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“Precisely.”
She chuckles. “You’ve always been great at herding cats. Thank you again. This means a lot.”
“You’re very welcome, Senator.”
She gives a look of hope mixed with nervous apprehension, as if she’s about to climb a very tall mountain. “Still a long way to go before we get to that,” she says.
“Well, you have my vote.”
Fiona smiles. “How’s your mother?” she asks.
I swallow. “She’s good,” I answer.
“Well, if you two ever need anything...”
“I know who to call,” I finish with a nod.
She gives my shoulder a quick squeeze before heading into the ballroom.
I grab my clipboard and wander over to the front desk of the lobby to update my to-do list.
Call the caterer? Check!
Nudge Gloria in the kitchen about the cake? Check!
Hang the banner? Check check!
The door to the office hallway opens behind the desk. I instinctively tense as the building manager steps out, but I relax again when I see her bright red hair and big eyes.
There’s a new manager in town.
“Hi, Marla,” I greet.
Marla Botsford, née Gorchinsky, looks up from her own endless list of things to do and smiles. “Hey, Paige.” She plops her elbows on the counter to rest. “How goes it?”
“It goes well.” I smirk. “Not just married a rockstar well, but still well.”
She melts before me and ogles the giant rock on her ring finger. “Don’t remind me or else I won’t get anything done at all today.”
“You’re living the dream, girl.” I point my pen at her. “Just don’t distract Jonah for another hour. I need him to place chairs.”
Marla straightens up. “Got it. I won’t let you down.”
“Thank you.”
“Anything I can help with?”
I glance over my list. “Nope. Just run the building and look pretty.”
She grins. “I think I can handle that. On the outside, anyway. Inside, I’m eternally screaming without the Oli-shaped safety net.”
“They wouldn’t have promoted you to take his place if you weren’t perfect for the job, Mar.”
“I know. I know. It’s just... a lot. You know?”
“Well, I’ve got a gang of Botsford boys ready to be coerced into rolling up their sleeves and helping if you need it.”
She glances toward the ballroom and melts again.
