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“I need to make a call,” I told Austin. “My stomach’s still queasy from last night. Could you please order a small bowl of soup for me and a sparkling water with a lemon? Thanks.”
I made my way back outside to make my call to Marcia. No way did I want to go back to Nashville now. I certainly didn’t want to jeopardize my relationship with the guys by pushing a contract in their face.
I wasn’t sure she’d take the call, but there she was. “Hey, Liberty. Nice to hear from you. I don’t have much time but give me the rundown. Tell me you got them to agree.”
“Hi, Marcia. Nice to hear your voice,” I began, trying my best to sound positive.
It was a beautiful, sunny day in Sweet Whiskey, and the townsfolk were taking advantage of it. The sidewalks were crowded with shoppers, and traffic down the main street seemed busier than I’d ever seen it. I was falling in love with this colorful little town and all the people in it.
“What more do they want?” Marcia asked, her voice sharp and about as far from friendly as I’d ever heard it. She was all business this afternoon. “I’m willing to negotiate anything. I seriously think we can double their income with only a minimal amount of concerts a year. I might even be able to get them a residency deal in Vegas for six months.”
I had to admit, a residency in Vegas sounded perfect for these guys. That way, the kids would feel stable. Loraine and Lucy could even come along.
But if they took this offer, I’d have to admit I’d been playing them for my selfish goal, and I wasn’t willing to do that.
“That’s just it. I haven’t… I mean I didn’t…”
“Don’t tell me they turned you down,” she said, sounding crestfallen.
“Not exactly.”
“What does that mean?”
I sucked in a breath, then pushed forward. “I haven’t asked them. I haven’t even told them I work for you, or that The Reynolds Group is interested. The time hasn’t been right, and, well, I can’t bring myself to come clean. They think I’m just a nanny. Nothing more, and I don’t want to betray that trust.”
Silence. A long silence. I couldn’t tell if we’d gotten disconnected or what.
“Marcia? Are you there?”
“Yes. I’m weighing out what this means in the long term.”
I pushed my shoulders back and thought about what Boone had said to me. “Things have changed, and I’m not coming back to Nashville. I’m staying here.”
“Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for one of these guys? You know their reputation. They’re players, Liberty. You’re going to end up with a broken heart. Austin was the only loyal one of the bunch, but since his wife died… this isn’t a good idea.”
“They’re not like that, at least not now. They’re sweet, loyal guys, dedicated to their kids.”
“Kids? I know Austin has a kid. Who else? And where’s the moms? This sounds complicated, Liberty.”
“It’s not. It’s perfectly natural.”
“Which one stole your heart?”
No way could I tell her that I’d fallen for all three of them. Telling Tammy was one thing. Telling Marcia was something else entirely. She’d never understand, and if she didn’t sign the group, I couldn’t be sure she wouldn’t find a way to use this information against them.
“I don’t want to say.”
“Well, this is sure disappointing, Liberty.”
She sounded genuinely sad over the news. As if I’d truly disappointed her, and that was never my intention.
“I’m sorry. I understand if you fire me over this. I fucked up, and I take full responsibility for it.”
More silence, but this time I let it go for several beats.
She finally said, “I’m not going to let you go just yet. If you come through in the next few days, I’ll hire you on full time, give you a big-fat bonus, and you can stay right where you are, and I’ll make you their pub manager. I’ll give you any and all the training you ask for. Before you turn me down, at least consider it. You owe me and yourself that much. I know how excited you were about this. And let me just add, that if you don’t do any of this, I still won’t fire you, but you’ll have to come back to Nashville and work at a desk if you want a paycheck. We need someone to help Margery maintain our website. Normally, I’d say you don’t have to be in the office for that position, but with your track record, I’d prefer it if you were. Anyway, the job is yours if you want it.”
At this point, I couldn’t commit to anything, but she’d been good to me and patient. If it wasn’t for her, I never would’ve gone in and applied for the nanny position in the first place. Yes, Tammy gave me the idea, but Marcia gave me the grit I needed.
