Page 15 of The Summer Dare
“Let’s just say, I originally planned to spend the summer in Boston and it didn’t work out.”
I watch her chew on her lower lip for a long minute, then she straightens her spine and looks me directly in the eye. “Girl problems?”
“God, no,” I spit out in a laugh from her unexpected bluntness. “I know I work for my family company, so I don’t have a lot of room to talk, but let’s just say nepotism isn’t always a good thing for companies.”
Her brows knit together and her lips purse. “What do you mean?”
“I went to Boston for an internship. My goal is to get into managing commercial projects on a large scale. I had this awesome opportunity to work for Don Stanford, a bigwig out in Boston, who’s taken his small company and is doing the things I would love to learn more about. I’ve studied his career and admired some of the things he’s been involved in.”
“So what happened?”
“He’s getting close to retirement and wants his son to take over the company… and let’s just say we didn’t really see eye-to-eye. His son wants to take shortcuts and some could have risked injury. When I brought it up, he used his clout of being the owner’s son as his defense for how things would be done on the project. I tried to stick it out a few weeks, but when it became obvious Don was not actually going to be teaching me anything this summer, and one of my co-workers had to file for workman’s comp from an unnecessary injury, I quit on the spot. I’m not willing to risk my name or reputation working for a clown that doesn’t know his ass from his elbow on a job site.”
“Was he hurt bad?”
“No, he only needed a few stitches. But the fact that it happened at all is what pushed me to the breaking point. We’d already worked nearly twelve hours that day and Theo was pushing for us to rush through this one section. In his haste, he left a hammer on the ladder to grab something he needed. Andy thought he was done and went to move the ladder as he’d been instructed and the hammer came off, and it missed his hardhat, but sliced his shoulder on the way down.”
“Ohmigod, that’s horrible.” She gasps.
“Yes. It was. But the worst part is instead of apologizing for leaving it up there to begin with, he ripped into Andy for moving the ladder in the first place. If this had been the first incident. I would have chalked it up to the wrong place, wrong time situation.”
Anger courses through me, remembering his response. Calming myself, I take a deep breath. “Let’s just say… Theo’s management style didn’t mesh with mine. He created an extremely hostile work environment.”
Lanie shakes her head and mutters, “No one deserves that.”
“The first time I had concerns, I tried tohandle it myself. After another week went by and things kept happening, I finally voiced my concerns to the owner. Unfortunately, he dismissed it as… ‘well, Theo’s still learning the ropes.’”
Lanie groans and rolls her eyes, but I continue. “Yeah, I couldn’t agree more. I just couldn’t in good conscience stay at a company like that.”
“It sounds like you made the right decision.”
Rubbing the back of my neck I sigh, relieving all the tension built by just discussing this subject. “I did. Though it sucks that it didn’t work out. I really wanted to expand my experience in that area.”
“I get it. But maybe it’s like that old Garth Brooks song about unanswered prayers?”
“You’re a country music fan?”
She stares out at the crashing waves as a slow smile spreads across her face. “It was Nana’s favorite. I can’t tell you how many times I’d visit and she’d have everything from Patsy Cline, Merle Haggard, and Dolly Parton to the most popular singers today, like Jason Aldean. Honestly, I’m eclectic in my music tastes.”
Now I’m curious. “Really, how so?”
“I grew up listening to country with Nana, heavy metal and classic rock with Dad, and Mom was more into top forties, though she would throw in some alternative rock and even R&B, hip hop, and artists like Eminem… so basically, if you turn a radio station to nearly any channel, I’m notorious to singing along with it.”
She’s so animated as she talks, I’m dying to know more about her. “But do you have a personal preference?”
“Nope. I’m more or less a mood listener. Growing up with three sisters we’ve always had music on in the house, and trust me, we’ve each gone through many stages. I guess if I had to choose, it would likely be pop or alternative rock. What about you?”
“Alternative rock and whatever’s popular on the radio. Living out here, we don’t always have the best reception for streaming and I hate riding in a quiet car for long distances, so I often resort to the radio.”
“Will you go to any concerts at the Seaside festival?”
“I hadn’t really thought about it. The town’s already crazy enough being summer but between the festival and that big movie being filmed, I’m not sure I want to deal with the crowds,” I admit.
“Wow, you wake up at the ass crack of dawn and you don’t like crowds. Do you also yell at people to stay off your lawn?”
This woman. “Har. Har. I’m not nearly old enough for that. I just like the quiet side of Seaside, when we can get across town in less than ten minutes, versus thirty. I take it you’re a fan of the festival?”
“Honestly, I am. I can’t wait for it. Not only will I kill it in tips, but I typically get at least one night off to enjoy the festivities. I’ve already got tickets to the book signing happening. A few of my favorite authors are coming to town. It will be amazing to meet them.”
