His girlfriend stood a few feet away, but her eyes were on me.
“Hi, I thought that was you. Is that Gracie Reynolds? She’s getting so big,” he said, waving at her. I looked over to see Finn and Gracie both frowning at Carl and a loud laugh escaped.
“Yeah, she’s in kindergarten now.”
“And she’s definitely not a fan of mine. I guess she likes you with her uncle, huh?”
“I think she does, yeah,” I said, and my gaze kept moving over to Finn and Gracie. They were laughing now, and Finn dropped her hot chocolate cup into the trash can and scooped her up, settling her on his hip. I’d always loved how much he loved his family.
“She knows a good thing when she sees it,” Carl said, pulling my attention back to him. It was a sweet thing to say. But my gaze kept wandering back to Finn and Gracie, watching her head fall back in laughter as he tickled her cheek with his scruff.
“Thank you,” I said. “So, we’re good for Monday?”
“Yeah, I’m looking forward to getting started. I can’t wait to see your new office space, too. That’s exciting.”
“It is,” I said. “I just ran into my old neighbors, the Johnsons, and they said they are looking to do a remodel on their home, so I may have just landed another client.”
“Wow. Look at you go. I’m proud of you.”
It was all I’d wanted to hear for the longest time, but I was too distracted to get lost in the moment because Gracie was shouting something to me, and Finn was trying to get her to stop yelling for me.
“Listen, we’re going on a hayride, and I don’t want to make her wait any longer. I need to get going,” I said.
“Yeah, of course. I’ll see you on Monday.” He reached for my hand and squeezed it. He was trying.
This was what I’d wanted.
But I couldn’t get back to Finn and Gracie quickly enough.
I gently pulled my hand away and smiled. “I’ll see you then.”
I was tempted to look back to see if he was watching me, but for whatever reason, my gaze was locked on Finn and Gracie, who were waving at me and laughing.
I had no desire to look back.
And that was unexpected.
thirteen
Finn
I glanced down at my phone after I slipped on my boots. The family group chat was blowing up this morning.
Georgia
Big day today, Finny. Are you and Reese excited about the interview?
Hugh
You’re going to kill it. Glad you’ll have Reese with you. It’s about time you tell your side of the story.
Brinkley
Agreed. Just act natural. Forget that the whole world will be reading this.
Wow. That’s helpful, Brinks. Thanks.
Cage
Sorry, I’m trying to text, but fucking Maxine followed me into my office, and she’s trying to climb me like a tree right now.
Hugh
Maxine Brooks? The librarian? Isn’t she, like, eighty years old?
Brinkley
Maxine Brooks banned me from the library in high school because I put caution tape over a section of books that I felt were sexist to women.
Georgia
I think Maxine Brooks left town with her lover. I heard the guy was, like, forty years younger than her. She’s a cougar.
Cage
For fuck’s sake. Maxine Brooks did not move away. I just saw her at Cottonwood Café with her boyfriend, who happens to be older than dirt. The dude is pushing ninety. Check your facts, people. I’m talking about Maxine Langley. Martha and Joe’s pig who has a weird obsession with me.
Ahhh… Didn’t that pig try to mount you a few months ago when you made a house call?
Hugh
Beggars can’t be choosers, brother.
Brinkley
Agreed. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
Cage
<middle finger emoji>
Georgia
I love Maxine Langley. They brought her to The Tipsy Tea last time I was there with Gracie, and they were buying her a tutu.
Cage
Yeah. She’s wearing some sort of fucking skirt. They dropped her off here for a few hours because Martha claims I’m the only person Maxine will tolerate. Apparently, I’m a fucking babysitter?
Don’t you offer to board animals at the clinic?
Cage
Maxine doesn’t like being put in closed quarters. She thinks she’s fucking human. So now this is my headache. When we put her in a crate, she squealed like someone was cutting off a fucking limb. So now she’s just walking free in my office while her parents are off doing God knows what, and I’m trying to run a business here.
Georgia