Page 15 of Finding Ash
“Let’s fill out the paperwork really quick, then we can head out.” The boys followed me back to the office. “Sorry, it’s a bit tight but here are the forms.”
Remy picked up the picture frame on my desk. “Who is this handsome man?”
“That’s my husband, Sammy.”
“Is he back home?” Ash asked, peeking over at the photo.
“No, he passed away a little over a year ago.”
“I’m so sorry,” Ash said. “How long were you together?”
“Twenty-five wonderfully frustrating, exciting years, and I don’t regret a single one of them.” Sammy would get a kick out of these two and the way they jumped in. He was one of thosejust give it to me and I’ll do ittype of people.
“My dad died a few years ago. My mom was really sad for a while then one day she was happy again,” Remy said as he sat the frame back in place. “I’m sorry for your loss, death sucks.”
“Yes,” I snickered at his word choice. “Death does suck.”
“We both used the address for Pints,” Remy handed me his application. “Right now, my company rented four of their RVs for me and some of the other programmers who are relocating with the company to Foggy. Ash lives with his brother and Nate on the property as well.”
“Makes complete sense. I mostly just need your phone numbers, let me give you mine.” I rattled it off while they added me to their phone contacts, then they both fired off a text to me. It was so much simpler that way than entering it in off their applications. “Thank you for offering to be on call, Remy, I really appreciate that. Ash, is full-time employment at forty hours a week okay for you?” He nodded. “I have no issues with you having to help out at your brother’s business either, and I’ll make sure they know that too.”
“Thank you, they’ll appreciate that.”
I was happy to see they were both of legal age, though for the life of me I couldn’t figure out why that mattered. It wasn’t like we served alcohol here.
We. While this wasn’t a relationshipwe, it was enough that the business now operated as aweteam. What an enlightening, fulfilling day this had been.
“Alright, I’m sure we worked up a huge appetite. Let’s eat.”
Full stomach, successful day, surely I’d sleep like a lamb tonight.
Chapter Seven
Ash
“Did you miss me?” Kit teased me as we walked through the door at Pints.
“You wish.” I rolled my eyes. “McClain wanted to take us to dinner for helping out and he picked Pints.” To be honest, I was good with anywhere in town to eat. No one place was better than the other, though putting money back into my brother’s and Nate’s business was alwaysa good idea.
I grabbed three menus and silverware from behind the bar and led us over to an empty booth. The bar was about half full, which was still a good crowd for a Monday night. The locals’ ice cream sugar highs probably wore off and now their stomachs craved real food.
Some of the early summer visitors rolled into town this morning too. Kit and Nate often talked of how the next three months financially carried the town as a whole through the winter ones. We’d all be tired by the time September rolled around, but it’ll be worth it in the end. Who knows, maybe by then I’ll have saved enough money to get a place of my own.
My first time living solo. Both exciting and oddly scary.
McClain took the seat across from Remy and glanced at the menu. “What’s good here?”
“Everything,” Remy said, “the burgers are the best I’ve ever had.”
“That is quite a compliment. I’ll take your word for it and give one a try.” McClain smiled and set his menu aside. “So, tell me your stories. How did you land in Foggy?”
“Remy, you go first. I’ll take our orders to the kitchen and be right back.” While I knew Remy’s story, I still wanted to hurry back and be a part of their conversation. Today it felt good to give back and help out. Making a new friend, and getting a full-time job for that matter, werealways good things. Plus, spending time with McClain and Remy was exciting and fun.
“Not much more to tell than what I shared earlier,” Remy started as I walked away.
Kit headed me off in the hallway outside the kitchen and followed me in. “A new job, huh?”
“Yeah,” I clipped the order to the spinner for the cooks. “McClain said anytime you need me at Pints it’s a non-issue.” I really hoped this deal and McClain weren’t too good to be true. But we were raised to believe the best in everyone until they showed us otherwise.
