Page 32
“It sounds like you have this planned,” Sandra said weakly.
“It’s a real good opportunity, and I’ll be working with some people I really like and respect.”
“That’s important.” Bill nodded.
“It is,” I agreed.
Sandra sat up straighter on the couch. “We’ll support you anyway we can, Adam. You’re our son as much as James is our grandson.”
I felt my throat tighten. She was a good woman.
“Thank you, Sandra, that means everything. You’re really going to like Jasper Creek.”
“I’ve never been there. When you find your place, maybe I can help get you situated. You know Marie had to have inherited some of her design skills from somewhere,” she laughed.
“That’s true.”
“Don’t let her near the antiques store, otherwise you’ll have nothing but mismatched antiques all through your house,” Bill warned.
“Oh hush, old man. Our house is lovely.”
“Only because I know when to say no.”
I started to laugh. The crisis was over. “I better go get James home. I have chicken marinating.”
The three of us stood up. Bill shook my hand, and Sandra gave me a much longer hug than normal. “I’m glad you’re doing what is right for you and James, even if it does make me sad.”
“I’m still going to see you a lot Sandra, and so is James.”
“I know. I also know it’s only three hours. So this is good, all things considered. Let me wrap up some cobbler I made for the two of you.”
“I thought some of that blackberry cobbler was for me,” Bill interrupted.
“You thought wrong. I made it for Adam and James, you were an afterthought.”
“In that case, when I buy tickets to Hawaii, you might just be an afterthought.”
“In your dreams, Bill. In your dreams.”
Chapter Nine
“I found a new supplier.” Leslie was practically jumping up and down. Her braid was doing a dance of its own.
“That’s nice.” I hadn’t heard from Adam in four days. I was seriously bummed, which was stupid. Obviously, he’d just been being nice when he’d visited. Checking up on his patient. The whole thing about Angelica babysitting had been bullshit. He probably said that to keep James happy.
“Zoe, did you hear me?” Leslie said louder. “I found someone new. He’s going to rock your world. Pun intended.”
“He’s not that great,” Ernie protested. “And think about the cost of shipping. Nobody is going to pay that.”
“Damn right they will.” Leslie spun around to give her co-worker the evil eye. “Can’t you just be positive about something for once in your life? People are going to go apeshit over this stuff. What I can’t believe is the amount of inventory he has.”
“And where are we going to put it?” Ernie grumbled.
“This deserves some window space, and I know just the piece we photograph for the first page on our website.”
That got my attention. Putting something on the first page of our website was a really big deal. Whatever the product was, it had to be exceptional.
“Show me,” I demanded.
