finalized yet. I was working it out and now it’s ready to go. Or will be the first of the year.” Harris waved his hand. “We’ve got two things starting new. One, kids birthday parties. I want to partner with someone for cakes and pizza. No reason to do it in house, but I want someone I can trust too. Whitney has filled me in on some of the businesses that you own. I hadn’t known about the bakery.”
It still amazed her how the six degrees of separation in Paradise Place worked with everyone.
Whitney Butler-Bridges was kind of like Cal in terms of knowing so many people and who did what.
“That sounds great,” Cal said. “We can definitely work with that easily enough. Both places are open seven days a week. I’m assuming the parties will be on the weekends?”
“And Friday night,” Harris said. “Keeping it simple. The other big thing is indoor softball leagues for adults that will be flowing outdoors in the nice weather. That took more work with existing leagues to get them moved. They actually approached me for the use of my field. The problem there is most are going to want to drink or want alcohol and I don’t have a liquor license. For obvious reasons when everything I’ve done is with kids. I thought I could pick your brain.”
“You can,” he said. “Anytime. I’m also finalizing a partnership with a brewer in Clifton Park.”
“Interesting,” Harris said. “Let me give you my number. We need to talk more.”
Mia watched as Harris and Cal exchanged numbers and then lifted her eyebrow at him. “I can see the wheels turning in your head. I know a good lawyer if you need to draw up contracts.”
“You’ll be the first to know,” he said.
Once dessert was cleaned up, she and Cal took their leave with everyone else. There were only two bottles of wine left. She’d been shocked so much had been consumed, but she’d had three glasses herself throughout the day and was feeling pretty good.
“You really do have the Midas touch,” she said when they got back to his place.
“What does that mean?” he asked.
“Only you can go to a family holiday dinner and come out with potential business.”
“He came to me,” he said. “And nothing is finalized.”
“Please,” she said, waving her hand. “You’ve got a reputation and people know it. Harris, he’s a good guy. He’d want to keep it with someone he knows or can trust.”
“I’m sure we can work something out. I’m not one for mixing work and personal relations. I’ll make it clear to him.”
“You two aren’t related,” she said.
“No. But we share relations. In a way.”
“I suppose you’re right, all things considered.”
It’s not like she and Cal were married or anything. But if they were, Harris would be Cal’s sister-in-law’s brother. So yeah...kind of.
She had no idea why her mind was even going down a road like that though.
No, that was wrong.
