Page 61 of Worth the Trouble

“He said to tell you he’s leaving in the morning,” she said.

“Is he all right?”

“No.” She looked up at him. “He will be, though. He’s lost before.”

“And you?”

She thought about it. He liked that she thought about it.

“I’m cold,” she said. “And I’d like to be somewhere that isn’t a parking lot.”

“Let’s fix that. Come with me.”

The school sat two blocks off the square, and the square was empty, and every window on it still had a piece of orange paper in it that Wendy was going to spend tomorrow taking down. The Bloom Shop was dark. The sign above the flyer hadn’t come down.

He had a key. The woman who owned the building had put it in his hand leaving the gym.

“Jason, what’s this?”

He held the key up between two fingers so she could see it. “I saw the upstairs office space is for lease. Thought it might suit your needs. I opened the door, but the rest is up to you.” He put it in her palm and closed her fingers over it. “Wanna go up and take a look?”

Cece looked at the key, and then at the stairs beside the shop, and then at him.

“Faith said you do stuff like this.”

“Faith has a big mouth.”

They both smiled and she turned toward the side door and the stairs to the second level.

The stairs were steep and her shoes were wrong for them. She took them anyway with his hand up in case she faltered on the stairs. The door at the top stuck. She put her shoulder into it, and it opened on two rooms and a window.

That was all it was. Two rooms plus a small bath. She stopped just inside and took it all in.

“Looks like the floors are newly waxed. That’s nice.”

He nodded and let her continue her inspection.

“That window is huge. I like the natural light.” She went over to the window and looked down at the square. He stayed by the door.

She stood there a long time. He let her.

“The square is beautiful from here,” she said.

He nodded. “Everyone who walks across that square is going to look up.”

“And see me working.”

“Yes.”

“Did you call her? The owner?”

“I did. Not to butt in, just to help you out a little. I hope you don’t mind.” He took a step into the main room and then went to stand next to her looking out over the square.

She put her hand flat on the glass. “I’d have to start small. Smaller than small. One room and a phone. Of course a desk and some chairs. I’ll have to get some files and books and stuff from my office back east.” She looked at him and reached her hand out to take his. “I don’t mind that you’re helping me out. It’s sweet and thoughtful. Just like you.”

Jason blushed at her calling him sweet and waited for her to finish her thought. She wasn’t quite done yet.

“I know this could be a long slog since nobody around here really needs a publicist.”