“I’m so glad the two of you stopped by for lunch during your outing today,” Glady said as she gathered up Aurora and Gage’s empty plates and bowls.
“Aurora was paying up on a bet she lost to me,” Gage told the older woman with a grin.
Glady looked at Aurora questioningly.
“I lost a bet and owed him lunch out,” she explained. “But I got to choose where we went.”
“And you chose to come here,” Glady said, sounding quite pleased by Aurora’s choice. “You’ve crossed my mind a time or two since I sent you flying off into the wild blue, or as is the case here now, gray yonder with Gage. I thought you’d be long gone by now.”
Aurora shook her head. “After visiting Conley Island, I knew there was so much more there to be photographed. I couldn’t leave. An evening spent with Gage and his wonderful family only reinforced my decision to stay on.”
“I take it you were able to get the pictures you were hoping for during your visit here?”
Aurora looked across the table and smiled. “I did. More than I ever hoped for. Gage, as it turns out, is not only a terrific pilot,he’s also a very knowledgeable tour guide. He knows all the right spots for the best wildlife shots.”
He shrugged. “Comes with having grown up on the island and being able to answer our guests’ questions.”
He kept saying that, but Aurora knew Gage put a little something extra into helping her.
Gage’s cell rang, playing a lively country tune. Pulling it from his pocket, he glanced at the screen and then stood. “I need to take this,” he said with a frown.
“Of course,” Aurora replied. “I hope everything’s okay,” she muttered as he stepped outside of the diner to talk.
“That boy is far too serious,” Glady decided with a shake of her head as she stared at the closed door. “But then Gage has been shouldering the responsibility of running the family retreat since his father took ill last year.”
“I know. And Gage is actually very funny,” Aurora said in Gage’s defense. “In fact, he’s always trying to make me laugh.”
Glady looked her way with a speculative eye. “Does he now?”
“I can’t ever remember laughing so hard so often before. And my best friend Emmy can be really funny.”
“I’m so glad to hear that,” Glady told her. “I know Constance worries that they’re asking too much of Gage, but he insisted on shouldering most of the weight of running their business after Jim got sick. I suppose his having a business degree along with his pilot license makes him the most qualified to step in. Of course, Reed and Julia are also pitching in more.”
“I’m so glad his father is recovering so well,” Aurora said. “It’s clear to see where Gage and Reed got their silly sense of humor from.”
The door to the diner opened, and Gage came back inside, the frown he’d worn going out the door cut even deeper into his face now.
“I’ll just take these dirty dishes to the kitchen,” Glady said before hurrying off.
Gage slid his phone back into his coat pocket and then settled into his chair once again. “That was Clive.”
“That look on your face when you came in tells me the call didn’t go well,” Aurora said with a worried frown.
“The private equity firm just upped their offer.” He met her tense gaze across the table. “It’s a good one. But it’s not about the money. It’s our home. Our business.”
“I hope you told him that,” she replied.
“I did,” he said with a sigh. “But was it the right thing to do? If the business continues to lose guests to these newfangled fishing resorts, my family could end up with nothing. I also know that the stress of financial issues could put my father’s health at risk.”
“Gage, I have some money saved ...” she heard herself offering, yet no regret followed.
“No,” he said adamantly, and Aurora found herself wishing she could take her well-meant offer back.
“I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have tried to involve myself in your family’s business.” She hadn’t considered the embarrassment he or his family might feel by her offering to lend them some money until Gage turned things around. She had just wanted to help.
“We’re not at that place yet,” he told her. “Please don’t think that I don’t appreciate your offer to help if we need it. I just can’t accept it. That would be like me quitting on the promise I made my family to make things right.”
“I understand,” Aurora said with a nod.
