Page 76 of Definitely (Maybe) Dating
“Asshole.”
“Lucky Asshole,” Clay corrected.
Josh, who’d been listening to nothing except his brain churning on how to correct his screwup, said, “I’ll fix this.”
The door burst open and there stood Margo. “Yes, you will.”
All five men stood. Josh glared at Owen. “Is there a vending machine in the lobby with everyone’s house keys in it?
“Nope, just yours,” Owen said. “I might have made a few copies when you were on that business trip and asked me to watch your plants.”
“You made copies for everyone?” he whispered.
“You asked me to watch plants, Bro.” Owen shrugged. “Seemed the right thing to do.”
Margo slammed the door and narrowed her eyes. Right. In. On. Josh. “I just got off the phone with Kitty. Is it true you’re helping her with the auction?”
And the night just kept getting better. “The mayor asked for my help.”
“So, it’s true.” Margo chided, hand over her heaving chest. “My own family and blood, helping the enemy.”
“I’m not helping the enemy. I’m helping the event.”
“Bullshit!” Owen coughed into his hand.
“That I had to hear from Kitty Caldwell . . .” Margo shook her head.
Josh walked over and kissed his mom on the cheek. Then, shoving Owen aside, he set her on the couch. “I was kind of unwillingly drafted into the position. The mayor was there, and it all just kind of happened—” He stopped himself. “I should have told you.”
“Yes. You should have.”
He could go on about how stretched thin he was, how the mayor’s endorsement seemed to come with more strings than a traveling marionette company, and that Josh was drowning in responsibility. But the truth was, family should always come first. He owed it to his mom to come clean.
“I’m sorry. When Kitty asked me, I should have come to you first. While a part of the reason I offered to help with your committee was guilt, the other part is because I love you and wanted this to be a success.”
“Didn’t you wonder why Kitty was onboard with merging events?” Margo asked. “Because she knew that if it went off without a hitch, she’d get the credit. If it fails, she’ll redirect the blame onto me.”
“Then it’s a good thing it’s working out,” Josh said, and Clay waved his hand across his neck in the universal sigh ofzip it.
“Is it? My son approached the board, my son pushed for this idea, my son made a promise that it would be amazing. Now suddenly, my son’s idea is coming into question.” Margo breathed deep through her nose and out through her teeth. “I’m head of the oversight committee. Which brings me to this.”
Margo smacked the day’s issue of the Portland Tribune against his chest. “First you help Kitty behind my back. Now’s she’s out to set me up and secure her position for next year.”
“Kitty might be a lot of things, but she’s not going to sabotage her own event to prove a point.” The same event the mayor was supposed to publicly make his allegiance clear.
“Always looking for the best in people.” Margo patted his hand, then smacked the paper against his chest again. “Read.”
Josh took the paper, unfolded it, and looked down at the headline and the six photos that followed. “Biggest turnout in Bid for the Cause history. With sold out seats and the largest collections of rare pieces, Kitty Caldwell and the Ladies of Portland are estimated to raise groundbreaking numbers to help with this year’s cause, People Against Purebreds, a non-profit that supports local animal—”
Margo flapped her regal hand impatiently. “Kitty’s getting all the credit, and thanks to my sons, she’s auctioning off items from A-list celebrities, fifty-yard line seats, and a host of other things donated by the . . . how did they put it? Oh yes, the Men of Easton.”
“Mom.” Rhett squirmed in his seat. “I was just trying to help. I know how much this cause means to you and—”
“Keep reading.”
He continued. “A self portrait of the mayor’s—”
“Cheap self-promotion. For God’s sake, get to the important part. Here.” Margo jabbed her finger at the bottom of the page with so much force she nearly punched a hole right through it. “Margo Easton, the founder of Bid for the Cause, has extended her generosity to Urban Soul, an after school art program for local teens, that will be holding an exclusive charity showcase.”
