Page 144 of Every Good Thing
“Thanks, I’ll think about it.” My anxiety upticks again, especially when Ben announces that he should go. I finish the cinnamon rolls and secure the lid on the pink box.
With a deep breath, I hand it over and smile through my growing anxiety. “I’m sure you’ll find something you love, Ben.”
His broad shoulders shrug lightly. “A job’s a job, but thanks. Let’s research wedding venues tonight. I have some ideas.”
A weak nod suffices as my answer. He gives me a soft kiss and a smile, “Love you. See you later.”
“Love you, too.”
The door clicks shut. Ruthie rushes to her room to finish getting ready for preschool. Jaye closes her laptop and steps aside for a phone call.
Cherry and Dot stare at me like I’m naked, and they’re stalkers outside my window, in full ogle. “What?”
“A job’s a job?” Dot repeats Ben’s words. “Eesh. That’s depressing.”
“Right?” Cherry scoffs. “He got more excited about hosting weddings.”
“Yeah, like me when I get a new project,” Dot says, “or fix something better than the other guys.”
“Or when I get creative tingles seeing a space for the first time,” Cherry says. “It makes me giddy.”
Dot laughs. “Who knew Ben could almost sound giddy about something?”
Their eyes fall on mine expectantly, and lightbulbs flicker on in my head.
I race for the door. Ben’s Jeep leaves his space beside my truck. I take the spiral staircase two steps at a time, nearly tripping. Spilling out at the bottom, I topple into Elsie Todd with her clipboard and dart around the set crew, moving gear into the barn. He’s already on the driveway next to the main house when I dash across the lawn in my stupid rubber boots that aren’t getting me there fast enough.
A simple text could’ve prevented my frenzied chase. But that’s the thing about frenzied chases—it’s hard to think of anything else but what the universe demands. Still, I feel my pockets for my phone. It’s not there, of course, but on the kitchen island, where it served as my baking timer. I take the alley between the main house and the driveway, gaining on him.
Then, I pivot right and jump in front of the Jeep. It jolts as Ben slams on the brakes. Hands against the grill, I lean over, catching my breath and watching dust clouds flitter from his tires.
“What’s wrong?” Ben asks, getting out.
“Sorry,” I pant. “Don’t go.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t want you to take a job just to have a job,” I admit. “We said no holding back, and I’ve been holding back.”
“Um, okay. But why?”
“You loved being a cop. I don’t want you to settle for anything less than a new dream, Ben, and I don’t think you’ll find that in HR or security.”
“My dream is to support my family the best I can,” he counters.
“Then, I have a better offer.” I take a breath, nerves rising. “Manage Saddletree.”
His brow furrows.
“Hear me out. I know you said you couldn’t work for me—I get it. Chaos. Dog park. Whatever. Saddletree was a mess. But that’s not true anymore. By implementing all the strategies that you suggested, Saddletree will reopen with more efficiency, more help, and higher profits. If you’d give it a chance, I believe you’d enjoy managing what you started. I don’t want you to work for me, Ben. I want you running Saddletree.”
A tiny smile appears, encouraging me to continue.
“I want to be in the kitchen, experimenting with recipes and mentoring Tessa, or out in the dining room, talking to people without worrying about falling behind schedule. I want to do more special orders and vet treats and expand that side of the business because that’s what I’m good at. With you in charge—and I mean it, you’d be in charge—we could both focus on what we love. People and baking for me. Management and groups and, hell, weddings if you want, for you. What better way to support your family than to turn Saddletree into a true family business?”
Over Ben’s shoulder, moving shadows catch my attention. Dot, Cherry, Ruthie, and Jaye stand at the sidelines of the driveway, holding coffee mugs like they’re watching a parade. Ben doesn’t notice their arrival, thank goodness. I don’t want him to feel any more pressure. His green eyes fixate on mine in deep contemplation.
Though his lingering silence unnerves me, I say nothing more but give him the space he needs to think. Ben doesn’t make snap decisions.
