Chapter 21
Kendra sat on the tree swing, looking down at her feet as they kicked up the sand beneath them. She still couldn’t get used to the fact that they had sand in their yard. Back home, it was all Georgia red clay, which was really orange, so it was a misnomer.
Where she’d lived previously, there were always huge orange mud pits after it rained. Now, she had sand and some regular dirt, but none of it would permanently discolor her nice white sneakers.
She couldn’t believe what her mother had told her before leaving to go to a bridal shower in Atlanta. They had to decide by Monday whether she was going to stay in school for another year or graduate early after taking some tests.
Kendra had never given herself much credit. Always a problem child, she had no idea that she was gifted. It explained why she got bored so easily in most of her classes at other schools. Why those teachers never took the time to figure that out was beyond her.
“Everything okay?” Walker stepped out of the guest house, locking it behind him.
“Yeah, I guess.”
He walked over to the tree and leaned against it. “I’m not convinced.”
“Just thinking about some things that my mother told me before she left.”
“Oh. You mean about taking the tests and graduating early?”
Kendra giggled. “News travels fast.”
“Well, I am her only friend.”
“We all know you’re not just friends.”
“And how would you feel about that? If that were the case?”
She looked up at him and smiled. “I just want my mom to be happy. And I think you make her happy.”
“Do you?”
“I do. But if you ever break her heart, I will hurt you.”
He held up his hands. “I believe you, I believe you. I would never hurt your mom. She was a tough nut to crack when she first got here, but I knew there was somebody special under all of that pain.”
“Her childhood really did a number on her.”
“So, why do you seem so sad? Do you not want to graduate early?”
She shrugged her shoulders. “I don”t know. I can’t stay in high school forever, but I just got here. I’m not sure I want to take off to college so quickly. I know it sounds stupid. Most kids would kill to get out of school and go off to college, but I like it here.”
“Do you want to talk it through a bit?”
“Sure.”
“In my opinion, you have options. You can stay in high school. You can take a year off and just spend some time figuring out what you want to do next. You can go to the community college, still live at home, and take some credits there. Or you can take off on some grand adventure at college in another city or state.”
“So what should I do?” she asked, laughing.
“Which one of those options didn’t make your stomach twist into a knot?”
She thought for a moment. “Community college.”
“Why?”
“I think taking a year off will only keep me from ever going back to school. I don’t do well with long breaks. I don’t like feeling like I’m not making progress. And going off to college just seems too big right now. I just moved here, and that would be another major move. Staying in high school if I don’t have to—especially without Scotty—sounds horrible.”
“So you think you want to go to community college for the first year?”
She nodded. “I do. But it feels like I’m letting my mother down.”
He furrowed his eyebrows. “Letting her down? Why would you think that?”
“Because she just found out I’m close to being a genius, and I’m choosing to go to community college instead of some big-deal university.”
He chuckled. “Going to community college doesn’t mean you’re not smart. It means that you’re getting your credits completed while you get to stay in a place you love. That seems pretty smart to me. Plus, community college is just as challenging as any other college. Some fancy name on the sign doesn’t mean a thing.”
“Thanks. I really needed to talk to somebody who doesn’t have a vested interest in my future. Scotty wants me to go with him to college, and I want to be with him. But I just don’t think I’m ready yet. I want to put down some roots in Happy Harbor first.”
“Do what’s right for you. I know you like Scotty a lot, but if it’s the right thing, then nothing will separate you. Those miles won’t matter.”
“What will you do if my mother moves back to Atlanta?”
He paused for a moment, then smiled. “Maybe I’d go see Atlanta then.”
* * *
Josie drove down a long stretch of interstate, wishing she could turn around and go back to Happy Harbor. Heading to Atlanta was not something she expected to be doing so soon, but she couldn’t leave Melody in the lurch. She had promised to come to her bridal shower, and she was going to do it.
Her plan was to go to Atlanta, go to the shower, spend one night, and leave as soon as daylight broke. With any luck, she’d be gone less than forty-eight hours.
The week had already been very busy. The accountant let her know how much money was made from the fundraiser, and she was easily able to pay off the loan as well as put extra money aside for renovations and expenses at the restaurant.
She had already been brainstorming with her mother on some things they could do at the restaurant to make additional income. Now there was at least hope that everything would not fall apart. Nothing would’ve made her more sad than to see her grandmother’s hard work crumble into a million pieces.
She had been a little worried when she left that morning. For the last few days, she noticed her mother coughing. Diane said it was probably just leftover allergies from the heavy pollen season, but Josie wasn’t so sure. Maybe it was the dunk tank. That made her feel a little guilty.
When she got back, she planned to take her mother for a full physical. She wanted her to be around for many years to come. Since Diane used to be a heavy smoker when Josie was a child, she worried that there was something more nefarious going on.
As she continued driving, she saw all kinds of reminders of her life back in Atlanta. The closer she got, the more foreign it already felt. High-rise buildings, enormous apartment complexes, and big shopping malls differed greatly from her life in Happy Harbor.
And then there was the traffic. Atlanta had tons of traffic. The interstate looped around like an enormous ball of tangled yarn. The locals called it Spaghetti Junction, and the name suited it. The morning rush hour reports were filled with talk about the long traffic jams, and she was thankful that was no longer part of her life. The biggest traffic jam she ran into now was a stray alligator crossing the street or too many golf carts on Main Street.
She could feel her stress level rising the closer she got to Melody’s apartment. She would be happy to see her, but she was already feeling ambivalent about being back in the city.
What if things fell apart in Happy Harbor, and she had no choice but to go back? Of course, it wasn’t like Atlanta was the only place on earth to live. She could choose another place, but then she would start over for a third time.
After another half hour, she finally pulled into Melody’s apartment complex. It took her a while to find a parking space, but she finally did. Melody lived in a townhome that was inside of a large development. It was a pretty nice place, but Josie was already missing her large historical home.
Before she could even get out of her car, Melody came outside. She was yelling, wearing a short pink dress, white sandals, and had her hair pulled up into a ponytail.
“Josie!” she said, running in her direction with her arms out. Josie stepped out of the car and gave her a hug. She couldn’t really recall a time when the two of them had hugged before. They were friends, but not those kinds of friends.
Melody stepped back and looked at her, her eyes wide. “Wow. I didn’t think you would let me hug you.”
“Why?”
“Because you’ve always been a little... prickly... about things like that.”
Josie laughed. “Well, I guess I’ve changed since I left.”
Melody ushered her inside, and Josie was dismayed to see there was already a group of women sitting in a circle. The conversation was pretty quiet, and she felt like she was on display.
She recognized a couple of the women from the office, so she tried to avoid making eye contact with them. But then she turned and saw her former boss standing at the edge of the kitchen.
It hadn’t been that long, so Sandra looked the same as always. Prim and proper, put together, wearing a business suit. She smiled at Josie and waved.
Josie gave her a fake smile and waved back before finding a seat in the corner. She was there for Melody, and she was just going to get through the day.
The next hour was spent playing silly games and eating. It was all very typical bridal shower stuff. Cutesy decorations, little finger sandwiches, and so much small talk that it made Josie want to cry.
When the shower was over, Josie was so thankful that she finally got to leave. She would go to her hotel room, order room service, and?—
“Hey, Josie. It’s so good to see you,” Sandra said, tapping her on the shoulder.
Josie turned around slowly, as if Sandra might walk away if she didn’t turn quickly enough. No such luck.
“Oh, hey, Sandra,” she said with about as much enthusiasm as a sloth.
“Listen, I know there might be some hard feelings, but I was hoping we could chat before you leave town?”
“I really don’t see any need for that.”
“I don’t expect you to have warm feelings about me, but I would really appreciate just having a cup of coffee. Maybe tonight?”
“I don’t drink coffee at night.”
She turned to walk toward the bathroom, not because she had to go but because she figured it was the best place to hide out.
“Please, Josie.”
Happy Harbor must’ve given her some kind of infusion of empathy because she stopped dead in her tracks, sucked in a breath, blew it out, and turned back around. “Fine. I’m staying at the Russell Hotel. I’ll meet you in the lobby coffee shop at five thirty.”
She didn’t wait for Sandra to respond. She made her way to the bathroom, shut the door, and locked it. Somebody would have to use it at some point, but until then, she was making it her new home.
* * *
Josie sat in the coffee shop until 5:32 p.m. before she stood up and headed toward the door. Unfortunately, Sandra was jogging toward her before she could get out.
“I’m so sorry I’m late! You know how the Atlanta traffic is. I even left thirty minutes early.”
Josie turned around and went back toward the table she had been holding. “No problem,” she said in the most monotonous tone she could conjure.
Seeing that Josie already had her coffee, Sandra walked up to the counter, placed her order, and then came to sit down.
“I really appreciate you agreeing to meet me here.”
“To be honest, it’s just morbid curiosity.”
“First, I want to say I’m so sorry about how things ended. I don’t think I handled that situation as tactfully as I could have.”
“No? Throwing me out on my keister with no warning wasn’t the right move to make?”
“I’m sorry. But you have to admit, I had just cause.”
“Are you just here to rehash the whole thing?”
“How are things in... what is it called... Happy Harbor?”
“Things are great.”
“That’s such a funny name. Happy Harbor? It sounds like some fictional town.”
“Well, sometimes it feels that way.”
“I looked it up. It seems rather... small.”
“Have you been cyberstalking me or something? Get to the point, Sandra. I have dinner plans.” Her luxurious dinner plan was to go up to her room, order the biggest hamburger she could find, and watch whatever on Netflix would put her to sleep. Often it was true crime documentaries.
“It was always your attitude and personality that got you in trouble, Josie. Your work ethic and skills were never an issue. I just hate to see you floundering away in some small Southern town. Your experience is going to waste.”
“Why do you care? You didn’t care what happened to me that day I walked out of the office. Do you know how embarrassing that was to walk past everybody with my box of stuff?” That didn’t actually happen since she snuck out the back entrance, but Sandra didn’t need to know that.
“Like I said, I could’ve handled it better. I want to talk to you about something.”
“What?”
“I want you to come back. I want you to take back your old job, and I’ll even give you a fifteen percent raise.”
Josie stared at her like she didn’t understand what language she was speaking. She tilted her head to the side. “Excuse me?”
“I had no idea how our sales numbers were going to plummet when we let you go. To be honest, we’re on the verge of closing in the next few months if we can’t get it together.”
“Seriously? You have an entire staff of people who can bring in money. Me leaving would not bring down a whole company.”
Sandra sighed. “The clients like you. They want to work with you. They don’t want to work with any of the people who are currently there or anybody we’ve tried to replace you with.”
Josie felt a sense of satisfaction. “Oh, really?”
“Trust me, it gives me no pleasure in saying it. Either way, I have to save my company. I’m willing to let bygones be bygones if you are.”
“And what makes you think I would want to come back? Maybe I’m happy where I am now.”
Sandra chuckled under her breath. “I doubt that. You’re a big city girl. You like business. You like the stress and the rush. There’s no way you’re happy in some tiny little town running a restaurant.”
“You sure think you know a lot about my life now.”
“I did my research. A friend of mine has a house for rent. I can get it for you starting at the beginning of next month. You and Kendra will be happy there. I’ll even help with the cost of moving your things back here.”
Josie really hadn’t moved anything at all. It was sitting in storage, thanks to Melody helping her after she first went to Happy Harbor.
So many things were running through her head. This was her chance to get back into her field and not be stuck in her hometown forever. But it was her hometown who had come together to save the restaurant just days ago.
And then there was Walker. She had big feelings for him, and things were just getting started. But just as she had counseled her daughter, it wasn’t advisable for a woman to make decisions based on the possibility of a relationship with a man.
How much easier it would be to just get a regular paycheck again, plus a raise. Running the restaurant was stressful, and she felt the immense weight of responsibility on her shoulders.
Then again, what would her grandmother think? How much guilt would Josie feel if she sold everything her grandmother had worked so hard to build?
And what about Kendra? Even though she was likely going to graduate early and go to community college, could she leave her daughter in Happy Harbor while she moved back to Atlanta for her big career opportunity?
There were way too many things swirling around in her mind to make an immediate decision.
“This is all very sudden.”
Sandra nodded. “Look, I know this is a shock to you. I’m sure you never thought you had another opportunity to work in my company, but I need you. I will swallow my pride and say that I am desperate to get you back.”
“This has to be about what I want, not you.”
“I understand. Why don’t you take a couple of days to think about it and then we can meet again?”
“I’m leaving in the morning.”
“Oh, Josie, do you have to? I was hoping you could come into the office and see some of the changes we’ve made. Maybe just give me some of your input, even if you don’t decide to come back.”
“I have to get back. I have a restaurant to run.”
“If you’ll stay a couple of days, I’ll pay for your hotel and all of your meals. I’ll even give you a gift card for the gas to get back home.” Sandra’s desperation wasn’t an attractive look.
“Fine. I’ll stay for one extra day. But that’s it. Then I’m heading back to Happy Harbor.”
“Can you be at the office tomorrow morning around nine?”
Josie didn’t like early mornings. “I’ll be there at ten.”
Sandra nodded her head, stood up, and drank the last sip of her coffee. “Thank you. You will not regret this.”
“I haven’t agreed to anything. You need to remember that.”
Sandra smiled. “The Josie I know is definitely going to want to come back to work. That person is still inside of this softer version you seem to have created. I know who you really are. You need to remember that.”
As Sandra turned and walked out of the coffee shop, Josie wondered which version of herself was real. Was she still the same bitter, sarcastic, harsh workaholic? Or was she the softer version, as Sandra had called her?