Chapter 42
Forty-Two
Louise
Grumpy Pants
Good luck. Let me know how the interview goes, Princess.
Iblow out a heavy, nervous breath and check my reflection in the rearview mirror one more time. Holy shit. Here goes nothing.
I’ve parked just down the block from Andi’s office in the heart of downtown Petoskey, and I make the short walk across the street.
Her office is just a couple doors down from Turn The Page Booksellers, Tessa’s bookstore that she opened with her best friend, Jodi Thorp.
I wave at Tess as I walk past, and she gives me two thumbs up.
Choosing an outfit this morning was the most stressful thing I’ve done in a hot minute. I know better than to try and wear heel heels…because, well, no one wants to do a job interview in an emergency room, and that’s exactly where I’d end up.
But the sound that my kitten heels make as they tap on the concrete sidewalk, I have to admit, is a confidence boost in itself.
The wide legged, black slacks I’d chosen hug my hips, flowing loosely around my thighs and down to the ground. I have an eggplant purple blazer on, paired with a simple black blouse beneath it. Simple, elegant, professional.
God, at least I hope so, anyway.
I find the door that leads to Andi’s office, a collection of other small business offices in the same entryway, and knock on the one that reads Ever After Affairs with Andi Brentmoore.
The door opens and I smile wide at Andi, her light pink glasses sitting on the top of her head, pushing her bangs back away from her forehead. “I’m so excited you’re here! Come on in! Would you like a coffee?”
“I would love a coffee, thank you,” I reply, stepping into the office. It breaks away into two other rooms, and I glance around at the space.
“My office is through that door,” she says, pointing to the door on the left.
She pops a coffee pod into the instant coffee maker and snaps the lid shut.
“The one on the right will be yours, if all goes well. I also have a warehouse that I rent where I store all the necessary items for making a wedding day come alive.” The coffee machine gurgles to life, and she turns to me.
“Any cream or sugar? My uh, my husband likes to joke that I don’t actually like coffee, just French vanilla creamer with a dash of coffee for color. ”
I laugh, nodding my head. “I’m the same way.”
“Oh perfect,” she sighs. “I won’t be judged on my coffee habits then.”
Handing me the steaming cup of freshly brewed coffee, lightened just the right amount with the flavored creamer, she leads me into her office, directing me into a seat opposite her desk.
She waves at my outfit. “This is super cute, by the way. Perfect for day of weddings.” She gestures down to herself and rolls her lips between her teeth. “I chose comfort today, obviously.”
“It’s a Monday,” I laugh.
She’s wearing a matched lounge set in a muted blush pink that looks buttery soft, and her make up is natural and simple. Her freckles seem to pop out more today on her cheeks than usual.
“God, don’t I know it,” she mumbles, sitting down in her chair and taking a drink of her own coffee.
Pulling the glasses off her head, her short sweep bangs fall back over her forehead, and she pops the glasses in place on her nose.
“My kids were absolute heathens getting ready for school this morning, and I purposefully never schedule appointments or meetings with brides on Monday’s.
” I mentally take note of that little piece of information, stowing it away for later, just in case…
She blows out her breath and folds her hands around the mug in front of her.
“Anywho. Please, tell me about you. What interested you in this position?”
And, here we go.
By the time I’m walking out of Andi’s office an hour later, I’m fairly bouncing on my feet in excitement.
I got the job!
Climbing into my car, I chew on my lip for a heartbeat before pulling out of my parking spot and heading the few blocks down to the station.
Parking, I hop out, running to the big bay door that’s wide open. Zach, Joel, and another fireman I don’t recognize are standing just inside, congregated next to a smaller tanker. When Zach spots me, he steps away from them, a wide grin splitting his face as I race toward him.
“Well?” he asks, spreading his arms wide.
“I got it!” I laugh, launching myself at him. He catches me around the waist, hugging me tight to his chest. “I got the job!”
“See?” he says, pushing me away far enough so he can look down at me. My cheeks ache from the ear-to-ear grin I’m wearing. “I knew you would.”
“I can’t even believe it,” I laugh, practically bouncing on the balls of my feet.
“Zach. She’s offered to pay for my tuition if I want to go back to school to get my degree in hospitality and event management.
” Shaking my head, I open my mouth and close it, open it again.
My mind is still reeling. “I honestly don’t even know how to function right now. It’s just… this is insane, right?”
He’s grinning down at me. “Insane in the best way?”
Nodding, I laugh up at him. “Yeah. It really is.”
Zach hugs me tight, squeezing the breath out of me. “I’m so proud of you, Princess.”
“Thank you,” I whisper into his chest.
“I’m glad you talked to your sisters about it. And that they’re all so supportive of this new venture for you. I know you said you’ll have to step back from helping at Bliss, but will you continue your Princess gig?” he asks.
I shake my head. “No, I won’t be able to, which is a bummer.
I enjoy it. But most of Andi’s events are on the weekends, and it just won’t work for that schedule.
I have a few that I’ve already committed to through the end of the year, and we’ve agreed to letting me finish out those before I start officially.
Oh,” I say, a thought coming to mind, “I have a big event in the beginning of December; it’s a meet-and-greet princess ball that is hosted in Harbor Bay.
There’s a ton of other princesses that will be there, and as an attending cosplayer I get a couple complimentary tickets.
Do you think the girls would want to go? ”
“Chloe would lose her damn mind,” he laughs, nodding. “Bailey, too. I’m not sure Abigail would be super interested, but I can ask. That’s very sweet of you to offer, Louise.”
“Of course, just let me know and I can transfer the tickets.” Looking all the way up at him, I ask, “That reminds me, how did your talk with Abigail go?”
He sighs, blowing out his breath, making his cheeks puff out.
Zach releases me and we step away from each other, but he keeps his fingers entwined with mine, rubbing the pad of his thumb across the back of my hand.
“Not great. She’s big mad at me right now because I made her delete the apps off her phone, and I informed her at any point I have the right to check her phone to make sure she’s not re-downloaded them.
I guess she and several girls from school all made accounts, using fake birthdates and some kind of filter to make them look older in their pictures.
I had to have the talk about internet safety and human trafficking.
It’s hard… how do you impress the severity of a situation without scaring them, but scaring them enough to take it seriously?
How do I know what the right way to handle this is? ”
“There’s not one single right way to handle it, Zach. Social media and internet safety changes so quickly. You can only do what you feel is right for you and your kids. And by the time Chloe is old enough to be using it… it will all be different again.”
“That’s not helpful,” he grumbles, but one side of his mouth tilts up in a half-hearted smile.
“You’ll be okay. They’ll be okay. I promise.” Swallowing hard, I ask quietly, “And… what about their mom? What did she say about that?”
He shrugs one of those broad as fuck shoulders, the muscles bunching beneath the FD t-shirt he has on.
“Honestly, not much. She showed me the messages that Britt sent to her. She only responded a couple times. Brittanee was digging for information but not getting it from her quick enough and then got snarky like she does. Abigail barely mentioned your involvement in uh—that situation, but Britt latched onto it and wouldn’t let it go until Abi had given her more information.
” He shakes his head, as if gauging his wording carefully.
“It’s an extremely complicated situation, our current custody arrangement and how this divorce process has been.
It’s hard to explain to a twelve-year-old. ”
Squeezing his fingers, I whisper, “You’re doing a great job, Zach. I hope you know that.”
“It’s nice to hear every once in a while,” he laughs, rubbing his hand over the back of his neck. “Thank you, Louise.”
“I didn’t do anything. You did all the hard work. I just listened.”
“That’s exactly what I mean. You…” he sighs again, dropping his hand. “You let me fumble around and even if it’s not perfect, you still make me feel like I’m somehow not fucking everything up entirely.”
“Because you’re not. Those girls are healthy, and cared for, and happy…
Zach. That’s all any parent can want for their kids.
And you’re managing it by yourself. You should give yourself more credit than you do,” I whisper gently, searching his eyes with my own.
“They love you—even when they’re big mad at you,” I tease.
“And they know that you love them, too.”
He stares down at me, silent, like he’s chewing over every word, digesting them slowly. He nods, finally. “Thank you.”
“Anytime, big guy,” I whisper and wink. Glancing around his arm, I say, “Joel is making kissy faces at us. Think we should give him what he’s asking for?”
Zach laughs out loud, and my attempt to lighten the mood works. He wraps one arm around my waist, pulling me sharply, making me gasp and laugh. Sliding his other hand behind my neck, he cups the back of my head and then dips me low, dropping his mouth to mine in a searing, closed mouth kiss.
There’s a roaring round of applause from the other two men, and when Zach pulls me back up, we’re both grinning like idiots.
Zach and I turn toward the two, and they both hold up their hands, all ten fingers splayed wide.
Joel crows, “And he sticks the landing, folks!”