Page 128 of Here & There

I look her in the eye, brushing hair from her cheek. “We don’t have to decide all the things now,” I say. “But just know, you could never be my assistant.”

“What? Why not?”

“Because you’re the kind of person who comes up with the big ideas, Shelby. You’re a leader. An innovator. A gorgeous, perfect, brilliant woman. If anything, I should be your assistant.”

Shelby laughs then. Long and hard. “You couldn’t take direction from a drill sergeant.”

I chuckle, my chest vibrating. “That’s not true.”

She sighs, leaning into me. “You know, it’s okay that I don’t have the relationship I always wanted with my mom. Definitely not my dad. And it’s okay if I never find Shelby Fox, either. I’m beginning to think she doesn’t exist. Maybe Mom will tell me where she really is one day. Or at least what really happened between them. But it doesn’t matter.” She strokes my face, her palm warm on my cheek as she looks in my eyes. “You and Nate, you’re my people now.”

My heart grows so big it feels like it’s going to explode right out of my chest.

“And I do always say, a business is all about its people…” Shelby frowns, then her expression shifts.

I love watching the way her thoughts run right across her face. I love her face. I love everything about her, right down to her elbow jabbing into my gut as she twists sideways to face me.

“Mac, I’ve got it!” Shelby exclaims, her face lit up like a Christmas tree. “It’s the people!”

“What?” I’m deeply confused, but her excitement is still contagious.

A container thuds into place outside, making the truck shake. “The missing piece, for R2D2. It’s the people, Mac. Not the town, not the menu. Not the patio or the design, though those are all part of it. It’s thepeople.”

I still don’t quite understand what she’s talking about, but I say, “Do you want to go home now, Shelby?”

She jumps off my lap, which sucks for me, but I’m too happy for her to mind. “Then let’s go home.”

Chapter 31

Shelby

As it turns out, we weren’t able to go home right away, since the ferries stop running at a certain time—rude. But it gave me time to stay up half the night brainstorming how my new idea would work. Really, it was ridiculous that I didn’t come up with this sooner. I always say people are what we live for—the people we love, the people we observe, the people we come across once and never see again who still manage to make an indelible mark on our souls.

I finally crawl into bed at four in the morning. Mac immediately envelops me in his arms, and I fall asleep feeling pretty close to elated.

When we get back to town, I immediately get to work. I’m on the phone and emailing all my vendors, pulling in every favor I can to get this idea off the ground before Oysterfest. Mac says he doesn’t mind if it isn’t done in time for the festival, but I tell him I never break my promises.

“We agreed on Oysterfest that day. R2D2 will be completed by Oysterfest.”

Plus I love a serious challenge, and unlike people like Deanie, I thrive on insane deadlines.

Thinking about Deanie makes me so glad I decided to shift things over to her, especially since I’ll now be leaving the company I built altogether. The thought of that still makes my chest ache, but I don’t have time to stop and think about that right now. I’m too busy.

The centerpiece of my plan is the most challenging. But I know I need to tackle it right away. If I can’t get who I want on board, then this whole thing sort of falls apart.

That’s why I wake up at the crack of dawn the first full morning we’re back. Nate and Tink are still staying at Cal’s—that’s another hurdle we’ll jump once Nate’s home. I know Mac’s nervous about telling his son about us, but he’s decidedly less so now that I’ve committed to staying.

But with Mac passed out in my little shed—we slept there last night out of habit and because it felt better without talking to Nate first somehow—I don’t need to be quiet.

I make two breakfast sandwiches to go—a recipe I demanded Mac give me because they’re so freaking delicious. Turns out the secret is truffle mayo. Then I pour two coffees to go and head down to the beach.

Stu is there, but it looks like I caught him just as he’s setting up, which is perfect.

His eyes track me when I approach, but when I stop beside him, he grumbles out loud. “What do you want?”

Oh boy.

I give Stu my most winning smile. We haven’t talked much since that day he helped Nate get me help when I arrived. But I say a cheery hello every time I pass him, which is every morning and every night and every time in between, since he’s always out here painting.

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