Chapter 17 #2
She arrived at Dr. Bridges’ practice and spoke to the receptionist.
“Oh, Atticus is such a love. The entire staff thinks he’s the best boy ever.” She handed over a printout. “This has the shots he received today. I’ll have him brought up to you.”
Atticus arrived with a dark blue bow around his neck, grinning from ear to ear.
She bent and hugged him. “You look so handsome, Atticus.” Rising, she took the leash the tech offered to her. “Thanks so much.”
“Atticus is a favorite. He’s welcome back any time.”
Summer took the pup to her SUV and got him settled in the back seat. Autumn had told her to place a blanket down, and Atticus would ride in peace.
She drove to Triple H, where Atticus went to work with Eli several times a week.
The patients got a kick out of him visiting, and Eli said the staff was always asking about the dog.
Kelby had started an Instagram account for Atticus, and he had several thousand followers.
She took a couple of shots of the dog and forwarded them to Kelby, hoping she could use them.
Before they went inside the hospital, Summer waited until he peed in a bush, telling him, “No going outside and working up a sweat. You look good for Eli now, so let’s keep it that way.”
They rode the elevator up to Eli’s office, where they were greeted by Eli’s assistant.
“I’m Nancy Nichols,” she said, offering Atticus a treat and then shaking hands with Summer. “It’s so nice to meet you. Eli tells me you’re an author.”
“Hopefully. I’m working on a series now.”
“I’m a voracious reader. Mystery. Romance. Thrillers. I gobble up everything.”
Though she already had Becky as a beta reader, Summer thought it wouldn’t hurt to add one more.
“I don’t mean to put you on the spot, Nancy, but would you consider doing some beta reading for me?” she asked, explaining what it would entail.
“Absolutely,” Nancy told her. “That would be so much fun.”
She got Nancy’s email address and promised to send her completed manuscript to her.
As she headed home, Summer was glad she’d found a couple of true readers who would hopefully give her good feedback.
She still didn’t know if she wanted to pitch the series or publish it on her own.
No decision needed to be made yet, though.
She needed to get much more written before even thinking about publishing.
Summer arrived back at Autumn’s and made herself a sandwich, then emailed both Becky and Nancy a copy of her first completed manuscript. Then she read over the last three chapters she’d completed and did some editing on them.
The doorbell rang, and she looked at her watch. It had to be Jen.
Hurrying to the foyer, she opened the door. Jen fell into Summer’s arms, and they danced a jig.
“I’m so glad you’re here in Hawthorne.”
“Not half as happy as I am to be here,” Jen replied. “The moment the plane took off and we were in the air, it was as if everything weighing me down just floated away. I hope you don’t mind that I came here first. I just had to see you.”
They hugged again. “Let me get my purse. We’ll go over to West and Kelby’s. I think you’re really going to get along with Kelby.”
Summer retrieved her purse and locked the door. On the way, she took Jen by the town square, pointing out various places to her.
“I grew up in a small town,” Jen revealed.
“Okay, maybe not as small as Hawthorne, but it had about fifty thousand. New York seemed so huge when I got there. D.C. was the only big city I’d ever visited before.
I’ll tell you now, it’s nice to be somewhere like Hawthorne after spending several years among all those skyscrapers and concrete. ”
She texted Kelby that they were on their way and then said, “If you’re not ready to take a new job just yet, it’ll be okay. And if you aren’t interested in the work SSC does, there’ll be something out there for you. I think it’s important to take your time and not rush into anything new too soon.”
“After I booked my flight, I spent a couple of hours on Kelby’s website,” Jen said. “I also looked at websites she’s built for her clients. Took a look at different social media accounts she handles. I’m excited about this opportunity, Summer. Really excited.”
They arrived, and Kelby greeted Jen warmly.
Kelby took them to the kitchen, where she plied them with homemade oatmeal raisin cookies and herbal tea.
Talk immediately turned to Kelby’s company and the homework Jen had done.
Soon, the pair was speaking as if they were old friends, finishing one another’s sentences.
They pitched ideas back and forth, and Summer saw that Jen really would be an asset to SSC if Kelby extended a job offer to her.
Kelby showed Jen her home office and some of the accounts she was working on. The two women’s enthusiasm bubbled over as they continued firing ideas at one another.
Finally, Kelby said, “If you decide not to come to work with me, I’ll understand. I may have to kill you, but I do understand.”
Jen laughed. “Are you making me an offer?”
“Absolutely.” Kelby named a salary and briefly mentioned some benefits, which Summer thought were very generous.
“How soon can I start?” Jen asked eagerly.
“Are you serious?” Kelby asked. “I’d have you start tomorrow if I could. I know you want to visit with Summer, though. And you still live in New York.”
“Summer works during the day on her novel,” Jen said.
“I’m not going to pass up this opportunity to begin working with you immediately.
Besides, who knows when that baby will decide to make an appearance?
I want to be well-grounded in everything about SSC so you won’t have to worry about business while you’re on maternity leave. ”
“Well, I will be in the house, so if you did have any questions, I could help. All while feeding and burping the baby, of course.”
They all laughed, and Jen said, “If I could, I’d like to stay with you for a week.
Get my feet wet with everything SSC is about.
Visit some with Summer. Then I’ll go back to New York and shut down my life there.
My apartment came furnished, so I only have my clothes and a few personal items to pack up, and frankly, there isn’t much of either of those.
I’ll also need to find a place to live.”
“Believe when I say this, Jen. You can live with West and me for a couple of months. That way, you can take your time in finding a place to live. We have a lot of room here.”
“I can’t impose,” Jen protested.
“You aren’t,” Kelby assured her. “This house is huge. You can take a room upstairs and see as much or as little of us as you wish. We can set up an office for you upstairs, as well. Then when I have the baby, you can work from there or from my office. We’ll work out the details later. Can I hug you?”
Jen embraced Kelby. “You have made my dream come true. This is such an exciting opportunity, to be on the ground floor of a new company.”
“Well, I get Jen tonight,” Summer said. “After she unpacks. I want her to have dinner with Chance and me.”
“I’ll go get my suitcase now,” Jen said. “I’ll unpack and then take you home again.” She smiled. “I am very interested in making the acquaintance of this cowboy who’s stolen your heart.”
“Watch it,” Kelby said, laughing. “That’s my brother you’re talking about.”
Half an hour later, Jen drove them back to Autumn’s house, where Summer went to the kitchen and packed up what she needed to make dinner for the three of them at the ranch.
“I didn’t know you cooked,” Jen said.
“I’m learning to. You’re getting pork chops tonight, one of the few things in my repertoire. They’re Chance’s favorite.”
“So, that’s how you landed him. Through his stomach.”
“It didn’t hurt,” she joked. “But the sex isn’t bad either.”
Her friend’s eyes widened. “Summer Sutherland, we really have a lot to discuss.”
“Yes, we do,” Summer said. “More than you could ever imagine.”