Page 99 of Happy Harbor
“Trust me, it gives me no pleasure in saying it. Either way, I have to save my company. I’m willing to let bygones be bygones if you are.”
“And what makes you think I would want to come back? Maybe I’m happy where I am now.”
Sandra chuckled under her breath. “I doubt that. You’re a big city girl. You like business. You like the stress and the rush. There’s no way you’re happy in some tiny little town running a restaurant.”
“You sure think you know a lot about my life now.”
“I did my research. A friend of mine has a house for rent. I can get it for you starting at the beginning of next month. You and Kendra will be happy there. I’ll even help with the cost of moving your things back here.”
Josie really hadn’t moved anything at all. It was sitting in storage, thanks to Melody helping her after she first went to Happy Harbor.
So many things were running through her head. This was her chance to get back into her field and not be stuck in her hometown forever. But it was her hometown who had come together to save the restaurant just days ago.
And then there was Walker. She had big feelings for him, and things were just getting started. But just as she had counseled her daughter, it wasn’t advisable for a woman to make decisions based on the possibility of a relationship with a man.
How much easier it would be to just get a regular paycheck again, plus a raise. Running the restaurant was stressful, and she felt the immense weight of responsibility on her shoulders.
Then again, what would her grandmother think? How much guilt would Josie feel if she sold everything her grandmother had worked so hard to build?
And what about Kendra? Even though she was likely going to graduate early and go to community college, could she leave her daughter in Happy Harbor while she moved back to Atlanta for her big career opportunity?
There were way too many things swirling around in her mind to make an immediate decision.
“This is all very sudden.”
Sandra nodded. “Look, I know this is a shock to you. I’m sure you never thought you had another opportunity to work in my company, but I need you. I will swallow my pride and say that I am desperate to get you back.”
“This has to be about what I want, not you.”
“I understand. Why don’t you take a couple of days to think about it and then we can meet again?”
“I’m leaving in the morning.”
“Oh, Josie, do you have to? I was hoping you could come into the office and see some of the changes we’ve made. Maybe just give me some of your input, even if you don’t decide to come back.”
“I have to get back. I have a restaurant to run.”
“If you’ll stay a couple of days, I’ll pay for your hotel and all of your meals. I’ll even give you a gift card for the gas to get back home.” Sandra’s desperation wasn’t an attractive look.
“Fine. I’ll stay for one extra day. But that’s it. Then I’m heading back to Happy Harbor.”
“Can you be at the office tomorrow morning around nine?”
Josie didn’t like early mornings. “I’ll be there at ten.”
Sandra nodded her head, stood up, and drank the last sip of her coffee. “Thank you. You will not regret this.”
“I haven’t agreed to anything. You need to remember that.”
Sandra smiled. “The Josie I know is definitely going to want to come back to work. That person is still inside of this softer version you seem to have created. I know who you really are. You need to rememberthat.”
As Sandra turned and walked out of the coffee shop, Josie wondered which version of herself was real. Was she still the same bitter, sarcastic, harsh workaholic? Or was she the softer version, as Sandra had called her?
CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO
Josie was so happy to get back to her hotel room. It wasn’t much, but it was quiet and a good place to think. She was going to call Walker after she had something to eat. She had already texted with her daughter several times—Kendra wasn’t much for talking on the phone. Teenagers were all about texting.
She lifted the top of the silver tray that room service had brought up. It was very fancy for someone who was just going to be eating a hamburger and a bag of chips. She took the first bite, a pickle falling out of her sandwich and slapping onto the plate below. Never had she been so happy to eat something after a day of finger sandwiches.
