Page 5 of Rascal

“No. Like I told Rascal, when we had a meeting a couple weeks ago, the question was asked if they’d be doing any cuts. He unequivocally said there would be no layoffs and no departments or degrees cut. Then, yesterday morning, he called us in and gave me along with a couple others the ax. I need to decide what I’m doing next because I don’t know how long they’ll allow me to stay in the house I’m in. Housing was provided as part of my package.”

Sarah grabbed a notebook and started taking notes. “Okay, I’ll start digging into what’s going on because this has all my senses tingling. Something sounds off. Did they give you a severance package?”

Meg walked over and sat down by Sarah. “No, in fact, he specifically said no one would be getting any severance. Honestly, after that I was so angry that I didn’t even stay to ask questions. Which is very unlike me. I’ll be okay money-wise because I’m a saver. Plus, living at the college and not paying rent made a huge difference on what I had to spend on. I also have a small life insurance policy from my parents just sitting in an account. It’s the thought he lied when the question was brought up earlier. I thought he was a fair president, but what don’t I know?”

Regina handed out glasses of iced tea before sitting down. “I bet Rascal, Baron, and the men could get to the bottom of it if they visited him.”

Meg smiled. “Rascal offered to scare him and bet that he could make my ex-boss pee himself.”

Laughter from all the women had Meg relishing this time. She had one good friend at the college who was close to her age, but she’d never had this large a group of women who had her back. They’d only all known each other a short while, but she could see herself here.

“Now, I want to know, how did you enjoy staying in Rascal’s house last night?” Winnie questioned.

Her cheeks heated. “We stayed up until three talking, then I slept in the spare bedroom.”

“Umm, that blush is telling us there might be more to this than you’re saying,” Jesse teased. Jesse had been one of the sisters she’d met. She’d worn bright pink coveralls with the bail bonds logo on it. She was what Meg would consider a tinier thing, but Jesse had said she was the mechanic for the bail bonds.

Meg debated what all to share, but she’d never been in this situation before. Wanting a man who she’d just met.

“After he made a special trip for the creamer I liked and handed me a perfect coffee, I leaned up and kissed the edge of his mouth as a thank you.”

A chorus of yells greeted her words.

“Knowing Rascal, he took that as an invitation. He’s a smart man but very methodical,” Regina grinned and winked at her.

“He did. He did that thing you read about in romance novels, grasping my hair, and then he gave me the best kiss I’ve ever had. I’m fifty-nine years old and felt like I was being kissed for the very first time.”

The women hugged and high-fived her and then were off chattering about how hot that was. She glanced at her watch. She needed to finish getting ready because they were leaving in fifteen minutes. Although she wanted to just sit here and daydream about the man who had swept into her life, she had a speech to give and service members to commemorate.

Chapter Four

Rascal walked over to check the podium and the cords for the sound system one more time. Neither he nor Meg needed to trip on anything. He moved the cords under the rug Bear had added to the stage.

They’d transformed the park today. The commemoration monument was right as you walked into the park from the street. Winnie and Remi had agreed that it would be the perfect place for people to stop for a picture when they visited it. The park covered one square block and had several large trees that offered shade but left plenty of area to soak up the sunshine. Usually, there were several picnic tables around the area.

Today, they’d added a stage along with a couple canopies with chairs set up in rows. Numerous tables and chairs dotted the area to provide plenty of seating. A food and drink tent was set up for the meal they were providing from the diner. Although the shop portion of the diner was open, food was only available at the park today for lunch.

The vacant lot beside the park kept drawing Rascal’s eye. It was an eyesore. It had originally been a grass parking lot for a business. The business had closed, and no one was taking care of the area. Maybe he should find out if it was for sale. Regina and Stella had been talking about how they wanted to learn to play pickleball, but there wasn’t anywhere available. Their high school was small enough that it didn’t have a tennis team, so there weren’t any courts in town.

He'd rather see the land used than just sit vacant. He’d put that on his list of to-do’s to check on. He glanced around the area again. He was on pins and needles, waiting to see Meg again.

“Watching for your lady friend, Dad?”

He scooped Joey out of Bear’s arms and then pulled his son in for a hug.

“Maybe.”

Bear nodded with a tiny smirk on his face. His son wasn’t quite so grumpy since he’d fallen for Winnie and had kids.

“Well, she seems really sweet. I’d love to see you have somebody to come home to.”

“Are you getting sentimental, son?”

“I know how much Winnie changed my life. You’ve had enough heartache. It’s time for you to have some love in your life.”

Rascal nodded at his arms. “I have love.”

“I’m not talking about that. I couldn’t ask for a better Papa for my kids. I just want more for you.”

---