Page 8 of The Promise Of You

“You won’t change him, Chloe. And maybe he will show you more love and appreciation if you work for him. I really hope he does. But I’m not holding my breath. And, Chloe? I love you. I really do. I’m proud and fucking happy you’re my sister. But my family? My family is my band. I hope you find that someday.”

Something breaks inside me at her words. We exchange a long glance, defiance, and anger, and in the end love, so much love. When our eyes water, Fi turns back to throwing stones in the lake, while I go back up to the house.

“Rhonda is retiring at the end of the month,” is my father’s answer to my carefully worded opening about me having an interest in joining his firm.

“Rhonda is your receptionist,” I answer stupidly.

“Start at the bottom, show your worth.”

I take a deep breath. “I have an MBA, Dad. Maybe I can start at the bottom in an actual department? Or as Luther’s assistant?” Luther is the CFO. Being his assistant would at least put me in the mix of things, get me acquainted with the business. I mean, surely Dad is thinking about a succession plan or just retirement down the road? I know there’s time. I’m in no way thinking I should push him out the door. But look at Uncle Kevin. He died suddenly, and now they’re scrambling to figure out who’s going to run the restaurant in Emerald Creek.

Just that should give Dad pause.

“Darling, you don’t know your place. If I hired you for one of them top jobs, guys would talk. Nobody cares about your fancy em-bee-ey. And, I’ll have you know, a receptionist is important.”

My toes curl in my shoes, and I can almost feel the hair raise on the back of my neck. There’s no point arguing. Just like I did with Tucker, I shove the feelings away, and put a thick lid on them.

“I’m not sure that’s right for me, Dad.”

“Didn’t think so, honey.”

“What’s with the U-Haul?” my cousin Brendan asks. Uncle Kevin has been laid to rest. Aunt Dawn and Mom face their grief together, both heavily medicated and slightly inebriated, which is not the best combination but the one that works right now. Brendan and I are sitting on the steps that lead to the wraparound porch of his parents’ house. The reception is coming to an end, but despite the reason I’m here, I find peace. I don’t want to go just yet.

Fi and I drove here in my car so we’d have some alone time before she flies back out, and so we don’t have to spend another hour or so in a confined space with our parents. And yeah, I’m not dealing with unhooking and re-hooking the small trailer, so it’s here with me.

“Broke up with my boyfriend.”

“So you U-Haul your shit everywhere? That’s kinda dramatic,” Brendan says sweetly. He’s always been nice in a quiet, mountain-man kind of way.

I count on my fingers. “I lost my apartment. I lost my job. I don’t know where I’m going to end up. And I didn’t have time to plan, what with Uncle Kevin passing.”

“His timing was shit, I’ll give you that,” he manages to joke.

I place my hand on his forearm. “I’m really sorry about him, Brendan. I mean it. I’m sorry I didn’t keep in touch more, but you guys mean a lot to me. If there’s anything I can do, you know, just... I’m here.” That’s the kind of stupid thing I’m prone to say at a funeral. What the hell can I do now? “I can stay a few days and check in on Aunt Dawn while I’m at the lake house, you know. In case you need to go back to your cows or…” What does Brendan do again? Some real Vermonty stuff.

“Sheep,” he volunteers with a smirk.

“Right. Sheep.”

We fall silent for a while in the gentle glow of twilight.

“Actually, there might be something you could help with while you’re here.”

“Yeah? Great!”

“I don’t know anything about restaurants,” I say. After everyone left and Fiona got a ride to the airport, Brendan and I moved to the study, a dark paneled room with a legit desk, shelves with trophies, deep leather armchairs. Aunt Dawn is there, too, and Brendan’s younger sisters Daphne and Phoebe. They see this as a business meeting.

“But you’re a businesswoman, sweetheart,” Aunt Dawn says. “A restaurant is just a business like any other. It’s actually much simpler. Just a few employees. One location. Preparing dinner. How complicated can it get? I mean, you’ve managed whole departments. And your recent bump in the road is not on you.”

She knows all this about me, and I haven’t even stayed in touch? The warmth of her love spreads through me like sunshine. She continues her plea, but she’s already won me over. How could I let her down? She needs someone to run the restaurant while they put it on the market. It needs to stay open for them to get the best price out of it. They believe that considering how well the restaurant is doing, it shouldn’t take more than a few months to sell. I’ll be paid a fair salary. And it’ll add hands-on experience that would factor favorably on my resume. “There’s a chef, right? No cooking involved on my end?”

She cackles. “Your uncle Kevin couldn’t cook to save his life, bless his heart.” The meds are definitely at work in the relaxed way she’s dealing with all this, but she still has her wits about her. “It’s just a numbers game, honey. I’m sure you’d have a lot of fun doing it while you get back on your feet.”

I sometimes watch reruns of Restaurant Disasters. It doesn’t look remotely fun. But I get what she’s saying. And from what I know, the restaurant my uncle owned is a small, fine dining place with a stellar reputation. Not the stuff that draws audiences on TV.

I’ll just be tucked away in the office, making sure bills are paid and remittances are posted.

“The restaurant lease comes with the cutest cottage, so you won’t have to worry about finding a place to stay. It’s adorable, and your uncle Kevin barely used it. It’s all yours!”

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