AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Why don’t you boys give me your wet clothes? I’ll do a load of laundry,” Coral offers.
“You really don’t need to be doing chores for us.”
“It’s no bother. Plus, I know you both only have so many clothes here.”
She’s right there. We never anticipated having to stay here for multiple days.
“I honestly wouldn’t mind washing my own…” she admits.
“Uh…I have a sweatshirt and pants you can wear in the meantime.” The last thing I want to do is make her uncomfortable in my house. I don’t want that for her, and I’d also feel like I was disrespecting Seamus in the process. In contrast, I look up to the old Irish guy. He’s the only man I’ve ever met who can drink me under the table.
“That would be great. Thanks.”
I go into the room I’ve been sleeping in and get them out of my duffel.
“Here you go.” She walks into the bathroom to change.
“It was really nice of you to help Mr. Dale like that,” she says, after reemerging in my ratty sweats.
“It’s truly the least we can do—you know, since we’re trying to buy his land and all of that.”
“I suppose.”
“Wow. This is the first time you haven’t tried to talk me out of it.”
She shrugs. “I’m honestly just tired of fighting you, Dean.”
“Talk about words I never thought I’d hear.”
“Well, there it is.”
“Are you actually going to help me with the deal, Coral?”
“As your assistant, I think I kind of have to.”
I can hardly believe my ears. She’s never given in to me like that—or backed down from a fight in general. I reason that this time away from her husband and children must really be eating at her.
Coral and I continue chit-chatting as she loads the clothes into the washer, and it isn’t long before I spot Mae outside. She is clutching the hood of her raincoat close to her chin, and she’s carrying food over to the barn.
“Are you going to go help her, too?” Coral asks.
“Trust me. She doesn’t want me around right now.”
“You are both just being so stubborn.”
“I thought you were sick of being involved?”
“I meant that I was tired of fighting with you over Cornel Condominiums.”
“Well, how do you foresee us moving forward with a relationship if I quite literally take their home from under them?”
“I don’t know. But I’m still rooting for the two of you.”
“…you know…”
“Oh, no. I hate when you get that devious look on your face.”
“Mae did just break down in my truck about the money issues she’s having,” I explain to Coral.
