Page 9 of It Happened Duo
“Hey, guys. Sorry I’m late. Had a meeting I couldn’t get out of.” Just then, Brooks appeared at my side. Thank God. “How’d it go?”
“You’re just in time to escort Archer to that sparkling group of ladies over there where he thinks he has a shot.” I pointed Chelsea’s way. She was hard to miss, as if the dance floor lighting orbited around her beauty. “I hereby relinquish my wingman duties. Good luck.”
They protested, but I walked briskly away from them. Once I made it to the door, I peeked back. Archer and Brooks had joined the circle of sequined ladies. Whatever was said made laughter go up all around.
My jaw clicked at how close Brooks stood to Chelsea and the way he eyed her cleavage, almost like a dog with his tongue hanging out. But I certainly didn’t have a reason to be jealous.
My hand was on the door handle, about to launch out of the room, when Chelsea caught my stare. A protracted gaze with a sly smile I could read so much more into, but I wouldn’t. Business was always first, before pleasure. Dad taught me well.
Kicking the deli out of my building was my game, andI’d win. Later, when she’d no doubt be heartbroken, she could cry on my shoulder. Then I’d take her as my reward before she moved back to Honey Brook…or wherever it was she came from.
She could keep her Christmas spirit, and I’d have my father’s building modernized without that damn deli in sight. We’d both end up happy. Somehow I’d make this happen, and, for once, it might be my best Christmas ever.
6
NO RUSH
CHELSEA
As if obsessedby the speed date with Rex, every day I looked for him, hoping he’d stop by for a sandwich. Silly, really, when as CEO he probably had better things to do than eat lunch at a deli. Besides, he had rushed out for a date, and certainly hadn’t bothered to come see me here again. I needed to forget him and move on.
“There’s our Chelsea-Sunshine,” a man’s voice called out from the front of the deli. I paused, rolling out the perfect pie crust, and glanced up. Very few people used the nickname my mother started long ago.
“Uncle Doug? Aunt Louisa? Hi! Come to check up on me? How are you feeling?” I came around the counter and barraged him with questions as I hugged his body, noting his frame felt smaller in my arms.
He leaned heavily on a glossy wooden cane of redwood with a brass holder, and it pained me to see him like this—almost like Dad before he passed away. Although there was arose hue to Doug’s cheeks, more white hair, and less dark circles under his eyes than when I first saw him in the hospital. Here’s hoping he was on the mend.
“I’m doing swell. Don’t fret over me. And since I have you here running things, I don’t worry so much.” The gravel in his old voice was probably about as cheerful as he could make it.
“Don’t let him fool you,” said Aunt Louisa. “He asks about you night and day, worried about this old place, but his blood pressure has improved.”
“Hm. You can take the man out of the deli, but not the deli out of the man.” I chuckled and put his hand through my elbow, and led him over to a nearby table to sit. At almost three on a Friday afternoon, the employees were busy closing for the day, so hardly anyone was around. And what a day it’d been. “Can I get you anything? Coffee? A muffin?”
“No, thanks. Sit, sit. Louisa showed me the website and new menu online with pies and more. Outstanding. I never cared for baking, but I know you have your mother’s knack for it.” The pride showing on his face did my heart good. “New Yorkers must like it because sales are way up. You might just be better at this than I was.”
“Oh gosh, thanks, Uncle Doug.” My hand flew to my heart. “That means so much to me. It’s been a whirlwind of a month, for sure, but…I love it here. I think—” I glanced quickly around the shop that I’d already poured my heart and soul into, and gushed. “I think I’m ready to talk about renewing the lease.”
“Whoa, whoa, hang on. While nothing would make mehappier, this is just the honeymoon phase.” He chuckled, shared a knowing look with Louisa, and squeezed her hand. My brows stitched together.
“What do you mean?”
“When we first opened this place, it was a dream for Doug, too. He loved it. But soon, as with anything in life or love, the bloom wears off a little, sweetie,” Louisa explained, and I knew the look in her gray eyes was only one of concern. Plus, she likely had been talking to my mother, who would worry about me until she had no more breath left in her.
All things considered, it was going better than I expected. Monday through Friday, I woke up at the crack of dawn, caught the subway from the apartment to the deli, worked all day, and by the time we closed at 3 in the afternoon, I was exhausted. Over the weekends, I caught up on my sleep, but practically leapt out of bed Monday mornings for a repeat, and perfectly happy for it.
Then there was the city itself, with something to see or do daily. I don’t know how she did it, but Sophie scored cheap to free tickets to things left and right. Why, later tonight, we’d be attending the opera for free thanks to some tickets she got from a professor. All in all, I loved every minute of this adventure so far.
“What we’re saying is, don’t rush. You just got here. Enjoy the city and do your best. Trust me, you’ll have some challenging days ahead that might make you question things,” Doug advised, with a voice so much like Dad it was uncanny.
I missedmy father. I could always count on him to be a guiding voice, until the saddest day of my life when he passed away. All prepared, I’d been ready to move the summer after high school to attend a culinary institute in New York City, but after news of his diagnosis of stage four cancer, I couldn’t leave town.
I couldn’t see leaving Holly Creek and my family behind at a time like that. Mom was a mess and Maisy and Colt, being years younger than me, needed help through it all. Dad needed his family around him. So I remained and put off my dreams in order to be there for everyone.
Now, I had an incredible second chance fall into my lap, and so far, it’d been what I always dreamed of. But I’d take the time as they asked, even though I already knew my heart. I also made a note to be a better niece and check on Doug and Louisa more often.
“Well, we did have a little difficulty today, but not to worry, nothing I couldn’t overcome,” I admitted, but quickly covered it with a smile.
“Trust me, I’ve seen and done it all over twenty years. Tell me what happened,” Doug leaned forward.
