AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Looks like you’ve got a lot done already.” Derek tapped pages of notes scattered over the table, including a site map of the football field and a list of tasks.
“Yeah.” Kylie blushed.
It was self-deprecating, and he tried not to notice how cute it was on her round cheekbones. “This is something I enjoy doing, so I may have gotten a bit carried away.”
“Kylie, I’m sorry.” He had to get this part over with. “I was in the wrong last night. I was a jerk.”
“Yes. You were.” Her face was still.
“And you still showed up today to help me.”
“I did.”
“I wouldn’t have blamed you if you hadn’t.”
She sighed. “I could’ve handled myself better as well. But I’m a professional, and I promised to help. So, I’m here. Let’s just call it done with, okay?”
“Deal.” He breathed a little easier. “Show me what you have so far.”
“Okay, well the first thing I did was call the high school to see if the football field was available for the Saturday two weeks from now. I managed to get Adam on the phone at the Phys Ed department so he’s logging the event as city-run, and we don’t have to pay for it. We’ll have the field from Friday night to Sunday at noon for set up and take down.” She flipped through the notes laid in front of her.
“I’ve booked two local bands. There’s a band at the high school, and Adam says they’re pretty good. Then I asked around the Legion, and there’s a group of men at the retirement home who play blue grass. I think I met one of them already.
“Steve said he’ll run a barbeque for food sales. Port-a-potties have been reserved. I’ve also got a face painter booked, but I’m still hoping to round up some carnival games or a pony ride. Oh! I could ask Audrey to run pony rides. Perfect!” Kylie stopped talking only long enough to type the thought into her laptop. “I was thinking a cotton candy cart too or something.”
When it appeared she had reached the end of her current plan, Derek finally cut in. “How much is this all going to cost? I mean it sounds awesome, but our budget is non-existent. We’re not a big city outfit.”
“Yes. I understand that.” She took a deep breath. “We have to rent a generator and the port-a-potties. The high school has a temporary bandstand and sound equipment we can rent for half the normal cost. The bands are playing for free, but if we could give them something that would really be best.
“Steve’s assuming what people pay for his food will cover his costs, same as the face painter. I’m sure Audrey could do that too; it would even be good advertising for her riding lessons. The carnival games, I’m not sure of. I’ll have to think about it.”
“It still sounds expensive.”
Kylie’s big city party planning was not going to work on a smalltown budget.
“I have an idea for that too. Just give me time. No money is due yet except the port-a-potty deposit, which I had to put as a hold on my credit card.” She sat up straighter.
Derek rubbed his forehead. “What exactly was your job in Toronto?” It must have been something glamourous like event planning or working in a swanky hotel.
“I was the social media coordinator at the children’s hospital.” The happy expression in her eyes dimmed, and she picked at a fingernail.
“What does that even mean?” It came out rude. “I mean, well, I’m not super savvy about social media.”
“I ran the Twitter and Instagram feeds and Facebook page for the hospital. I posted things about facility upgrades, meet-the-staff type stuff, fundraisers, public health reminders, and special events.”
“Wow.” He sat back in his chair. “That sounds pretty cool.”
“It was. I really loved it. It was fun, and it felt like I was making a difference, interacting with the public and people at the hospital.”
“Why’d you leave?” he asked then immediately regretted it as Kylie’s face closed off even more, and she stared at her hands.
“It wasn’t by choice,” was all she said.
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.” She bit her bottom lip. “At least now you have me here to help with your clandestine operation.”
Just like that, the tight smile was back, and Derek mirrored it. At least they weren’t fighting. Maybe he’d been wrong when he pictured her in a power suit living in her high-rise. Working at a children’s hospital meshed much more with Kylie from high school who’d worked at summer camps with him and tutored younger kids.
