I feel myself close up, shut down.
It’s my only defense mechanism at this point.
I turn to my computer, wake it up, and hunker down in my chair, the comforting black hole of work taking over.
“Ford, don’t get lost in your work; you’ve made so much progress.”
I glance up at Larkin. There’s a softness to her voice, encouragement, but I ignore it. I’ve had enough. I’ve had enough of everything.
“I need to take a shower, and I have a lot of work to do, Larkin. Please excuse yourself.”
Her chin rises, and as she sets her shoulders back, I feel the intimacy between us snap. And in its place, a wall of professionalism separates us. “Sure. Let me know if you need anything from me.”
I don’t answer; instead, I turn to the hundreds of emails I’ve ignored over the last few days while I was trying to “find” myself. Yeah, lot of good that did.
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
COOPER
Palmer: Where are you?
I glance at my phone as the ferry docks.
Cooper: About to get off the ferry. I’m not late.
Palmer: You’re not early. Ford isn’t here either. The store looks normal.
Cooper: What do you mean normal?
Palmer: Like nothing is pushed out of the way.
Cooper: I’ll be right there.
I set my phone down and drive off the ferry. I give the workers a quick wave and then take off toward Watchful Wanderers, which is only a minute away.
I’m in no fucking mood to be on Marina Island today, let alone dressed in a button-up and tie, but here I am, uncomfortable, pissed, and worried that I totally fucked up everything with Nora last night.
Thank you, Palmer and Ford.
The last two people I want to see.
But the two people I have to work with tonight.
I drive up to Watchful Wanderers and pull into the parking lot, parking in the far back to give room to the guests. We have an hour until the anniversary party, which should give us plenty of time to set up. At least that’s what I hope. I didn’t want to come any earlier.
I put my car in park but don’t move. Instead, I stare out the windshield and try to pump myself up for this.
It’s for our parents.
We love them.
It’s only a few hours. Put on a smile and make them happy. Then it’s over.
I grab my phone and keys and get out of the car before going to the trunk and pulling out a box of potted flowers. I’m not much of a decoration guy, but the potted flowers are a nice touch, and guests can take home the pots as souvenirs. Mom and Dad will like them.
I lock up and walk to the front door, where Palmer is waiting impatiently, arms folded.
“What took you so long?”
“Literally, it’s been a minute,” I snap at her. “Hold the door open for me.”
She opens it, and I walk inside—only to make an abrupt stop.
I take in the store I grew up in. The racks of clothing, the rows of outdoor gadgets, the oak-log walls, and the kayaks hanging from the ceiling. And not a single table, chair, or any hint of a party.
Fuck.
“What the hell?” I set the box down by the door. “I thought Ford was in charge of the store. Didn’t he say he was going to make space in here?”
“That’s what I thought,” Palmer says. “And because we shut the store down today for the party, there are no employees around to fix this.”
“Shit,” I mutter. “What about the back?”
“Full of merchandise.”
Palmer leans against the wall, arms crossed, in a sleeveless black dress. Both of us are dressed up, and she has a cast on one arm. There’s no way we’ll be able to make the kind of room we need.
“And the rental company didn’t drop off any chairs or tables. Nothing was dropped off, actually.”
“What did you order?”
“I didn’t order anything. I thought you were ordering chairs and tables.”
I shake my head. “That wasn’t my job. Maybe it was Ford’s. Where is he?”
“Beats me.” Palmer shrugs her shoulders. “He didn’t answer his phone when I called.”
I take a look at my watch and then glance at the store. “Fuck,” I mutter. “We need to make some sort of space. Think we can at least push these clothing racks to the side? We can clear that shirt table and use it for the cake.”
“There are some blankets we can unfold and put on top of the clothes so they don’t get messy.”
“It’s the best we can do,” I say as I start moving racks to the side, trying to play Tetris with the space.