Page 171 of Sing with Me

“Why?”

“Because I want you to be happy in your career. There’s nothing more time-consuming and body-wasting than to be stuck in a career you loathe. If a restaurant business is not for you, then you need to move on and find something you like to do—if you have enough funding to allow you to do that.”

“If I sell my shares, I will have my savings back—although the parable of the buried talents comes to mind, where the servant digs a hole and buries his money and has zero investment profits to speak of.”

“You’re telling me that you emptied your savings to buy our your brother’s shares of Saffron?”

Skye wondered how much she should tell him. “Let’s just say that I sold my house—with my gourmet kitchen—and I used up my savings, but Seb sold me his shares at half price because I can’t mess with my chef operating fund.”

“Well, at least you didn’t borrow money.”

“No. But I won’t ever do this again. I went into business with people who are not on the same page as I am—my belief that the restaurant should operate debt-free, for example. That sort of difference can cause problems. Not only that, one of my business partners is in London and couldn’t care less, and the other business partner is breathing down my neck.”

“Figuratively, right?” Diehl asked.

Skye shrugged. “He wouldn’t dare touch me. My brother will beat him up with a rolling pin.”

Diehl laughed, but he sounded nervous. “I’ve known Jared since high school. Please be careful with this guy.”

“Okay. Don’t worry. I told you my brother is with me.”

“After the festival, when you return to St. Simon’s, your brother won’t be there. I’m not there either. I wish I could be there for you.”

“God is with me, you know?”

“Right.” Diehl drew a deep breath. “I didn’t mean that He isn’t.”

“I’m not afraid of Jared,” Skye said. “In fact, I feel sorry for the poor man.”

“He’s anything but poor, but I get what you’re saying.”

“He’s just lonely, I think.”

“That could be a bad moment. Don’t help him. Don’t think about him too much.” Diehl’s voice lowered. “I will pray that he will find a path away from you.”

“What if he needs Jesus?”

“Then someone else can witness to him.”

“You?” Skye asked.

“You want me to witness to Jared?”

“At least talk to him about Jesus,” Skye said. “If the Lord leads you to share Christ with him, he might be more willing to listen to an old friend. Besides, he would notice the transformation in you from lost to saved.”

“I’ll pray about it,” Diehl said. “Meanwhile, stay away from him.”

“Hard to do if he’s my business partner.”

“Well, I don’t like it.”

Skye tilted her head. “Are you jealous, Diehl?”

Chapter Forty-Six

Jealous? Diehl buried his face in his palm, embarrassed at how he had handled the last question Skye asked him tonight.

Are you jealous, Diehl?

---