Page 71 of The Clause in Christmas
The private office space wasn’t small, either. Luke had more than enough room for his expansive desk, two leather club chairs, and an entire wall of bookcases and filing cabinets. But his favorite feature of the room was a window seat that overlooked the courtyard. Luke would sit there for hours reading or doing his homework after school. Just thinking about selling the space left an emptiness in the pit of his stomach.
“Hey! Anybody home?” Jack’s loud bellow interrupted Luke’s thoughts.
Striding back into the reception area, Luke asked, “Did we have an appointment today?”
“Do we ever?” Jack laughed, heading straight for the cookie jar.
“Good point. Remind me to talk to my secretary about that.”
“Ha!” Jack stuffed an entire gingersnap into his mouth, mumbling, “If you ever get one. The closest you’ve got is Dolores. Where is she, by the way? I kind of miss getting the evil eye from Banjo when I visit.”
Luke chuckled. “She’s at another one of Harriet Parker’s knitting circles. Apparently, they’re trying to make a hundred blankets for the homeless shelter by Christmas. What brings you by?”
Snatching another cookie, Jack strolled into Luke’s office, draping himself across one of the club chairs. “Legally speaking, how much trouble would I be in if I decidednotto sell my barbecue sauce to that fancy new restaurant in Primrose Valley?”
“Not much.” Luke pulled Jack’s file from the top drawer of the cabinet. “I added a clause in your contract that gives you ninety days to rescind.”
Jack snapped his fingers. “Andthat’swhy I hire the best!”
“I’ll be sure to send you my fee,” Luke teased.
“You mean, all the ribs you can eat?”
“Exactly.” Luke grinned before sinking into his chair with a sigh. “I hate to say it, but I’m going to miss this.”
“Miss what?” Jack asked, devouring the second cookie.
“Bartering legal fees for barbecue.” Luke rubbed the kink in his neck, avoiding Jack’s gaze. “I’m thinking about a change in careers.” As the words lingered in the silence, Luke stole a glance in Jack’s direction.
Even Jack’s week-old beard couldn’t hide the huge grin on his face.
“What?” Luke asked. “Why are you grinning like that? I didn’t think you’d consider this good news.”
“Hey, as much as I appreciate the legal advice, I’ve been dying for my own Adirondack chairs. And now you’ll have the time to make them. I assume you’re going into the furniture business full-time.”
Luke gaped at his friend, completely incredulous. “How’d you know?”
“You know, for a lawyer, you’re not very smart,” Jack teased. “It doesn’t take a genius to figure out you’re as nuts about woodworking as you are about Cassie. Well,almost.”
“Clearly it doesn’t take a genius ifyoufigured it out,” Luke lobbed back, and both men shared a laugh.
Sobering quickly, Luke asked, “You don’t think it’s a crazy idea?”
“Maybe a little.” Jack shrugged. “But so are vegan hamburgers. And I get several requests a week for those things. Crazy doesn’t necessarily mean bad.”
Luke flashed a bemused smile, ready to ask if Jack was really considering a change in his menu.
“But seriously,” Jack continued. “If you tear down a few of these walls, you’d have a great studio right here.”
Startled, Luke straightened. Keeping the office and turning it into a studio to showcase his work had never crossed his mind. “You know what? That might actually be a good idea, Gardner.”
“I occasionally have those.”
“Occasionallybeing the operative word.”
“Hey! I’m full of great ideas!” Jack protested. “It was my idea for you to go out with Cassie.”
“Technically, it was Dolores’s idea.” Luke leaned back in his chair with a satisfied smirk.
