Page 68 of Just for Tonight

Something about the spirit of kindness is infectious in a way. I was planning to just drop her off, then go to the greenhouse to meet Mike, but now I have a better idea. “Tell you what. Let’s go for lunch to celebrate. Think they can fit us in at The Carpe Diem Café without a reservation?”

“I hope so,” she huffs. “I’ve spent a fortune at that place already.”

I grin and take the turn toward downtown Empire.

“But wait,” Candace says. “I’m buying you lunch, with my new credit card.”

“Remember he said the tap wouldn’t work today. You’ll have to punch in your PIN.”

“Oh, I remember that.” She laughs and I can see why some men are fascinated by Candace. When she turns on the charm – and I don’t know how deliberate a choice that is – it’s easy to feel special, and honored to be in her presence. I’m not my father or Mr. Innes, but I have a new understanding of her ability to stir some chivalrous impulse to life, no matter how hard it’s sleeping.

God knows, mine’s nearly dead and she’s revived it.

I’ll give her cash after lunch to cover it, so she’s not using her very small amount of credit on me. A month can feel like a long time, and I want her to succeed at this.

It’s not just because she’ll be my responsibility forever otherwise.

It’s just kind.

After a good lunch, I’ll head to the greenhouses and another strategy meeting with Mike, then go home in the morning. I’ll be spending the weekend trying to make the math work for my new plan, the one that might give my siblings and my stepmother some legacy instead of none at all.

Maybe being kind is what will change my luck.

18

Mackenzie

I get a text message on Friday afternoon. It’s from Jake, and it’s short.

Kindness for the win.

Thanks.

What’s going on?

I call him back, but of course, it goes to voice mail. As soon as I decide not to leave a message and disconnect, my phone rings.

It’s Cameron. “Oh my God. Did you hear?”

“Hear what?”

“About Jake Cavendish! He had lunch with Candace at The Carpe Diem Café – and she was all over him.”

He was kind to Candace, just as he said he would be. My heart glows, but I give nothing away. “I thought they didn’t get along.”

“They don’t. They didn’t. She was furious with him. She’ll tell you herself. She blames him for everything going south after Patrick died. Jake had her car repossessed. Did you know that?”

I make a sound that is neither agreement or argument, but Cameron is on a roll and doesn’t notice.

“And he said she’d have to sell the house. She’s been furious with him, at least until he called her up and offered to take her to the bank. I don’t know what he did and I don’t know what he said, but Candace is thrilled. She has a new credit card, and Jake seems to be her new favourite person in the world.”

I smile, and not just because this is good news for Candace. I love that Jake listened to me. He took my criticism and acted upon it. “That sounds kind,” I say but Cameron carries on.

“It seems to be unanimous that he’s an asshole. Abbie said someone called to chew him out when they were driving to Toronto…”

The glow around my heart turns to ice. “Wait. Abbie rode to Toronto with Jake?”

“Of course! He drove her to the airport on Friday on his way home. Don’t you know anything? And he got this call, one he obviously wasn’t expecting, and this Rachel from Accounting called him every name you could imagine before hanging up on him.” Cameron takes a breath. “Abbie told Daphne that Jake wasn’t even troubled by it. I guess he’s used to it.”