42. Chapter 42
Chapter 42
Dawson
“Mom! Dad!” I say, greeting my parents the second they get out of their car in the parking lot. “Thank you so much for coming.”
Mom gives me a quick hug. “Of course, honey. We’re happy to help. Where do you want us?”
Chloe said to put people on games, but which two does she want going until the rest of my family arrives? Introducing Chloe and my parents wasn’t on my to-do list tonight, but their meeting is inevitable. “Let’s find Chloe and ask.” Once everyone gets here, I can divide and conquer on my own.
Dad claps a hand on my shoulder. “I’m looking forward to meeting this special woman.”
“She’s just my boss’s sister.” Lies. She’s more than that, but until I have the opportunity to talk to Chloe, it’s all she is tonight.
Dad chuckles. “Keep telling yourself that, son. ”
I ignore his comment. “Come on.” We head inside the barn, finding Chloe in the back of the room, setting out plates by the pizzas The Pie delivered. “Hey, Chloe.”
She turns, facing me and my parents. Pink spreads on her cheeks and I can tell her smile is a mix of surprise and dread. “Hi.”
I gesture to Mom and Dad. “These are my parents, Dane and Carrie. Where would you like them to start out tonight?”
Chloe puts her hand out for a shake.
Mom smiles kindly, ignoring Chloe’s outstretched hand, and pulls her in for a bear hug. “I’m a hugger. It’s a pleasure to meet you, honey.”
Yeah, I should have warned her my family is really big into hugging hello and goodbye.
Mom lets go, and Dad pulls Chloe in for an embrace of his own.
Chloe’s eyes are wide with surprise. But millisecond by millisecond, I see Chloe’s body relax into Dad’s embrace. With how crazy we’ve been today, I’m sure this is exactly what Chloe needs. If only I could be the one to offer her comfort. But I don’t dare cross that line with her until we’ve hashed out a few things.
Dad pulls back, patting her shoulders. “We’ve heard a lot of good things about you.”
Chloe’s gaze flashes to mine. I shrug. I’m not sure why she’s shocked by this. Finn sang her praises the night he told everyone she slept over. And I agree. Chloe is fun, challenging, competitive, stubborn, a fighter, and sweet. Her heart is bigger than the harvest moon .
“Oh. Um. Thank you,” Chloe says, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’ve heard amazing things about you as well. Dawson and Finn are lucky to have you in their lives.”
Mom turns to me. “She’s a keeper, Dawson.”
“Uh-hmm.” I clear my throat, telling Mom to knock it off. “Chloe, where would you like them?”
“Carrie, if you’ll be in charge of the caramel apple station, and Dane, if you’ll handle the book nook, we’ll be good until the rest of your family arrives. Then we’ll get the games going.”
“I’ll show you where they are,” I say, putting a hand on each of their backs, gently pushing them away from Chloe before they say anything else embarrassing.
“All right,” Mom says, swatting my hand off of her. She looks over her shoulder. “We’ll see you later, sweetie.”
I roll my eyes. Not if I can help it. Chloe doesn’t need everyone in my family fawning over her tonight. Not when we have a festival to host, and when we haven’t spoken about the day Finn got hurt.
I’m not sure how I’ll keep my sisters away from Chloe, but I have to. For everyone’s sake and my sanity.
I take Dad to the reading corner, instructing him to let each child take a book with them. At the caramel apple station, I show Mom where the extra ingredients are under the tables and hand her an apron.
My foot gets caught on the basket of apples. A smile tugs at my lips as I think back on that day. The perfect weather, Chloe’s smile, the first contest she wagered. Chloe was worried about Finn climbing the tree, but I was fine with it because I was there. Climbing trees is just as dangerous as jumping off a swing. If I’d been at the park the day Finn got hurt, would I have stopped him from jumping? Or would I have let him do it because I was there?
Is it that I don’t trust Chloe, or that I’m too caught up in only trusting myself?
It’s me.
And I have to find a way to fix it before I lose the woman I’m falling for.
The moment Greg from Creative Solutions walks in the door, my stomach ties itself in knots and my smile turns fake. Sounding as chipper as a news anchor, I say, “Greg, glad you made it.”
He holds his hand out for a shake. “Thank you, Dawson. My family and I are excited.”
I shake Greg’s hand, looking at the people standing by him. A woman about his same age, wearing a long skirt and plaid shirt, extends her hand toward me.
I shake it.
“I’m Annie. Thanks for having us. The decorations are darling.” Her gaze pings around the room. I look at everything as if seeing it for the first time. There’s no way I could have done what Chloe did. It’s a good thing Carter has her.
“Our event planner is amazing,” I say.
“Do you have her card?” Greg asks. “I’d love to hire her for our Christmas party ”
Has Chloe ever considered being an event planner? I’m not sure why she chose fitness as her career over another occupation. “I don’t, but I’m happy to introduce you. Do you guys want to decide what you want for dinner before the activities begin?”
Greg turns to his wife and two kids (who haven’t looked up from their phones once). “Why don’t you three see what’s available? I’ll catch up in a minute. I need to talk to Dawson.”
I give Annie a strained smile. Dread wraps around my middle, squeezing until I can barely breathe. “There’s pizza in the back, or if you want something from the food trucks, you can order whatever you’d like, on us.”
“The barbeque smelled divine as we came in. Kids,” she pushes her children, “let’s go get dinner.”
I inhale, bracing myself for whatever manipulative baloney Greg’s going to spew.
“Dawson, I know we spoke about a demo not being ready yet, but we have investors coming into town in a few weeks. We’d love to show them something.”
Inside, I’m screaming, “Then why the heck didn’t you disclose all these deadlines to Carter up front when you worked out the contract?” Outside, I nod like I agree having a snippet of the game ready for them is a great idea. “We are working hard on your project. I assure you, we will meet the deadlines we agreed to.”
His face hardens into the one I’m used to seeing on our video conference calls. His brow forms a deep V. “Why can’t you make this happen, son?”
His condescending tone grates on my nerves. “We’re doing our best. I assure you. ”
He shakes his head. “I was worried hiring a smaller company to handle this new game was a mistake. Looks like my instincts were right.”
This is the same threat he’s made a dozen times already. If Carter wasn’t so adamant that he needs them happy, I’d follow through on Greg’s ultimatum myself and tell him to not let the door hit him where the good Lord split ’im.
“Carter’s on the back patio.” I thumb over my shoulder. “Why don’t we head out there and see what can be done?” I don’t love involving my boss. Running to him when I said I could handle Creative Solutions makes it look like I’m a wuss incapable of doing my job. But with how drained I am after what’s gone on with Chloe, Willow and Finn, decorating, and now keeping a pleasant attitude, it’s best I bring Carter in before I make a promise I can’t keep.
“Great idea. After you.” He holds his hand out, directing me to go first.
I fight to keep my back straight, my head held high. Greg’s beating me down. We find Carter talking to a few employees. When he sees Greg behind me, he tells the others he’ll be right back.
Carter smiles, but it’s strained. He shakes Greg’s hand. “Mr. Lawson, how nice to see you. Thank you for joining us at our fall festival. Did your family come?”
Greg completely ignores Carter’s question. “I need a demo in three weeks. Dawson says it can’t be done. Why is everything with you guys so damn difficult?”
So much for keeping him happy. “I assured him we’d make the deadlines originally agreed to in the contract.”
Carter’s troubled gaze bounces between Greg and me .
I shrug my shoulders the slightest amount, letting Carter know our client is being difficult again.
Carter bobs his head in understanding
“We want to keep you happy, Mr. Lawson, and show you why Crenshaw Solutions is different from other design companies out there,” Carter says to Greg. “We’re working off the timeline stated in our contract. If those dates are inaccurate, I’m more than happy to give you a call on Monday and we can discuss the contract’s budget and generate a change of scope for expedited delivery. What’s best for you?”
Greg’s eyes narrow. “We’re not paying you more.”
Carter smiles brightly. “Great, it’s settled then. We’ll continue with our current contract. Dawson will keep you updated on his progress. I hope you and your family enjoy your time here tonight. I have more people I need to see.” Carter claps a hand on Greg’s shoulder. He walks away, and I get it. He put Greg in his place, but now I’m stuck in this awkward situation.
“Would you like to get some dinner with your family?” I ask. I’m certainly ready for a break from this guy.
Without responding, Greg walks away. I watch him until he’s inside the barn. The second he’s no longer in my sight, my shoulders slump. The part of my brain stressed about keeping him happy for the sake of my job begs me to chase after him, promising I can do what he wants. My emotions and exhaustion scream, who cares? He’s a pain in the rear. I’ve spent many sleepless nights worrying, working, and about killing myself to balance everything in my life and for what ?
Finn’s ticked at me. Greg isn’t happy. Chloe’s no longer in my life.
What has everything been for? I’m miserable. This isn’t the life I moved Finn and myself from Tennessee for. Turns out, being with my son, dating Chloe, and working forty hours a week is what I want. I’m not quitting my job, but I refuse to bend over backward for unrealistic deadlines.
Going around checking on my family manning the stations, I grab some dinner with Finn, then mingle with my coworkers and other clients.
Someone touches my shoulder. “Dawson, it was lovely to meet you,” Annie says.
I spin around, facing her. Her smile is kind. “The kids and I had a lovely time. Really, you all did a fantastic job with this festival. Thank you for inviting us.”
“We’re incredibly grateful you came. Don’t forget to take home your thank-you gifts and a box of pastries.”
“We will. Have a nice evening.” She waves, walking to the exit.
“You too!” If only her husband were as pleasant as Annie.
“I’m afraid tonight did nothing to sway Greg to ease up,” Carter says, standing next to me.
“I’m sorry, man.” I run my hand through my hair. “From the moment he got here, he was demanding. Your response was amazing.”
“It was time we reminded him of the agreement we made. Let’s just hope he’s all talk and doesn’t go somewhere else.”
“What if he does? ”
Carter looks me in the eye. “He’ll have to pay for the hours we’ve spent on his project, but we need this game finished and the full-contracted amount from him.”
“Is my job at risk? If Greg leaves, am I let go?” Is this why Carter’s been so adamant we keep them happy?
Carter shakes his head. “No. I’m sorry if I’ve made it sound like that’s the case. For the future of the company, we need this. If he dissolves our contract, your position is safe.”
I let out a nervous chuckle. “What a relief.” But what future is forcing us to keep Greg happy? What is Carter planning?
“I won’t agree to work with him in the future though,” Carter says. “He’s a scheming bully. No matter what he threatens, we’re done after this game.”
“That’s the best news I’ve heard all day.”
Carter grins. “Glad to be of service, brightening your life.”
“Yeah, you did. Thanks, Boss.”
“You’re welcome. Now let’s get this place cleaned up and get outta here.”
He doesn’t have to tell me twice. Mom’s taking Finn home with her. I can’t wait to sleep in without worrying that I should be awake working on Greg’s project. I’ll complete his project by February first. For now, my focus is back to balancing my time with Finn, work, and hopefully Chloe. If I can convince her to forgive me. She told me she’s afraid of people leaving her like her mom did, and at the first sign of trouble, I pushed her away. Somehow, I have to prove we’re better together and I won’t run away again.
Because my life is infinitely better with her in it.