Page 18 of One Moment in Time
‘And if you do, I’ll help you spend it,’ Eileen quipped.
It was the biggest property of her career and she knew that, right now, Kurt was working out how much commission that would be. A dollar or two short of $240,000. Okay, so tax had to be deducted, but it would still be an eye-watering amount of money. It would be enough for her to take a break, but what would she want to do? Travel? Remodel her apartment? Buy a flash car? Nope, nope, and hell no. Urgh, she was actually beginning to annoy herself with all this negativity now. Enough.
Reaching behind her, she pulled her purse from the back of her chair and brought it round to her desk, then snapped her laptop shut, giving herself an internal talking-to as she did so.Right, Eileen, get it together. Let’s do this. Go set up this house, then you can take the rest of Saturday off, lie on the sofa and watch old romcoms.The Proposal. The Holiday.Maybe throw in aPretty Womanor aHow To Lose A Guy In 10 Days. Then tomorrow? Arse out of bed, an early morning workout, then over to the open house, get this pad sold and bank a lovely cheque.
Satisfied that she had a semblance of a plan, she was just about to go when her cell rang. Trevon.
‘If you’re calling to moan at me because I’m not in the gym, spare your breath. I’m a middle-aged woman on the edge today and only carbohydrates and laziness are going to help me.’
To others, Aiden’s best mate was a thirty-something, successful, strikingly impressive health and fitness entrepreneur, a self-made man, an influencer and a catch, with – at the last count – about a million followers on Instagram. To Eileen, he was just Aiden’s friend of many years, the guy who made her laugh, and her fairly regular weekend training partner. There was no fixed routine, but she always took the same cross-fit class at one of his gyms on a Saturday and Sunday, and more often than not, he showed up and either did the classes with her or shared a drink at the juice bar afterwards.
‘Oh damn. Let me guess –The HolidayorHow To Lose A Guy In 10 Days?’
‘I hate that you know me this well. How’s Aiden?’
‘Hanging in there. I’ll let him tell you the latest. Anyway, gotta go. I’m on my way to the gym – was just checking if I’d see you there.’
‘Only if someone forces me at gunpoint.’ A beep. She checked the screen. Incoming call. ‘Trevon, Aiden is on the other line.’
‘No worries. Catch ya.’
‘Catch ya back.’ She sounded ridiculous and felt even worse when she tried to use modern lingo, but at least it made Trevon laugh as she hung up. She switched the line. ‘Hi, honey, how are you doing?’ she asked, hoping that the answer wasn’t going to be ‘drowning my sorrows in a case of beer on a Saturday afternoon’.
‘Hey, Mom, I’m good.’
He actually sounded quite positive. Oh bollocks, had Layla come back? Was the damn wedding back on? Because if it was, Eileen wasn’t sure she could face that woman, at least not without giving her a piece of her mind.
‘Glad to hear it. So, what you up to?’
‘Nothing much – just got something that I want to run past you.’
She couldn’t keep it in any longer. ‘Does it involve anything to do with Layla, because, son, I know you’re a grown man and it’s your life, and of course I’ll respect any decision you make, but I had a dream last night that I fed her prawns that had been lying in the midday sun for hours. Don’t judge me. I’m an imperfect human being.’
His laughter warmed her heart. ‘I’m not judging you. I think I might have had the same dream. Must be genetic.’
She idly twirled her pen in her free hand. After worrying about him pretty solidly for the last fortnight, it was good to hear him sounding like his old self. Whatever had made that happen, she was grateful for it.
‘Probably best that we stay away from seafood so we’re not tempted,’ she said. ‘Have you heard from her?’
‘No, her mom came by and collected her stuff this morning, so I think that’s pretty much done for now. Still don’t get it, but I’d drive myself crazy trying to figure it out, so I’m just going to let it ride until she’s ready to talk.’
How did he get so sensible? His father would have been in there like a bull in a china shop, and she would be… well, she still liked the prawns idea.
‘Good idea. What was it that you wanted to run past me then? If it involves eating, drinking or making bad choices, I’m in.’
‘Well, actually, maybe all of the above.’
‘Really? I don’t think I’ve ever been prouder. I thought I’d lost you to decency and maturity,’ she joked, loving the sound of his laughter on the other end of the line. ‘Tell me more.’
‘I’ve decided to get away for a few days week after next and thought maybe you could come with me? You know, do that trip we’ve been saying we were going to take for years but never got around to?’
If general surprise could make more of her shirt buttons pop off, they’d be shooting across the room like bullets. A few years ago, she’d floated the idea of a mum/son trip but it had never happened, and then he’d met Layla and the idea had faded.
‘You know what, son, I’d love that. In fact, it would be amazing. Where and when? Not that it matters because we’ll have a great time wherever we go.’
‘I’m, erm… just working some stuff out. I’m looking at the sixteenth of May…’
She quickly checked her calendar. Less than two weeks away, but she could do it. Even if there had been a clash, she’d have made it happen. ‘Good for me,’ she agreed. ‘And where? New York will be just heating up. We could catch a Knicks game. Or maybe Miami? We haven’t been there since that time your father fell overboard trying to take a selfie on a boating dock.’
