Chapter 12
CHAPTER 12
C lara
“The streamers should be where everyone can see them,” I whispered to myself as I wandered around the room. “The banner should be in view, too.”
I studied the walls of the room the rec center had kindly rented to my client. As I walked around the room a few times, I imagined what items would go where. I had already set the signature book where people could write their memories on the table with the tokens for the event surrounding it, but I needed to figure out the decor.
I went up to the table near the entrance of the room, tapping it pensively.
“The book should go here,” I whispered while adjusting an open and empty book. “And these trinkets can surround it.”
I bent over the table, focusing on my task. While I arranged the trinkets, I heard a collection of voices from the hallway. I turned to greet the group walking in.
“Marilyn!” I exclaimed happily. “It's so good to see you again!”
“A shame we live in the same town and haven't seen each other sooner,” she said through a genuine grin. She opened her arms for a hug and I embraced her. “How are your parents doing?”
“Oh, they're great! Busy as always. I'm hoping one day to do their retirement party.”
“It was kind of you to do it for me. You and I have known each other for a long time.”
I smiled warmly. “You watched me grow up, basically. I'm happy to help you with your retirement party.”
“You remember my brother, Riley?”
“I sure do!” I opened my arms. “Hey, Riley!”
He gave me a bear hug and I squeaked as he said, “You sure did get tall!”
I laughed. “Well, I'm 29 years old now. I hope I'm taller by now.”
“And my sister, Leah,” Marilyn continued. “You may not remember her much. She traveled a lot back then.”
Leah smiled. “I sold so much makeup across the country. Luckily, Marilyn is allowing me to do hers on her big day. I wish she would let me do it more!”
I chuckled as I hugged Leah. “I remember you.”
“And a good thing you do. If you ever need a makeup artist for your brides, send them my way!”
“I'll be sure to remember that!”
“Ah, Leah—look at that statue there,” Riley remarked.
He took her hand and dragged her to the center of the room where an angel statue sat in the middle a fountain.
I smiled after them. “Wow, how long have we known each other?”
“A long while, my dear,” Marilyn replied. “And I should add that you've become quite a gorgeous and success woman.”
“Thanks, Marilyn.”
“So, what's all this here on the table?”
I perked up. “Well, I made you a book that people could sign when they come for your party as well as some trinkets they can take home with them.”
“They're adorable,” she sighed as she raised up one of the miniature martini glasses with a bright umbrella hanging out of it. “It's almost like I'm going on vacation.”
“More like a stay -cation.”
She giggled, patting my shoulder. “What else have you got for me?”
“There's a banner that I'm going to hang up there in the center and I think we'll do a few shades of gray with lavender to spruce up the tables.”
“I love those colors. How did you know?”
I laughed. “I should know by now. You practically helped raise me.”
“Ah, those were the days. I think I had just started working as a paralegal.”
“That's what my mom told me.”
She hummed thoughtfully. “You know, I saw a familiar face sweep into town recently.”
“Oh?” I leaned closer. “I love gossip. Serve it up, Marilyn.”
“It might not be so delightful once I tell you.”
“I'm always down for a juicy scoop. Come on!”
She eyed me carefully. “I saw that your ex-boyfriend was back in town. How about that?”
“How about that? I'm just as shocked as you.”
“We always thought he would just live in Europe since he was there all the time.”
I nodded. “That's what I figured, too. He has always been more dedicated to his career than the people in his life.”
“That sounded a bit salty.”
“Then, call me the ocean because I'm full of salt.”
She cackled. “I can't imagine how hard it must be to deal with it.”
“Yeah, it's been rough. He's in Jen's wedding, naturally because he's her brother, but I can't stand the fact that he'll be there.”
And he'll likely look hot as hell.
I crossed my arms to hide my thoughts.
She scowled. “He has some nerve coming back around here with the way he treated you. Returning to Oklahoma was his biggest mistake aside from choosing his job over you.”
“Right? I can't believe he came back. I mean, I get it—it's his sister's wedding. She probably had to beg him just to catch the next flight.”
“Well, by the way he treated you, I can't imagine he treats his family any better.”
“He's predictable. He'll routinely choose his job instead of the other responsibilities in his life. It's a wonder he even has any friends left.”
I grabbed a handful of streamers from a nearby table and unraveled them to start hanging them up. I focused on my task, trying hard not to picture Levon, but it was proving to be too much of a challenge. It was easy to picture him. In fact, it was easier than any other time.
Because now I had a fresh image.
“You sure you want these streamers?” I asked Marilyn. “It feels like the cheapest thing in the world to be decorating with.”
“They remind me of simpler times. Besides, I didn't have the biggest budget to work with.”
“You know I'll always work around your budget.”
She chuckled. “I know, but I wouldn't want you taking a pay cut. I love the streamers. Do you need help?”
“No way. You let me do this while you relax. You need to start learning how to do that, right?”
She laughed. “I suppose I do. How are you doing? Are you okay?”
“Of course, I'm okay.”
“I would imagine Levon returning would make things difficult, however brief his stay might end up being.”
I snorted. “I'm sure he'll take off right after the wedding.”
“But you're holding up okay?”
“Of course! Life gets crazy sometimes. It's nothing to lose my head over.”
She chuckled knowingly. “Well, it is you we're talking about.”
“Hey, I take personal offense to that.”
“I'm just stating facts. Since I've known you longer than most folks, I know you have a tendency of getting into your head.”
I frowned, hiding the expression from Marilyn. “I hate that you're right.”
“Do you want to unload some of those thoughts?”
“Nah, I think I'll save them for my journal later on.”
She giggled. “Alright, well, you always have my number.”
I turned to smile at her. That expression I didn't mind her seeing. “Thanks, Marilyn. I appreciate that. So, how are we looking with these streamers?”
“I trust you to put them wherever they will look best.”
“I could always use a second opinion.”
She sat up straighter in her chair. “In that case, how about a little higher up? You don't want Riley to get his toupee stuck on one of those things.”
I burst into giggles. “Don't give away your brother like that!”
“What? It's an awful thing on his head. I keep telling him to try for the surgery. It's a way better investment.”
“Let the man have what he wants.”
“What he wants is for his hair to get snatched up by a dog mistaking it for a raccoon.”
I held my gut while my laughter took over, tears forming at the edges of my eyes. As I wiped them away, I noticed Riley and Leah looking in our direction. I waved away their inquisitive expressions.
“Marilyn,” I said through a chuckle. “You're going to kill me before I can finish decorating.”
“Ah, well, let me back off the jokes, then.”
“No, keep them coming. I haven't laughed this much since before Levon came back.”
She cocked her head to the side curiously. “Is it really bothering you that much?”
“I mean, if I'm being honest, I haven't seen him since he left me. It's weird.”
“I can't imagine how that feels.”
“Did Boris ever take long trips away from home?”
She thought quietly for a moment. “There were a few, but we always soared through them.”
“How did you do that?”
“We talked all the time.”
I smiled warmly. “That must be nice.”
“And we made a point to understand each other. It's how we have such a strong relationship today.”
“I wish I could say the same of Levon,” I whispered.
“What's that, dear?”
I shook my head. “Oh, nothing.”
“I bet this is harder because of how things were left.”
“That really does make it harder. I feel like we never got to talk about it.”
She nodded. “I empathize with that.”
“I'm glad you understand. I feel like everyone else is trying to get me to go back to Levon.”
“Do you want to go back to Levon?”
I shrugged while turning back to the streamers. I had only hung up a few. This conversation about Levon was stealing my attention.
And my energy. “I don't know.”
“Well, I imagine it makes it more difficult that he's so dang handsome.”
I blushed and bit my lower lip while shaking my head. I didn't say a word.
“You know I'm right, Miss Clara,” she continued in a teasing voice. “He sure does have a nice face on him, doesn't he? And a whole head of hair.”
I cackled. “Marilyn!”
“I'm just stating facts!”
“As you always do.”
She shrugged nonchalantly, raising her thin eyebrows. “I just know a lot of things.”
“And that's why you're retiring at such a young age.”
“Oh, honey, you flatter me.”
I laughed as I searched around for a small stepping stool. When I located one, I dragged it over and went back to the steamer business, pinning them up much faster than before.
“I'm so excited for your party later this week,” I commented. “How many people are you expecting to attend?”
“Well, the whole department, for starters.”
I whistled. “Oof.”
“Plus family.”
“Of course.”
“And friends.”
I smiled. “Like me?”
“Of course, dear. Just like you. You can make it, right?”
“I'm more than positive I can make it.”
She smiled warmly. “Good. So, what can I do? I feel useless sitting here, Clara. Give me a task.”
“Well, you can get started wrapping the chairs in fabric.”
“I can absolutely do that.”
She swept away from me, darting from chair to chair with the fabric we had chosen. The purple, although it was a lavender color, reminded me of Jen. And Jen reminded me of Levon.
And that reminded me that my feelings were still all tangled up.
I hummed to myself, trying to distract my thoughts from going right back to him. But no matter what I did—no matter how I tried occupying my brain—he still cropped up. I would have hated it were it not for the fact that Marilyn was right: he was handsome.
I shoved the feeling right back down.
I have to focus here just like I had to focus with Jen's decorations , I reminded myself. I'm a professional. I can handle this. I think I can. I really hope I can . . .