Page 116 of You Found Me
I shake my head and laugh, “Alright, mom. I’ll mention it to Emmy. I’m sure she’d love to include you guys in their traditions. Plus, you’d get to meet her parents.”
Mom smiles, obviously proud to have gotten her way. “Even better.”
When we’re done eating, I promise to let them know whether or not their Christmas visit works and if it’s not, I agreed to bring her back to town the next time Mom requests our presence. I leave my truck parked at the cafe and decide to walk to the office.
Parking in front of the office building is a nightmare because it’s right in the middle of downtown and flooded with people and blooming businesses. I make it with time to spare and without having to make small talk.
After our meeting is over, Mr. Jenkins asks me to stay put. While everyone files out, giving me questioning glances, I start to overthink. Did I drop the ball on something? Have I offended them in any way? I don’t have too much time to worry as the last person closes the door, leaving me alone with my bosses.
“Spencer, don’t look so freaked out. You’re not in trouble.”
I release a breath. “Sorry. My mind tends to go to the worst place when it comes to work.”
Mr. Coleman chuckles, “We just wanted to see how working with Callahan is going?”
“Oh, it’s great, sir. Gavin has let me take control of a few projects and I’ve seen one start to finish.” I clear my throat, “I really appreciate you both agreeing to let me work here remotely. Being able to get out of town and work alongside my college best friend has really invigorated me. It has completely renewed my love of architecture. So, I’m immensely grateful that you have both allowed me to work in both cities.”
“That’s wonderful. Callahan must keep you in the loop about potential projects then, huh?”
“Sometimes. It’s mostly Theo that updates me.”
Mr. Jenkins pipes in, “Well, have either of them let you know if Callahan is planning to place a bid on the renovation of the old Beaumont house in Charleston?”
My mind starts spinning. Maybe they’re only asking because they’re generally interested. “I think Theo mentioned something about it. It’d be a big deal to be in charge of that renovation—for either firm.”
Mr. Coleman nods. “You’re right. We've been getting our ducks in a row to take our bid to the city council members. It’d be nice if we knew what he's planning for his bid. Any help you give us will be highly compensated.”
I look between him and Mr. Jenkins, feeling uneasy about all of this.
“Sirs,” I say, standing up from my chair. “Even if I did know—which I don’t, probably because he knew the two of you would put me in this position—I wouldn’t tell you. It’s unethical to share business plans between workplaces. Especially since you’d use that information to outdo his bid.”
“Hale, wait just a minute,” Mr. Coleman pleads.
“No. I received an offer from Gavin before the holiday to work for his company full time. Negating the need to work here. Up until this conversation, and you foolishly opening your mouths to speak about childish business tactics, I was sure I wouldn’t take him up on the offer. But now, consider this my resignation. I don’t have any ongoing projects as I finished my final one last week.”
And with that, I walk out. I hear them both calling out for me, hear the whispers from the others. But they are drowned out by Emmy’s voice in my head telling me how proud she is of me. And I crave to hear that in person. Which is why I race back to my truck and drive straight to Meadow Springs.
Chapter 36
Emmaline
Work this week was quite a rollercoaster.
The emergency department is hardly ever dull, but I swear there was something in the air. Or maybe there was a full moon. I know as someone who works in healthcare, I should follow the moon cycle because there’s something about different phases of the moon, and its effect on hospitals and nursing facilities that makes all hell break loose.
Not only did it make the ER crazy, but it seemed to have taken its toll on Colette. Granted, taking over running Santa’s Workshop at the youth center for the first time might have had more to do with it. I agreed a while back to help the day of, as well as helping to decorate days before. She worked her charms on us and got our whole group involved, except Callum and Cori, who can’t until tomorrow due to work.
The town’s youth center has been around for as long as I can remember and it shows. It’s completely outdated and it’s taking a lot of work to make it look likesomething, but I think we’ve really done it this time. Colette found different holiday wall tapestries to put up to set different scenes, plastic candy canes and fake snow to line the path to Santa’s house. She evenfound a company that rents out photo booths and has one set up in the back corner.
And while I expected to see the old plastic house they’d used in the past, in its place is a log cabin shed—decked out in fake snow and all the works to fit the vibe.
“Where did that come from?” I murmur to Mia.
“She went to Dad and asked if they could donate something to make this year’s event better. He told her that he’d have to see what he could do since they’ve been busy.” She rolls her eyes before saying, “Apparently, he was going to do something much smaller than that, but Theo caught wind of everything and took over.Heis the one who built that . . .for her.”
I can’t keep my mouth from falling open. “Seriously? Does she know?”
Mia scoffs, “Do you think that if she knew Theo did this, she would’ve accepted it?”
