Page 40 of Four Dates and A Forever
“Then how did you guys make it work for so long?”
“I did. I made it work. I made sure that when he was home things were perfect, easy. All he had to do was show up. In the end even that was too much.” She hopped up next to him. “What’s it like from your perspective?”
“When I’m on the road all I can think about is home and when I’m home all I can think about is the road. Or at least that’s how it used to be.”
“How is it now?”
“I’m home and I can’t even imagine going back on the road.” Even talking about it made his chest squeeze uncomfortably. Caused anxiety to build in his lungs. “At least not until I figure out whatever this thing is that’s holding me here.”
Something deep down, that he refused to recognize, hinted that what was holding him here was looking at him now through those mossy green eyes.
“I hope you figure it out. I really do.”
“I hope I do too.”
Chapter Ten
Dating Tips from Elsie Dodd
Beware of dates who sneak
up on you.
“It’s even better than I imagined,” Faye said, looking around the party. They were sitting on the back porch of Claire’s house, which had been turned into a butcher shop freezer, complete with dry ice and animated zombies hanging from meat hooks. “It’s stunning.”
“I don’t know if stunning’s the right word, but thanks,” Elsie said, a bubble of pride warming her chest. It wasn’t often that her mom doled out compliments. She was more of a Motivational Guide kind of mom.
“When I asked Claire to bring in a decorator with a limited track record, she had her concerns, but, as always, my instincts were spot on.”
“YouaskedClaire to hire me?” Elsie was going to kill her mother.
“You needed work, she needed a worker bee, I merely made the suggestion. It was as simple as that.” Faye raised her champagne flute and toasted herself before taking a sip. “And now you are one step closer to establishing your own business.”
“As a glorified party planner?”
“Well, whatever one does it should always be glorified.”
Glorified was how Faye lived her life. She oozed confidence and sophistication and had this charisma that became more potent with age. While her clients fed off that, Elsie always considered her like a fine wine. Amazing in sips but if you drink the entire bottle you’re asking for a migraine.
“You made it sound like she was desperate for a designer.”
Desperation was something Elsie was feeling at the moment. The party was winding down and she had yet to meet Susan, the magazine editor. She didn’t even know if Susan had left the party. Elsie mentioned it in passing to Claire, who assured her the introductions would be made, but as far as Elsie could tell, Claire had her attention on her guests. Which was how it should be. But Elsie really wanted to at least get some face time with the editor.
She was both anticipating and dreading the possibility. The anticipation came from the chance that one of the top experts in her field might see her work. The dread was because in order for the editor to see her work, she’d be putting Rhett out. He was a private man and she didn’t want to be another person using him for his name, which was why it was critical that no one knew the proprietor.
“Desperation can be a wonderful motivator. From necessity comes invention. You needed a win and now it’s up to you to take the opportunity to reinvent.”
Elsie was mid eye roll when Faye’s last words settled. She’d returned home to Portland to recapture the pieces of herself she’d lost over the course of her marriage, but maybe that was part of the problem. Maybe instead of recapturing she needed to reinvent.
“What do you mean by reinvent?” Elsie asked, and Faye’s expression was one of surprise. “What?”
“You’ve never asked me for advice before.”
“Sure I have.” When her mom shook her head, Elsie rattled off a list as proof. “I asked you about how we should handle Grandma getting older or what to get Axel for Christmas or how short I should cut my bangs.”
“While your longer bangs really frame your face, I’m talking about the important stuff.” Faye set her flute down on the table. “People come to me for career and life advice, and I’m really good at what I do.”
“I know, Mom.” Faye wasn’t just good. She was renowned. There was an extensive wait list of people begging to become clients.
