Overstayed Welcome #2
But it still won’t be more than the Felixes lost, than Bernie lost, and what this town is facing if they don’t stop the trend now.
Bob opens the door to let me in, nodding with a grunt as he lets me pass.
I enter, hearing him lock the door behind me as I join the group already seated.
Bec pats the seat next to her and squeezes my hand when I sit.
Bernie nods her head in my direction from the space opposite me.
Ashton keeps his head down, attending to Lottie in a highchair.
Bob sits on the other side of Bec as Griffin makes his way in with coffees for all of us.
He sets one down in front of me with a smile.
“Thanks for being here,” he says.
There’s another knock on the door, and I freeze, sure that it’s Alexander.
“That’s my cousin,” Bob says, getting up again.
When he returns, an older man follows, sporting a large white mustache that extends like handlebars across his face, similar to Bob’s. I can absolutely see the resemblance.
“Good morning, everyone,” the gentleman says, placing a briefcase on the table. “When Bob told me what was happening, I headed straight here.” He looks at Bob. “You should have called me sooner.”
“Sorry, Clyve. Everything happened so fast, and Mr. Winslow said his lawyer could take care of everything.”
“And that’s what I think is going to work in our favor.” He looks at all of us. “My name is Clyve Felix, and I am happily taking this case. Do you have the paperwork you signed with Mr. Winslow?”
Both Bob and Bernie nod, and each produce identical manilla envelopes, handing them to Clyve. Once in his possession, he turns to me. “Now I understand you signed an NDA that’s keeping you from sharing anything,” he says. I nod. “Would you happen to have a copy of that?”
“His secretary emailed a copy to me when I signed. I’ll see if I can find it.” I do a search and find it quickly, forwarding it to Clyve. He opens his computer and pulls it up, perusing it quickly.
“Yup, this is pretty standard. Any information you’ve learned after signing this is protected by law, unless it’s to report illegal activity.”
“I don’t know much, anyway,” I admit. “I don’t work in Mr. Winslow’s office.”
“I think we’ve guessed correctly on what he has planned,” Griffin says, looking at me.
I shrug, feeling like a fool for even being here. I can’t say anything I do know, and it’s not really that much anyway.
Clyve pushes his glasses back on the bridge of his nose, then leans in his chair. “Any conversations you had before this NDA was signed?”
I glance at Ashton, who still won’t look at me. Sighing, I think back trying to recall anything notable. All I remember is an extremely dull date where I mostly tuned out, and then later when he offered me a job.
“I can’t think of anything,” I say. “I’m really sorry I can’t be of more help.”
“It’s okay, dear. We’re going to keep researching this to see if there are any cracks we can take advantage of.” He nods at his card. “If you think of anything, even the most trivial thing, let me know, okay?”
The meeting disperses soon after, and I slowly get up to leave.
“Well, I guess this is goodbye,” I say, looking at my hands.
“Oh sweetheart, this has been quite the rollercoaster ride, hasn’t it?” Bec wraps an arm around me, and I lean into her. I’m trying my hardest not to cry, though I can feel the tears stinging my eyes.
“It was definitely not anything I planned for,” I say. “I never thought I’d leave my job in the same week I completed my biggest job to date. I suppose I have some thinking to do on what my next steps will be.”
“Well, there’s always Lahoma Springs,” Bernie says. “Griffin here will hire you on as a waitress.”
“Mom, I think that’s my choice,” Griff says, but he winks at me. “I might make an exception for you though.”
“Thanks, but no thanks,” I laugh, though I don’t really feel like laughing. I glance at Ashton. This time he’s watching me, and I think I see something in his expression. Something like regret, or maybe just a question.
Or maybe I’m just projecting.
I offer him a small smile. He’s still, and then he gives a slow nod.
“Thanks for helping,” he says, though his eyes don’t quite meet mine.
“I didn’t do much.”
“Still, you showed up. You didn’t have to. If I were you, I’d have booked it out last night and never looked back, but you didn’t do that.”
I glance at Bernie, who gives a small shake of her head. But secrets only make things worse.
“I was ready to,” I admit, turning back to him, “last night, when I was leaving your house. But Griffin and Bernie made me stay the night at the hotel, and Bernie talked me into coming this morning.” I take a deep breath.
“I’m serious when I say I want to help. Even though I’m leaving, I will if I can.
” I gather my purse, unsure of what to do next.
Because what I really want to do is tell Ashton how meaningful it was to meet him.
Instead, I lean down to Lottie’s level, the other most important person I met here.
“You are one special little girl,” I tell her, stroking my finger along her soft cheek. She grins, even as tears fill my eyes.
“Up?” She holds her arms toward me, and I look to Ashton. He hesitates and I start to stand.
“Go ahead,” he says, placing a hand on my shoulder.
I unbuckle the belt and pick her up, not even minding that the banana on her hands is getting on my silk blouse. I’ll probably smell like banana the whole drive to Sunset Bay, and I don’t care.
“I think I’ll miss you most of all,” I whisper, hugging her close.
She lays her little head on my shoulder, and beyond the banana, I smell the powder scent of her shampoo and feel the heat from her soft baby skin.
This little girl has helped me work through one of my biggest fears.
In a few hours, I’ll meet my new baby cousin for the first time in person, and it’s so much less scary because I’ve gotten to know Lottie first. I realize that even though I’m okay with never having children of my own, someday I might be able to love someone else’s child the way I love Lottie.
“She’s going to miss you too,” Ashton says, standing close to me. His hand brushes the side of my hip, sending a sudden electric shock through me. “I think she wishes we had more time.”
I look at him, taking in the gold of his eyes, the smoothness of his beautiful face, the crinkle in his forehead, and the slight twitch of his smile.
“Maybe in another lifetime,” I say as I nod. Then I lift Lottie so I can kiss her on the cheek before handing her off. “Until then, right?”
I say one last goodbye, then I head out of the restaurant without looking back, making my way to the hotel so I can get my things and leave Lahoma Springs for good.