Chapter 6
Chapter Six
A fter breakfast, Frankie had grabbed a shower and then decided that working on the back deck was too distracting, so with her sister’s okay, she’d taken over the office. She needed to get these logos done and for that, she needed to be able to concentrate.
This might technically be a vacation, but Frankie couldn’t turn down work of any kind. Not with her financial issues. She still had the children’s book illustrations to do as well. More than that, Lucas wouldn’t want to recommend her if she couldn’t deliver the work she’d promised.
What she was really hoping for was that Lucas would recommend her to some of his friends, maybe give her business a little mention on one of his YouTube cooking shows. Or anywhere on his social media. Anything that might result in some new jobs. She hoped.
Thinking about her debt only depressed her. And this was too beautiful a place to feel like that.
Instead, she made herself focus on refining and finalizing the logo he’d chosen, giving him several versions. One that could be used on a dark background, one that could be used on a light background, and a transparent PNG version that could be easily sized up or down and used pretty much anywhere.
It took her just under two hours to complete and when she attached them to an email and sent them off to him, she exhaled a happy sigh. It was so good to have that done.
She texted him, just to let him know his files were waiting for him in his inbox. Logos are emailed! Thanks so much for the work.
His response came quickly. Off to look at them right now. Thank you! Any chance I can talk you into joining me for dinner? Bring everyone. Archie included. Need taste-testers for some summer salads for a new series I’m doing.
Frankie let out a little laugh. Any chance? As if she needed her arm twisted. Still, she didn’t know what Harper would want to do. She generally went over to Mitch’s every evening now. I’ll talk to them and see!
She left her phone and laptop on the desk and went to find her sister. Willa was lying by the pool, that much she knew. Whether or not Harper had joined her, Frankie wasn’t sure. “Harper? Where are you?”
“In here.”
She followed Harper’s voice to the bedroom, where Harper was sitting on the bed, laptop on her lap, typing away. There was no sign of Archie, however. “I’m sorry. Did you need the office? I didn’t mean to take it away from you.”
Harper shook her head. “I’m just answering emails. You need it more than I do. Believe it or not, I might have another client. And they’re willing to work with me via Zoom, text, and phone calls.”
“Who is it?”
Harper laughed. “You know I can’t tell you that.”
“Oh, right. Sorry. Where’s Archie?”
“Down by the pool with Willa. Although he’s probably in the shade. Or in the pool.”
Frankie smiled. “Does he like the water?”
“He loves it.” Harper pushed the laptop aside and gave Frankie her full attention. “Did you get the logos done for Lucas?”
“I did and that’s why I’m here. He wants to know if we can all come for dinner. He’s trying out some new summer salads and wants opinions, I guess.”
“That sounds great,” Harper said. “But I have my meeting with Mitch at six. What time does he want us there?”
“I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if we came after that. Maybe seven fifteen, seven thirty. Would that work?”
“Sure. Mitch won’t mind if I tell him I have to leave right at seven.”
“Okay, great. I’ll see if that works for Lucas.”
“Once you do that, come back and sit with me.”
Frankie had already turned to head back to the office. She faced Harper again, eyes narrowing. “Why? What’s going on?”
“Willa sent me Buck’s email. I drafted a note to him, but I want your input.”
Frankie leaned on the doorframe. “You really think this is a good idea?”
“I don’t know if it is or not. I guess we won’t know that until we communicate with him some more.”
Frankie gave a little nod. “For Willa’s sake, I hope this works out. I can tell that she has high expectations for this. She was upset that our meeting with Sharlene went badly. She was hoping for another grandmother.”
Harper scooted to the edge of the bed. “You didn’t tell me she was upset.”
Frankie shrugged. “She let go of it pretty quickly, but I think that was what spurred her into trying to find out the truth about Buck.”
“Poor kid. It’s not like she doesn’t have your parents, though. And Tom’s mother is still around.”
“Tom’s mother is too busy with her country club friends and charity activities to be much of a grandmother, which is fine with me, but not so fine with Willa. Sadly, they’ve never had a great relationship. And my parents do what they can, but they’re not as mobile as they used to be.”
“Buck’s got to be in his late seventies or early eighties. She can’t think he’ll be much different.”
Frankie sighed. “Willa’s a bit of a dreamer, which is a great quality, don’t get me wrong. She latches on to things quickly and she gets her hopes up pretty fast. His age might not be something she’s really considered.”
“And you’re worried she’s going to be let down.”
“I am,” Frankie admitted. “She might be a grown woman, but she’s also still my little girl. Always will be. I can’t help but feel protective of her.”
Harper smiled. “Then we need to get to know Buck as much as we can before we meet him.”
“ If we meet him.”
“If.” Harper nodded. “Text Lucas about dinner, then we’ll work on this email.”
“Right.” Frankie hooked her thumb over shoulder. “Left my phone in the office. I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll be here.”
Frankie went to the office and sat at the desk. She picked up her phone to answer Lucas, and found he’d already texted her.
Those logos are fire. I could not love them more. Thank you. I’ve already sent them to my merch manager to get new T-shirts into the store. I want to pay you!! What’s easiest for you?
She smiled, absolutely pleased with his response. What would be the easiest way for him to pay her? A check would just sit in her purse until she went home, since she used a local bank. What she needed was one of those cash app things. Whatever was popular these days.
She’d have to ask Willa. Then it occurred to her that she’d sometimes sent money to Willa via SpendFriend, although she hadn’t done that in a while. Maybe that would work?
Wait. What was she thinking? Frankie’s online store, with its rare sales, used Stripe. She could probably send him an invoice that way. She just needed to look into it. If she was really going to do this, she had to know how to work the financial side of things, or she’d come off as unprofessional and unorganized. That was no way to prosper.
She texted Lucas back. I’m so happy you like them! I loved doing them. I’ll invoice you shortly. About dinner, is 7:15 okay?
Sure, that would be fine. Everyone coming?
She hadn’t asked Willa yet, but Willa was all about Lucas, so Frankie couldn’t see her staying home alone. Yes!
Great!
Frankie stuck her phone in her pocket and went out to the living room. She called out to Harper. “Hey, I’ll be right back. I need to talk to Willa for a sec.”
“Okay,” Harper called back.
Frankie jogged down the steps and went out to the pool where Willa was sunbathing. Archie was, as Harper had predicted, snoozing in a shady spot nearby. He looked suspiciously damp.
Willa had earbuds in and sunglasses on, but when Frankie’s shadow covered her, she sat up. “Hey.”
“You in for dinner at Lucas’s house tonight at seven fifteen? I hope so, because I already told him yes.”
Willa smiled. “Um, yes . Like I would miss that.”
“Pretty much what I figured. And seven-fifteen is good with you?”
“Yep.”
Frankie sat on the chaise next to Willa’s. “Listen, about this whole thing with Buck…I know you want it to work out. I can tell you’re excited about the possibility of having new family. A grandfather, especially. But until we get to know him—”
“I know,” Willa said. “Things with Sharlene weren’t good, and you think it could go the same way, or worse, with Buck.”
Frankie nodded. “It might. We just have no way of knowing yet.”
Willa stared out at the water. “It would be really cool to have another grandfather.” She looked up at Frankie again. “But not at the expense of your wellbeing. If you and Aunt Harper decide he’s not someone you want in your life, then that’s it. It’s over. I’m not about to pursue a relationship with him separate from you two. You guys matter so much more.”
Frankie smiled and took Willa’s hand, feeling great affection toward her daughter for understanding. “Thank you. For your sake, I hope it works out.”
“Are you sure you mean that? You didn’t seem very enthusiastic when I first told you guys I’d found him.”
“Let’s chalk that up to being fresh off of meeting Shar. He might be a very different person.” Frankie didn’t completely believe that, but she was at least willing to see how the email exchange went.
Willa pushed her sunglasses onto the top of her head and squinted against the sun. “You don’t really think he will be, though, do you?”
Frankie didn’t want to lie to her daughter. “No. I don’t. But I’m doing my best to keep an open mind. Now, I should get back upstairs. Your aunt is waiting for me so we can craft this email to him.”
Willa smiled. “You’re a good mom, you know that?”
“I try.” It was nice to hear the words, though. “Don’t forget about dinner.”
“Like I could.”
Frankie went back inside and up to Harper’s room. She stood in the doorway. “You want anything before we start this? Something to drink or whatever?”
“No, I’m good.” Harper picked up her laptop and got off the bed. “I’ll come out there and we can sit on the couch. It’ll be easier.”
“Okay.”
They settled in next to each other and Harper opened up a window in her email provider. She typed in the address Willa had given her.
“You know,” Frankie said. “He’s going to have your email address once you send this.”
She shrugged. “Shar has yours.”
“She does. And she’s been emailing me, trying to get us to talk to her again.”
Harper sighed. “Have you said anything in return?”
“Nothing. I don’t think I’m going to. What’s the point?” Frankie stared at the blank screen. “What do you want to say to him?”
Harper paused, then put her fingers to the keyboard and began to type. Frankie read as the words appeared.
Hello, Buck. My name is Harper Calhoun, but I was born Harriet Martin. There was no father listed on my birth certificate, just a mother, named Sharlene Martin. My sister, Frankie, aka Frances, is sitting here with me as I type this. We recently met with Sharlene and found out that you are our father. At least that’s what she led us to believe.
She looked over at Frankie. “What do you think so far?”
Frankie nodded. “It’s the truth. That’s always a good way to start.”
Harper started typing again. Our meeting with Sharlene… The cursor blinked on the screen. Harper sighed. “I don’t know what to tell him. I mean, the truth, obviously, but I don’t know how to phrase it.”
Frankie thought, trying to put words together. “Our meeting with Sharlene didn’t go as we anticipated, and we’ve decided not to pursue a relationship with her at this time?”
“Kind of harsh, but also really honest,” Harper said. “I think it’s good. It’ll let him know we aren’t going to be played.”
“The way I see it,” Frankie said. “The ball is in our court. It’s up to us if this goes beyond an email.”
Harper typed the line in. After it, she added some more. If you are our father and would like to talk further, please respond and tell us about yourself.
She looked at Frankie. “Good?”
Frankie nodded. “Short and to the point. Works for me.”
Harper put both their names at the bottom. Then she hit Send.