Pierce is shaking with laughter. “I can’t with you, kid.”
I want to get upset, but even I am laughing at his stupid jokes.
“Get out,” I order, but neither one of them takes me seriously.
“Jokes aside,” Pierce says, “What’s wrong now, Henry?”
“You might have some advice since you’re married,” I say, sitting down straight. “How do you handle Leyla’s parents?”
“She doesn’t have any, and do me a favor. Never ask about them in front of her,” he says.
“So they had a fight, she doesn’t speak to them, and we should never invoke them,” Beacon tries to joke but Pierce actually glares at him.
“They are dead. And leave it alone, Beacon,” he warns him.
I have so many questions, but the way Pierce stares at Beacon tells me that I should keep my mouth shut and live with the curiosity for the rest of my life.
“Fuck, I’m sorry,” Beac actually apologizes. “I… That’s heavy.”
“It’s fine. Just never bring it up, please,” he says and then turns to me. “Why do you need help with the in-laws.”
“They hate me,” I answer and tell them how the drive from Portland to Baker’s Creek was.
Santiago asked me about the company, then the town, and then his parents’ accommodations. It was cordial but cold. Just like Sophia can get when she’s mad at me. Then her mother barely spoke to me, and her father gave me a long explanation about working hours, working for a living and not living for work, and that maybe I should try to be more empathic about my employees.
“I’d say be yourself, but that won’t help you,” Beacon jokes, and I glare at him. “Listen, I don’t have experience with parents because I don’t go steady. However, G’s family likes me because I try to be part of them. Like on Sundays, when they have dinner I help cook, wash dishes, or do chores and chat with them. It’s about opening to them and getting to know them.”
“This is the friend you’ve been hanging with since you were a toddler?” I ask, not amused by his advice. “They already like you.”
“That’s all my experience,” he offers. “Try it and while you’re at it, get rid of the asshole within. Nobody likes him.”
“Thank you?”
He shrugs. “Now, I need your help. As you know, Too Far from Grace’s The Most Epic tour starts in September, and there’s no way I can make curfew during the European leg.”
“I’m trying my best, but I doubt I can get that fixed, Beacon,” Pierce intercedes. “You have to cancel that tour. I wouldn’t even go outside of Baker’s Creek if I were you.”
He sighs. “Keep trying, please.”
With that, he stands up and leaves.
“Are you really trying?” I ask Pierce.
He nods. “Yeah, his agent is helping me too. But that’s not why I came to see you. I got a call from a Martina Edelstein.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose because I only need her banking account information so I can transfer the ten million dollars. We’re done.
“What did she say?”
“It was her lawyer. She wants to see you as soon as possible to discuss the agreement with you. I set up the meeting for the end of July. I’ll send you the details. She’ll be here at The Lodge,” he says. “I’m not your assistant. Why the fuck is she calling me?”
I rub my temples and then I explain to him who she is and why she might’ve contacted him.
“When did I become your personal lawyer?”
“You didn’t. I’m curious as to why she called you and not Everhart,” I answer. “He’s been the family lawyer for years. I…I’ll call him later. She can’t be here.”
“Does Sophia know about this?”
I nod and flinch. “Which is why I want to take care of that immediately. In the meantime, I guess I’ll go and visit her parents and check if the groceries were delivered as I requested.”
“Good luck with that,” he says and leaves before I do.
Henry
When I arrive at the Aragon’s new place, they aren’t there. Instead of texting Sophia or her brother to check where they are, I open my Twitter app. Knowing the town, they are already watching them closely. As I guessed, there are three new tweets.
The business guy arrived with three people who are now occupying one of the new homes.
I hate that they have us categorized like dolls, by profession.
Delia delivered groceries to the new house on Baker’s Lane. The family is pleasant, but we still don’t know who they are. The man who raised Henry?
Sophia is back in town. Rumor has it that she’s going to run Aldry’s Sweets and they are firing Doug.
Their nosiness doesn’t help me one bit, and when a new tweet pops I grunt.
There’s a rumor that the newbies are Henry’s in-laws.
Giving up with the gossip of this town, I decide to go back home, but before I take a step I notice Sophia walking across the street.
“Soph!” I yell, rushing toward her.
She stops and stares at me, arching a perfectly sculpted brow. “Are you stalking me?”
“I wouldn’t dare,” I answer. “I came to check on your parents, but they aren’t here.”
“It’s dinner time in New York. Santiago decided to take them out to the diner,” she states. “By the way, your dinner invitation was revoked.”
“Ouch,” I complain.
“It’s nothing personal,” she informs me. “Mom should be heading to bed in about an hour. She’s had a long day.”
I don’t tell her that it’s four o’clock, instead, I ask, “Why are you here and not with your parents?”
“I’m taking advantage of their absence,” she answers, pointing toward her house. “It’ll be nice to see the place before they have an opinion about every room and the décor.”
“Knowing you, I doubt you’d listen to them.”
“Exactly. It’s best to show them the finished product because then there’s nothing they can do or say. I don’t have to pretend I mixed up colors or patterns, or blame the store for sending the wrong product,” she says, waving at me. “See you later.”
She continues her way down to the house and I follow right behind.
“I don’t need company, Mr. Aldridge.”
“We could inspect it together,” I say. “They’ve been working on it day and night. Hopefully, it’ll be done this week.”
“What did you change?” She looks at the outside and says, “I’m just one person. This is…too big.”
“It’s functional,” I answer.
Since I memorized the brochure, I list all the amenities of the house.
“Why would I need five bedrooms?” she asks as we walk through the modern chef’s kitchen.
I don’t understand what makes it a chef’s kitchen, but that’s how it was described. Maybe it’s the big, luxurious, state of the art appliances.
“Santiago mentioned the house where my parents are staying has three bedrooms,” she says. “I can just move in with them.”