Chapter 35
Catherine
“Well, it’s about time,” Hallie said with a huff as she tossed a pair of oven mitts on the kitchen counter.
I paused halfway through the door with my oversized purse on my shoulder. “What’s about time?”
Hallie swung her auburn blowout in the direction of the living room. “Zach has something he’d like to talk to you about.”
It took a minute to register that Zach was sitting on the couch.
Zach was downstairs.
I poked my head back outside and looked around.
“What are you doing?!” Hallie hissed.
“Checking to see if pigs are flying.”
She cackled. “Get in here.”
Maybe I shouldn’t have been surprised. He had spent the weekend with Hayes and me, traipsing around DC.
The three of us had had a blast, and it gave Hallie a little time to herself.
I dumped my bag by the door and kicked off my shoes.
“Something smells good,” I said as I peered over to see what she was simmering on the stovetop. “Are we having dinner together?”
Please say yes. Please say yes. Please say yes.
“Yep,” Hallie said. “I felt like cooking tonight. The boys will be up in a bit, and I think Savannah’s heading over after she closes the shop.” There was a spring in her step, and she was humming.
I caught Zach peering over the couch. When his eyes met mine, I hitched my thumb over my shoulder, pointing at Hallie. “What is going on with your mother?” I whispered loudly as I padded into the living room. “Is she possessed?”
“I heard that!” she hollered back.
Zach snickered but tried to hide it by ruffling his hand through his reddish-brown hair.
Hayes was working in the study but had the doors closed. I gave him a little wave to let him know I was back before plopping down on the opposite end of the couch.
“So,” I said as I curled my feet under my butt. “What’s up? Your mom said you were waiting for me to get back?”
“Yeah. Uh…I—um.” He rubbed the back of his neck and continued talking to the rug beneath the coffee table. “I was just…wondering if you were lookin’ for help.”
Oh.
“Help? Like, you want a job?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, barely lifting his gaze from the floor.
I sat a little taller. “Well, Zach, I have been thinking about hiring someone. Can you tell me a little bit about your qualifications?”
He cocked his head. “My…qualifications?”
I nodded like I was totally prepared for an impromptu interview. “What do you excel at that would help us out at the Learning Cottage?”
Dark brows drew in together. “I can…take out the trash? And…like…clean up and stuff?”
“Are you good with animals?”
He nodded.
“How do you feel about animal poop?”
Zach cracked a smile. “It doesn’t bother me.”
“Good. There’s a lot of that,” I said flatly.
His smile grew.
“Can you be reliable and show up on time?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said with a confident nod.
“Do you feel comfortable working with kids?”
Zach paused but offered a reluctant nod.
“What about working with kids and teens around your age?”
Doubt was written across his face. Zach shook his head. “Um, not really.”
I waved it off. Truthfully, I could use a little help around the cottage—just keeping things tidy and making sure the animals were taken care of if I got held up doing something else.
I didn’t need full-time help, or even part-time help.
More like a sporadic helping hand. But if Zach was putting himself out there, then dammit, I was going to find a place for him.
“That’s fine. It’s not a deal-breaker. It just tells me where I can put you,” I said.
Zach looked rather relieved at that.
“What about during the school year? Are you just looking for a summer job, or do you want to work some afternoons when you get home from school?”
“Uh…” Zach glanced at Hallie, then back at me. “If Mom’s cool with it.”
“Let’s talk about your starting pay,” I said. “Do you have a rate in mind?”
His eyes widened. Zach looked like a deer in the headlights. “No?”
“I can start you at minimum wage,” I said.
He stammered. “O-okay.”
I shook my head and whispered, “Ask for more.”
“Uh…okay?” Zach rubbed the back of his neck. “I’d…I’d like to make…eight—”
I shook my head and pointed up.
“Nine?” he hedged.
I kept pointing up.
Zach cocked his head. “Ten dollars an hour?”
“Keep going,” I stage-whispered as I caught Hallie’s amused smile from the corner of my vision.
Zach and I played our little game until he asked for—or rather guessed—a number that was fitting.
“You’re hired,” I said as I extended my hand to shake his. “I look forward to working with you, and I’ll see you bright and early at seven a.m.”
“What? Seven? In the morning?” Zach’s excitement crumbled. “But…it’s summer.” He sighed, clearly crestfallen at the idea of having to get up that early.
I shrugged. “That’s the job.”
In the kitchen, Hallie waited with bated breath to see if Zach was going to decide that it wasn’t worth it.
After a moment of contemplation, Zach nodded. “Yes, ma’am. I’ll be ready to work.”
“Good. Meet me in the kitchen, or down at the stables. We’ll take Maisey and Elvis up to the cottage. It might be a messy day. Do you have work boots?”
Savannah appeared in the kitchen, jingling and jangling with all the jewelry she wore.
Zach shook his head. “No.”
“What size do you wear?” I asked.
“Tens,” he said.
I craned my neck over the top of the couch to pitch my voice into the kitchen. “Sav, can you open up early tomorrow so I can get a pair of boots?”
“Sure. For you?” she asked around a giant bite of a biscuit that was fresh from the oven and still steaming. It made her look like a fire-breathing dragon. And, frankly, the aura fit.
“For my newest employee,” I said, motioning to Zach.
Savannah shoved the entire biscuit in her mouth and mumbled something that sounded like, “First pair?”
Zach nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
She pumped her fist in the air, clinking her bracelets together. “Hell yeah!”
“New game plan,” I said. “We meet in the kitchen at seven and go into town for boots, supplies, and a stop at the Moo Brew, and then we get to work.”
Zach looked…He almost looked excited. My heart swelled. Hallie wore a pleased smile as she hustled back to the oven and pulled out a cast-iron skillet.
“Don’t wear jeans that are tight around your ankles tomorrow,” Savannah said to Zach.
He looked bashful at having her direct attention. Then again, most men had the same reaction when it came to Savannah Scott. “I’m gonna check to make sure I have a clean pair,” he said as he jumped off the couch, ran through the kitchen, and dashed up the stairs.
The door opened, and Levi sauntered in. Mason was hot on his heels, holding a bouquet of pale pink roses mixed with sprigs of honeysuckle.
“You boys ready to eat?” Hallie asked without turning around.
“What’s for dinner?” Levi asked.
“Chicken and dumplings, snap beans, sweet corn, and biscuits,” Hallie said as she lifted the lid of a bubbling pot and gave it a stir. “And apple dumplings with ice cream.”
Levi groaned as he pressed his cowboy hat to his chest, like he was saying a prayer of thanks.
Mason looked at Hallie as he held the flowers, and Savannah’s eyes met mine.
The study doors clicked as Hayes stepped out, having clocked out for the day. “Hey, sweethea—”
“Shush!” I hissed as I swatted him away.
Savannah and I didn’t dare breathe as Mason sidled up to where Hallie was parked in front of the stove.
Savannah clapped her hands over her mouth to stifle a squeal as we watched Mason lay his hand on her back and offer her the flowers.
For a moment, Hallie didn’t move. Neither did Mason.
Savannah was braced to jump and cheer like a parent on the sidelines as their kid clumsily dribbled a soccer ball toward their first goal, and I was right there with her. Hallie deserved buckets of happiness.
“Oh my god,” I whispered in shock as Hallie’s cheeks flushed, and the corners of her mouth turned up in a smile.
“She’s speechless!” Savannah squeaked in barely restrained glee.
Levi sauntered over to Savannah. “That’s my boy,” he said, offering a fist bump that Savannah returned. “He finally got up the courage to make a move.”
Hayes sat on the couch and pulled me down into his lap. “You’re watching them like they’re an exhibit at the zoo,” he whispered.
But Hallie and Mason were none the wiser to their onlookers. He spoke softly to her, keeping whatever was said between just the two of them.
Hallie beamed, blinking away tears of happiness. She set down the spoon she was using to babysit the pots on the stove and took the flowers from him.
“Let me grab a glass to put ’em in,” Mason said as he moved to the cabinet, where the dinner glasses, fancy coffee cups, and the random assortment of eclectic mugs that everyone actually used were kept.
“You know what?” Hallie clutched the flowers to her chest. “I’ve got a nice vase upstairs. I’ll grab that and get these in some water, then we’ll eat.”
“I can help get supper on the table,” Mason said.
Hallie waved him off. “I’ll be back down in a second.” She paused and looked down at the flowers, then back at him. “Thank you, Mason.” Hallie looked positively giddy as she hustled up the stairs.
“Attaboy!” Levi said, slapping Mason on the shoulder as soon as Hallie was out of earshot.
Mason looked pleased with himself. “Just…don’t make it a big deal.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Is it a big deal?”
“Do we get to have another wedding?” Savannah pressed.
Mason held his hands out. On the outside, he looked cool as a cucumber. But there was a twitch to his beard that told me he was smiling. “I’ll let you know when it’s a big deal. Until then, just don’t give her a hard time.”
Savannah reared back like that was the most ridiculous thing she had ever heard. “Hard time? I was about to lock y’all in a room until you decided to stop flirting and finally date. Or bang.”
“Just don’t break up,” Hayes said. “I don’t want to have to find a new groundskeeper and a new estate manager.”
“And no sex in the stables. That’s my place of work,” Levi said, making Hayes break out into a coughing fit. Levi looked at us and groaned as he put two and two together. “Don’t tell me y’all have…”