Page 28 of Sugar Pie
I put the phone down. He was working and couldn’t check his phone every second, and I had bids to make for the local government.
I checked various sites and rubbed my eyes as I reread a new listing. I quickly hit Reply since the bid was almost too good to be true and it was last minute, but I filled out the form. “This sounds like a dream come true. Hopefully, they get back to me right away,” I said out loud.
I attached Warren’s general contractor license as requested, and as I finished the email, I realized I needed to be specific about his skills.
I found his references for kitchen-cabinet installs, described his installation methods, ensured the business license was in the correct format, and filled out the bid application. Once I hit Send, I rubbed my eyes then stood to make a quick lunch.
A secretary called me right away.
We spoke, and I agreed to everything. At the end of the call, I said, “We’re excited to help you install the cabinets within your thirty-day window. Please send the contract.”
I had not one but two huge pieces of news for Warren. The job I’d just secured was the ticket to his seed money. Minutes ticked by quickly. I finished my sandwich and coffee then poured myself a second cup. Time to reschedule the booked jobs.
An hour later, Warren finished his job and called me.
I jumped, as every cell in my body wanted to shout, stood, and glanced out the window to the parking lot outside. “Two huge things to talk about. First, I spoke to your brother.”
“What did Jeff say?”
For the first time in a long time, I had hope. “He signed. I didn’t want any money, and Jeff made that a selling point. And Jeff said he knew a judge who can speed it up. For the first time in my life, I’m truly free.” My heart thumped. I wished he was there and I could see him. Maybe it was better that he wasn’t. I’d been so alone for so long.
“Amazing! I’m happy for you. I’ll pick up champagne on my way home.”
“Champagne is expensive. You don’t have to.” I cupped the bottoms of my elbows and went back to grab the bid to read him the second bit of news.
“My treat,” he said quickly before we were disconnected. I wasn’t sure why tears came so quickly, and I wiped eyes.
Unlike my family, Warren listened to me and helped me whenever I needed him. I wasn’t sure if I was making the right choices, but I wanted one day to have a family like Warren’s, where anything could be possible.
13
For some reason, Jeff Norouzi filed divorce papers for a woman in Connecticut and found a judge to speed up the process. Is she pregnant with a Nourozi baby? Why the rush? I’ll find out more and let you know, but I do wonder if Warren’s been missing because he’s out ignoring marital rules and committing adultery. I wouldn’t be surprised.
Gossip and burn the rich.
Yours truly,
Regina, your gossip goddess you can’t escape from.
Warren
“Are you alone?” she asked.
My eyes widened. “One minute.” I paid the cashier for my water and headed back to my truck.
I placed the bottles next to me then started the engine. “I’m alone.”
“Before you drive anywhere, I want you to check the job I just sent you. I think you need to jump on this one.” She had a higher voice than normal, and goose bumps grew on my arms as she spoke.
I stayed in the parking lot and opened my email. She had attached a contract. I opened the file and stopped at the amount listed. My heart sped. “Twenty-five thousand.”
She laughed. “It will take you three weeks.”
My pulse still zipped, but I pulled out onto the road to head home. “You’re a marvel.”
“No one has ever said that to me.”
For a moment, I pictured her dancing in the living room. She would be divorced soon, and we would both make a decent profit on that job. Luckily, home was close. “How did you do this?” I pulled into the lot and parked.
