Page 57 of It Started With a Scarf

"No, I don't. Sorry. What's up?" I had a fanny pack hanging on my shoulder and across my body, and the walkie was fastened to the strap. I took it off, noticing that she was right about the battery. "Yeah, the light's off. And my phone's charging in Dom's office. Sorry. What's up?"

She started walking with me, so I figured she was fine with heading toward the basketball courts. "Mr. Thornton, who comes in the mornings, do you know him?"

"Allan with the hair?" I asked.

"Yes. He was… he heard your podcast, and his wife has that upscale clothing line, and she wanted to ask you about making replicas of the scarf."

"Whoa, really?"

"Yeah, she's here now. She's working out in the women's gym, and she asked if you wouldn't mind going to talk to her."

"Yeah, sure," I said.

She shook her head at me and smiled. "You're blowing up," she said. "This lady isn't the first person who's asked me about you today. There was a message from another customer wanting to tell you the story of how she and her husband met… something about a lost shoe. Anyway, I wrote it down. That's all going to be in an email this afternoon."

"Thanks so much, Blake."

"Marley, I listened to you on that podcast!" Ricky Bell said, cutting in as he walked past us. He was in his 60's—a real estate expert. Jolly was the word I would use to describe him. He was round and rosy-cheeked, always wearing a smile.

"You did?" I asked him smiling back at him. "What'd you think?"

"I can't believe you wore that Notre Dame shirt on your first date!"

"I didn't know it was a date, Mister Ricky!" I said, laughing. "And I didn't know about his school!"

"I know. I was just shaking my head and laughing thinking about Dom seeing you walk in with that sweatshirt."

"I know!" I called. "It was horrible!"

He had kept his forward momentum, knowing that we were having a conversation in passing, and I looked at Blake afterward.

"This whole gym has listened to that show," she said. "I need to break down and listen. My sister had her baby last week, so I've gone to Chicago three times. So, do you know who Allan Thornton's wife is? She's got on a purple outfit today."

"I know her," I said, nodding.

Just then Blake's walkie talkie went off.

"Yeah, boss?" she asked, knowing it was Dominic.

"Hey, if you lay your eyes on Marley, can you tell her to come see me for a second in my office?"

"She's here with me now. She can hear you."

"Hey, my love, come see me for a second. I have some stuff to run past you with your schedule."

I smiled at the sound of his voice. "Yeah, I'll come by real quick before I do this other thing Blake was telling me about."

"Okay. I'll see you in a second."

I smiled at Blake. "Thanks for getting me the message," I said. "I'll put new batteries in my walkie and pick up my phone while I'm in the office."

"Thanks, Marley. Tell Dominic I'm heading home. I'm about to turn off this walkie and get out of here for the day. I was just coming to find you before I left."

"Okay, thanks, Blake. I'll see you tomorrow."

I reached for a hug, and Blake returned it. I walked at a brisk pace and only held quick conversations on my way to the offices. Excitement grew in my body as I made my way to the end of the hallway where I saw Dominic's door. It was vague of him to say that he wanted to 'check my schedule', and I had the gut-tingling feeling that he just wanted to catch up. I gave a couple of knocks on his door with the backside of my knuckle.

"Come in!" I heard him say.

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