Page 19 of The Estate
Silence greeted her proclamation. Rachel blinked repeatedly and then realized her mouth had fallen open during Lottie’s toast. Snapping it shut, she shared a look with the equally confused Lisa.
She was about to ask any one of the number of questions flying through her brain. But Lisa shrugged and raised her own glass. “Cheers!”
They both looked at Rachel, so she threw her hands up and reached for her own glass. “Cheers!” They clinked glasses and took a sip.
Lisa pounced. “Connecticut wilderness, Lottie? Really? I don’t think Connecticut has a wilderness.”
“I’m sure we could find some,” Lottie fired back. “But fine. Wilderness, large body of water, abandoned mine shaft.”
“A mine shaft,” Lisa responded. “Where the hell are we going to find a mine shaft?”
Rachel dropped her head into her hands. Damn if she didn’t feel lighter for talking about Jess. And now the pair were cracking her up. She was blessed to have people like this in her life.
“You’re so picky,” Lottie huffed. “A mine shaft is a perfectly acceptable… Oh wait. Not an abandoned mine shaft. An abandoned vineyard! Yes! That’s a winner right there. All spooky but sophisticated.”
Rachel didn’t resist the laughter that bubbled up. With these two keeping her feet on the ground and her heart soaring, this project would be a piece of cake.
“I swear, you have got to stop listening to those true crime podcasts while you sew,” Lisa muttered.
Chapter Seven
Did you Say Peanut Butter?
Rachel’s bed looked like the Mount Everest of twisted color and cotton. After her fourth outfit change, she made herself stop. What she had on was fine. She’d paired a nice pair of black pants with a gray and white patterned T-shirt and a lightweight white blazer. Casual and comfortable, but still professional.
Today was her first meeting with Cal at White Hall Estate. Checking her watch, she was relieved to find her fashion freakout hadn’t cost her too much time. She’d promised herself a coffee from Pie, since her commute took her right through Jennings Township. A sort of special treat to psych herself up for the meeting.
Grabbing her purse and keys, she locked up her condo and headed out. As she got on the road, she mentally walked through her agenda for today. In the few days since the initial meeting, she’d been digging more into the business operations of the estate, and also into the three scenarios Jay and Celeste outlined. She’d pulled together industry statistics and comparable businesses and models.
So far, Seth had only hovered a little, and she tried not to feel pressured by his scrutiny. Although the need to bring home a win on this project was as essential to her as breathing.
Noticing her death grip on the steering wheel, she drew a calming breath and exhaled it slowly. She turned on the radio todistract herself, but random thoughts kept zipping through her mind.
She needed to get access to all the estate’s financial information today. Seth wanted to determine whether there were any obvious cost-cutting measures they could implement. He liked the idea of a quick improvement to impress the Fitzgeralds. It assuredly wouldn’t impress a certain Fitzgerald she could name.
Fortunately, she was approaching the Jennings Township downtown area, home to the Pie in the Sky bakery. The heart of the town consisted of a rotary surrounding a town common, complete with a smattering of trees and a few meandering walkways that snaked through the green. The spoke and wheel design allowed for strips of store fronts to dot the entire circumference.
Rachel hoped she could find street parking and not have to park in a lot. Typically, she wouldn’t mind the walk especially when she could enjoy such a beautiful September morning, but even contemplating being late made her breath hitch. Luck was with her when she managed to grab a spot not too far away.
Walking up, she noticed the line was just inside the door, so she’d have a wait. But Mrs. S always had a few people working the counter, and the line usually moved quickly. As she entered, she inhaled and almost moaned out loud as all the amazing scents hit her brain. The cinnamon and chocolate hit her first, her stomach grumbling in response. She was in trouble.
As she stood in line, she peered at the pastry cases that showcased all the things she shouldn’t get. Even reminding herself she was just here for coffee didn’t stop her from looking toward the case in the right corner. She couldn’t get a clear view, but in the top row sat a confection that looked suspiciouslysimilar to the peanut butter fluff blondie Lisa had given her. Her mouth watered just remembering that heavenly tasting confection, and her stressed out brain yelled ‘must have!’.
Pulling her gaze away, she scanned the list of specialty coffees and decided that while not the same, the peanut butter latte on the menu would be the special treat for the day. When it was her turn, she put in her coffee order, and then clamped her mouth shut, cutting off her brain still crying out for the blondie.
Luckily, Mrs. S. sailed out of the back room with a tray of donuts, distracting Rachel. As the older woman put the tray down and started restocking the pastry case, she smiled and asked, “Rachel, right?”
“Yes,” she smiled, pleased Mrs. S remembered her. “It’s lovely to see you again.”
“You as well, dear. To what do I owe the honor? I didn’t think you lived around here.”
“Well, I’m only about twenty minutes away. But you’re right, my commute is ordinarily in the opposite direction. I have a new project starting at White Hall Estate and Pie in the Sky is right on the way. I couldn’t be this close and not stop.”
“Well, that’s great news. I hope I’ll see you more then. White Hall Estate? Is that the wedding venue down on the shoreline?”
“It is.”
The cashier came over with her to-go cup. As Rachel reached for it, she could smell the peanut butter. If it smelled that divine with the lid on, she couldn’t imagine what it would taste like.
