AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Her mom beamed. It warmed Jamie to see her happy, especiallyafter a dark year threaded with grief. “Terrier therapy. It’s all the rage in Washington Square Park.”
They shook their heads, laughed, and watched the dogs on the other side of the fence frolic, run, and zoom in the waning sunlight. It really was the best kind of afternoon.
Jamie dropped her head back and turned to the side, meeting her mother’s brown-eyed gaze. “I don’t say it enough, but I love you, Mom.”
“You say it a lot, but I love to hear it.” She touched Jamie’s cheek on the far side and kissed the one closest to her. “I love you, too, sweet Jamie. I’m very lucky you’re my daughter.” A pause. “And that you give me free coffee. And wine on Wednesday.”
“That’s true. You have it good, lady.” She folded her arms and watched a Corgi splash around gleefully in the doggy water fountain. It had been an afternoon of taking stock, celebrating the joys she had in her world, and maybe thinking about what she wanted for herself moving forward. If she let things with Monique drop, she’d be on her own again and facing a possible franchise deal with a man who wore flip-flops to business meetings and wondered why she didn’t automatically trust him. She sipped the last of her iced latte as the sun made its way lower in the sky. “Life is certainly interesting, isn’t it?”
Her mom touched their cups. “And stays that way. I was born in Saudi Arabia and married a white boy from Long Island. Now I’m a widow dreaming of a new dog with my grown daughter, who spoils me.” She lifted her shoulders and smiled, showing the many lines around her eyes. “It’s up to us to find a way to enjoy the roller coaster, Jamie. Even the scary parts.”
“Well, when you put it that way. Maybe I should buy more tickets.”
Her mother beamed. “That’s my girl.”
* * *
“Becca, I know you have a couple more certificates you can toss in. We’re using the three-night stays in the silent auction, but do you think you could connect us with a seven-night stay in a two-bedroom unit for the live auction? It would be tons of flash for The Jade and Elite Resorts.”
Becca sighed in dramatic fashion. “You’re gonna owe me one for this, Lay. It’s a reach for me.”
“But I’m drinking so much of your wife’s wine.”
“Oh, you just played the right card.”
“I thought you’d like that. Also happens to be the truth.”
Leighton smiled and sat back in her desk chair. She missed her old college buddy and knew she could count on her for a pretty pricey donation from the wine country resort she managed in Oregon. It just took a little finessing. “The next time I see your face, I’m going to kiss your cheek and stroke your hair like a sweet little puppy.”
“You’ll have to explain to Joey why you’re petting me.”
Leighton paused, imagining the conversation with Becca’s wife, who was one of the more fun and effervescent people she’d spent time with. “I feel like she’d support it.”
Becca laughed, her voice rich and clear. “You got me there. Just know that I’m hooking you up, but I’m the godfather now. I’m tenting my hands. You just can’t see them.”
“The best looking godfather ever.”
“Oh, you flatterer. It’s why we get along.”
“Well aware, Crawford.”
“Take care, Morrow.”
They said good-bye, and Leighton tossed a fist in the air. She luxuriated in a good victory and had her friend to thank this time. She wrote down her newest donation to report to the committee later that day. They’d agreed to meet weekly, which Leighton secretly appreciated. The three meetings they’d had so far had given her the chance to naturalize things between her and Jamie in an innocuous environment. No need to talk about their past. A few group pleasantries, then on to the task at hand. Those busy planning sessions where no one was paying attention to anything except the work offered her the chance to steal glances across the conference table. She’d take in the way Jamie held the back of her pen to her cheek when considering a concept and then use it to gesture when it was her turn to speak. Leighton also very much appreciated the way Jamie took in what everyone in the room had to say, turned it over in her mind, and came back with a thoughtful, and often game-changing, answer. She had a unique view of the world, more of a boots-on-the-ground outlook that was immensely helpful. Though she was gregarious and warm in her café, she was the quietrock star of their little charity team. It made sense. Jamie interacted with a variety of people all day long, spotting habits and trends—and put that knowledge to use when figuring out how to get humans to cough up cash.
“I like your idea of having a success story featured onstage rather than just a video presentation,” Leighton said as they strolled from inside the building into the moonlight-kissed evening air. She always left these meetings lighter, more energized. “It shows the donors exactly what their money can do right in front of them. Not just a faraway idea in a produced package.”
“Good,” Jamie said with relief. “I hoped it wasn’t too bold of me to suggest we sidestep the video presentation.” She stepped closer to keep their conversation just between them. “Because Toni seemed to have her heart set on a video testimonial and wanted to put the whole thing together herself.”
Leighton shrugged. “I think even she had to agree on this one. We can still showcase the organization in a montage. She can flex her muscles all over the project.”
“Right. That’s true. And good catch about the order of events. I’m glad you saw the catering issue. We need to allow time for the servers to clear at some point.”
“I have a cousin who plans events meticulously, and it rubbed off.”
“The Carrington daughter, right?”
“She’s just Courtney to me and brings the best snacks to twelve-year-old sleepovers.”
