Page 86 of Summer Escape
"What if you were the one to provide her stability? You're working for the business again."
"She's worried about health insurance."
Hudson raised a brow. "What if she was the business's graphic designer?"
"Do we need one?" I asked him, not sure what had been going on in the business since I left.
"We run advertisements and marketing campaigns. We try and do those in-house, but I'm sure that Saylor would do a better job. We could at least talk to her about it, see if she had any ideas and then decide."
"Then what? The business would offer her health insurance?"
"Why not? We take care of our own."
"I appreciate that." There were options for Saylor; I just had to let her know where I stood and where we could go from here. It was clear that relationships weren't that easy for me. Hudson had snagged Elena and maintained a relationship with her, so he was obviously experienced. More than me anyway.
Elena rested a hand on mine. "If you go now, you'd get there in the middle of the night, and she has work in the morning. You have to make a plan."
We talked out the possible scenarios. I could text her and maintain some communication in the meantime. But I wanted to talk to her in person about my feelings. I wasn't sure whether I should tell her I was coming or I should surprise her.
"I think you should surprise her," Elena said excitedly.
"What if she's back with her ex or something? Maybe he should let her know that he's on his way," Hudson said, more to Elena.
My attention swung to Elena. "Is Saylor talking to her ex?"
Elena winced. "Not that I know of."
Frustration crept up my spine. "I don't like this. I shouldn't wait to tell her how I feel."
"You could have told her before she left. Now you have to recalibrate and ensure you're engaging at the right moment. If it's the wrong one, you might not get the reaction you want," Hudson said reasonably.
"You want it to be the perfect time. Not in the middle of the night or when she's headed to work."
I'd need to bide my time, but I hated doing nothing. I had to admit that both Hudson and Elena made good points. I had to go about this the right way. If I misstepped, I might screw things up permanently, and that was the last thing I wanted.
I helped out at work to keep myself busy. Hayden was getting ready for school with her mother and didn't need me at the moment. It was important that she reacclimate to her life in Naples.
She'd sent me several messages indicating that she wished she could stay with me. I wasn't sure how to feel about that. I wanted to be with her too, but she'd always resided with her mother. I didn't want to take her away from her family.
I wanted Saylor, Hayden, and a beach cottage of my very own.
I was getting bored at the office, familiarizing myself with the new software Kinsley had installed. When Kinsley said the senior center needed me to fix something, I was all-too happy to go. I grabbed my toolbox, throwing it into the back of my truck.
I parked in the lot and headed toward the front office, hoping to talk to Phyllis about the problem they were having, but Blaire intercepted me in the lobby.
She touched my arm. "Marshall, it's so good to see you."
"Thanks for letting me stay at the cottage for a bit longer."
Blaire waved her hand as if to dismiss my platitude.
I looked around. "Do you know where Phyllis is? I need to see what repair she needs."
Her hand moved to my elbow, and she steered me into a small meeting room off the lobby. She shut the door behind us. "I'm the one who called."
I rubbed my neck. "You did?"
"I wanted to talk to you." Blaire sat in a chair and then said, "Have a seat. I don't want to crane my neck."
