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I smile brightly, dropping my gaze to the table.
“Thanks, Rex. I….” I search for the right words. How do I express my thanks, while at the same time discouraging anyone else from asking me about my dead mom? “I think she’s at peace.”
Lucy changes the subject, for which I am forever grateful. “Sav, I haven’t seen you in so long! What have you been up to? Are you still working at the bridal shop?”
God, I am really put on the spot. I feel like these two very successful, very handsome men are staring at me, waiting expectantly for me to answer. It’s difficult to maintain my bright, upbeat expression.
As my mother always said, girls ‘should be brighter than sunshine and cleaner than honey’. It’s important to keep things light and upbeat so that people will look forward to talking to me again. So I put some extra effort into my attitude before I speak.
“I work a few hours a week there. But I’m on the hunt for something better, with more hours. I need to earn enough money to move out of my grandfather’s house.”
“Oh!” Lucy lights up. “Cole, weren’t you just saying that your last assistant quit? Maybe you can use someone like Sav. She’s got serious people skills.”
Cole scowls at her. “I don’t need any help.”
“Oh!” I gawp at the people around me. “That’s so nice, but I couldn’t possibly impose. Really.”
“You aren’t imposing.” Lucy gives me a stern look. “The last time I saw you, you told me you were scrimping and saving to move out of your grandfather’s house. This would help you while you help Cole. And by help, I mean keep him from chewing out people that he’s supposed to be nice to. It’s a win-win situation as far as I can see.”
She’s right, I am trying to move out. Since I finished college a year ago, I’ve been staying at my grandfather's house, the house I grew up in. And ever since my mother’s funeral, Grandad has been muttering about reverse mortgages and moving to senior living.
But right here, right now, with Cole and Rex staring me down? Yeah, not the ideal time to talk about my lack of funds.
“I’m saving enough money,” I defend myself. “It just requires patience.”
Cole grunts and Rex elbows him in the ribs.
“Yes, but you could work for my brother and save more. How much would you need?” Lucy starts, then stops. “Like ten thousand dollars?”
I gape at her, unable to speak. What in the heck would I do with that much money? I’m still stuck at a thousand dollars, and struggling to earn the next thousand.
Cole looks at Lucy quizzically. “Seriously?”
“You could pay Sav that much,” Lucy says, emphatically. “Especially if she manages to keep you from biting everyone’s heads off.”
“You could stand to be more personable,” Rex admonishes. He grins and leans forward. “That’s actually a great idea. This project is going to be huge. You’ll need at least one person, maybe more. And using someone local, that knows the Cape and the surrounding areas, will be essential.”
“Are you really not going to tell me what the project is?” Cole wheedles.
Rex makes a face. “No. And I don’t want to hear any griping about me being secretive. You told me last month that three of your all-star clients left you. So I know you have the time and energy for my project.”
“You’re being an asshole.” Cole scoots out of the booth and reaches into his pocket for his wallet before dropping a hundred-dollar bill on the table. “I’m going back to my kid.”
He has a kid? I tuck that fact away and force myself to focus.
“Good. Tomorrow morning is a better time to visit the site anyway,” Rex responds, smirking. “You and Savannah.”
Cole looks at me sharply.
“I don’t really think–.”
Rex stands up suddenly, fixing Cole with a hard stare. “Just show up tomorrow and listen. I’ll text you the address in the morning.” He pokes his finger into Cole’s chest. “Don’t come without Savannah. You’ll have more success on this project if you have her to make nice with the locals.”
He shoulders Cole aside and stalks out of the restaurant.
Pearl watches as Cole follows him. She turns to us, her brows raised.
“Is everything okay?”
