Chapter 2 #2
“You’re a terrible liar, which I would think is a job requirement for you. Maybe you ought to consider another line of work.”
A shadow passes over the slab of marble. I might’ve missed it if I wasn’t gazing so intently at his face.
Wait. Not gazing. Looking. Because that’s what people do during a conversation, unless you’re one of my neurodivergent campers who struggles with eye contact.
“Have a good day.” Charles turns on his heel and strides toward the dirt parking lot. I’m surprised his Audi didn’t reverse in horror at the lack of blacktop.
“May the Force be with you,” I call after him. There’s no way a jerk like him would get a Star Wars reference.
I spin toward my office and nearly collide with Gloria. “Sorry about that,” I say.
“It’s okay. Who was that man?”
“A lawyer.”
Her eyes widen. “Are you in trouble?”
I plaster on a smile to ease her anxiety. “No, not at all. Nothing to worry about.”
“Oh, good. Do you have Buffy?”
I pat the pocket of my shorts. “She’s safe and sound.”
“I hope she didn’t cause any trouble.”
I scoop the animal out of my pocket and transfer her to Gloria. “On the contrary, her timing was impeccable. She gave our visitor a little gift.”
Gloria glances past me to where the Audi had been parked. “Was that the man who wants to buy the camp?”
I sigh. Can’t get anything past Gloria. “He works for the man who’s trying unsuccessfully to buy the land. LandStar doesn’t care about the camp.”
Gloria smiles her appreciation. “I’m glad to hear you say that. I can’t live without this place. It’s my oasis.”
I give her shoulder a gentle squeeze. “I know. It’s mine, too.”
In truth, the money would be helpful. My personal bank balance is so low that instead of a number, my statement yields a voice note from Whoopi Goldberg that says, “You in danger, girl.” But there’s no way I’m selling this land.
Pops would roll over in his grave if he had one.
Fine, his cremains would circle his hourglass like a drain.
My family left me a legacy, and I fully intend to honor it.
“Most of the cabins are done. I’m going to break for lunch,” Gloria says.
“Thanks. I’ll eat with you, if you don’t mind.”
Gloria lights up. “Picnic table?”
“I’ll meet you there in five.” I duck into my office to grab my water bottle and the peanut butter and jam sandwich I’d stuck in the mini fridge.
I join Gloria at the picnic table that’s closest to the lake. She’s already tucked into her salad.
“It’s a beautiful day,” she says.
It is. And this view never ceases to amaze me. It changes by the hour as well as by the weather. Sometimes it’s moody and gray. Other times, with beams of sunlight bouncing off the water’s surface, it’s downright magical. I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.
“If they’re going to send someone else to plead LandStar’s case, at least they sent a good-looking one this time. Maybe if you keep saying no, they’ll get progressively hotter.”
I laugh. “I think they might’ve peaked with Mr. Marble.” I swill my cold water. “How’s your mom?”
Gloria’s face crumples. “Her memory is rapidly declining. To be honest, I feel guilty for coming this year. What if she doesn’t remember me by the time I get back?”
“Gloria, you deserve to have a life of your own. Your mom would want that for you, too.” Like me, Gloria is an only child with only child problems. There are no other family members to pitch in, and she can’t afford full-time care.
She saves what she can to pay the home aides for the two weeks she spends at camp, which is why I’m willing to barter with her.
I won’t deprive a woman of her only joy in life.
“I know.” Gloria closes her eyes to bask in the sun’s warm glow. “I’m so happy to be back, you have no idea. This year was harder.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t know how you do it.”
She opens her eyes and focuses on her salad. “Buffy helps.” She tugs a lettuce leaf from her container and holds it over her pocket. The sugar glider’s head sticks out to accept the offering.
“Any dates to speak of?” I ask.
Gloria blows a raspberry. “Please. You know I gave up on relationships years ago. It’s too challenging with Mom. At least you don’t have to worry about that.” She winces. “Sorry, that was thoughtless of me.”
“It’s okay, and you’re right. The definite upside to being an orphan is there’s no risk of aging parents to care for.
” My mom died first—cancer when I was sixteen.
That’s when my father began his downward spiral.
I had a good relationship with my mom, but Dad and I didn’t tend to see eye-to-eye, which only worsened after my mom’s death.
He was so different from his father. Sometimes it’s hard to believe one was raised by the other.
Pops would be mortified to learn about his son’s years of gambling and general irresponsibility.
It was a miracle the camp managed to stay afloat.
If my father hadn’t suffered a heart attack and died five years ago, it probably wouldn’t have.
Gloria offers an encouraging smile. “This will be the best year yet, you’ll see.”
I choose to believe her.
My fingers clench the steering wheel as I drive south along the Blue Route toward Center City.
I crank up the volume on Mozart’s “Sonata for Two Pianos.” My brother, the venerated surgeon, told me that classical music is a good way to reduce stress, so I immediately went home that night and created a playlist on Spotify.
I only listen to it when I feel the need—and I definitely feel the need after my encounter with Miss Batshit Crazy.
Riggieri didn’t warn me that she was feisty and slightly off her rocker, only that she’d turned down his previous offer.
Based on her response, it sounds like our client dangled more than one carrot.
I wish I’d had all the information before I drove all the way there.
In this traffic, I was in danger of missing a three o’clock meeting.
My phone bleeps and the screen on the dashboard lights up with the one person I’m not in the mood to hear from—Matt Lyman. Still, I answer. I’m a glutton for punishment.
“Hey, buddy,” His voice is as slick as the oil he uses in his hair. “How’d your meeting go?”
I opt for the bald-faced lie. “Great. I think I made progress.”
“Then I guess we both had good days.”
I force a cheerful tone. “Congrats to both of us,” I say, tightening my grip on the wheel. If his deal goes through and mine doesn’t, I can kiss that partnership goodbye, as well as any future family gatherings. Christmas, it was nice knowing you.
“Well, you know, there are a couple rounds of negotiations to plow through, but I feel confident,” Matt says.
Confident isn’t the word I’d use. Arrogance is Matt’s whole personality. It irks me to no end. My younger brother is a medical wiz, and my younger sister is already a golf pro at the tender age of twenty-three, but neither one of them acts like Matt. He’s a legend in his own mind.
“Glad to hear it,” I lie. “I’ll see you at the office.”
“You should get here before Ashley leaves. She’s wearing that tight black top with the deep V.”
“I’ll do my best.” I hang up before he can get into detail about his assistant’s anatomy.
If I were Ashley, I would’ve filed a complaint with HR long ago.
Matt swears up and down she basks in the attention, but I have my doubts.
A mere conversation with him makes me want to take a hot shower and scrub myself clean.
The clock inches closer to three, so I call Jeannie to warn her I might be late.
“Then put the pedal to the metal,” she says. “Abby and David are showing up for it.”
Terrific. Two senior partners in my department. Two senior partners with voting power. Tardiness is not an option.
“Thanks for the intel.”
I hit the gas and go. I’m shocked I don’t pass any cops. The parking gods have also smiled upon me. I snag a spot on the street right outside the building and hurry inside.
“Afternoon, Charlie,” the security guard greets me.
“Hey, Gus. How’s it going?”
“Can’t complain. You working late again tonight?”
“You know me. It’s my home away from home.” I press the elevator button and wait.
“You should join a club. Try to get yourself out of the office more.”
“I like the office. I’m comfortable here.”
“Then maybe you should try being uncomfortable for a change. My grandma used to say that the only true growth is through discomfort.”
The elevator doors open. “Sounds like a wise woman.”
“She was. Have a good afternoon, Charlie.”
“You, too.” I hit the button for the fifteenth floor. If I can make it to the conference room without being seen like a true corporate ninja, maybe I can make it to the meeting on time.
The doors open and Joel stands there like Satan greeting me at the gates of Hell. So much for my stealth skills.
“Hey, Charlie. I was wondering if we’d see you today. How’d it go in the Poconos?”
I step out of the elevator. “It was a start.”
“A start? Our client isn’t going to be satisfied with that.” He claps me on the shoulder. “You’re our closer, Charlie, or you were. Don’t tell me you’ve lost your golden touch.”
“No, sir. I think I might’ve caught her at a bad time. There was a missing bat ... or something.”
“Hey, that sounds promising.”
“Sir?”
“Maybe there’ll be a rabies outbreak. The camp is forced to shut down. Our client picks up the land even cheaper.”
“Promising, right,” I say, noncommittal. I don’t see how a rabies outbreak is a win for anybody, but I don’t argue.
“We might be able to exploit that. I’ve got a meeting out of the office, but we should talk later. Explore the options.”
“I’ll be here.”
Joel aims his famous finger gun at me and makes a clicking sound as he swaps places with me in the elevator. “And that’s why we love you, Charlie boy.”
Love isn’t the word I’d use.