Page 72 of A Heartfelt Christmas Promise
“Thank you. I might have to take you up on that.”
“I’d love it,” Vanessa said. “You know what else I loved. I went to the football game last week. Your team is good.”
“They always are. I love the football games too. I was there that night.” She nibbled on another sandwich quietly. “I got asked to the winter dance this year.”
“Really? Is it your first formal dance?”
“It is.”
“You must be so excited.”
“I’m not sure. I ordered a dress, but it hasn’t come in yet, and I’m worried how my dad is going to act when my date shows up. Dad has always said I couldn’t date until I was thirty. He’s kind of protective. In a good way, though.”
Vanessa laughed. “Misty, every father says that. Don’t worry. You’ll survive it. I did, and my dad scared my first date so bad the poor guy could barely speak for the first hour we were at the dance. I was mortified.”
“Oh my gosh.”
“I still remember it like yesterday. His name was Brad. But it turned out fine. I think most dads act that way. Must be in their DNA or something. Don’t worry, you’re going to have a great time. Tell me all about your dress.”
“I don’t know how to describe it. It’s kind of a deep blue color. Dark, but bright at the same time.”
“A jewel tone.”
“I guess.” She shrugged. “It’s kind of simple, but it looked pretty online.”
The rest of the night was mostly talking about the food.Who liked what best, until they both tossed their napkins on their plates and admitted defeat.
“I can’t eat one more bite,” Misty said.
“Me either. This was such a treat.”
The waitress came over and with a playful tinge in her voice said, “What, you can’t finish?”
“No way. Thank you for suggesting this. We’ve really enjoyed it.”
Misty nodded her head the whole time Vanessa spoke. “It was fabulous.”
Vanessa handed the waitress her corporate card.
Misty placed her hands on the edge of the table. “Tonight was better than I’d even hoped. You made my whole year.”
Vanessa loved her enthusiasm. “I tell you what. If we can implement those changes together in a super quick time frame, we will come back to celebrate that too.”
Misty sat back in her chair. “Really. You’re taking me… my ideas… seriously under consideration?”
“I am. They are sound, and well thought out. If you have data to back them, we’d be crazy not to put them into action. It’s all the work I’d have had to do to make a plan, only you have the benefit of having worked in the environment. We’re going to sit down Monday with your plan and documents. We’ll tighten them up, and get down to work.”
“Oh my gosh. I can barely breathe right now.” Misty fanned her face. “I’ve dreamed of this, but I never thought it would happen.”
“I promise you this. Whether we’d ever met, you are going to do great things. Don’t ever doubt that.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE
Sunday morning, Vanessa woke up before the sun came up, beating Anna to the kitchen to make coffee. She sipped a cup of coffee thinking about the parade this evening. Her first impression of Mike had been good. He was handsome and nice. If they’d met anywhere else, when she wasn’t shutting down a company, maybe things would’ve played out differently for them.
Staring into the fireplace, she argued with herself. The odds of meeting Mike, or anyone, somewhere other than a jobsite were slim to none. She never did anything but work. The problem was she didn’t know how to rearrange her priorities and balance out her life.
Work was what kept her going. Anytime she slowed down she couldn’t stop thinking about the work she should be doing.
