Page 14 of Fortune's Control
I couldn’t drive or run and had no family or idea what to do next. On a lark, I created two cedar chairs, placed them under a magnolia tree, and kept going until they filled my garage, and Jack suggested I reach out to Pete. One could say those first few cedar chairs saved me.
“Well, it paid off now, Shane. When can you bring more?”
“Tomorrow? Jack will help load up my truck.”
“I open at nine.”
I tilted my head. According to the shop sign, the Live Oak Gallery opened at nine, six days a week, but thatschedule required Pete to be there to unlock the shop’s front door. “I’ll be by closer to ten.”
Pete returned to his sales counter as the front doorbell chimed. Tourists entered, and their eager conversation about old dining tables carried to us.
He waved a greeting toward them and looked back at me, deliberating between money and gossip. I had expected him to pelt me with questions from the moment I entered; only years of knowing Pete and a lifetime of friendship with my father restrained him. With tourists ready to shop, it’d keep his questions to a minimum, giving me a chance to sate his curiosity and make a quick escape.
I nodded. Answering his questions and preempting one of Fortune’s Creek’s biggest gossips was better. “Her name is Lilah. It’s good to hear the rumor mill is doing its job.”
No hint of shame appeared in his expression. “I ran into Diane at the grocery, and she told me about her.” He whistled. “I didn’t want to believe it, but she said you two made googly eyes at each other all night before you asked her. When do you plan to bring her around? You can’t keep her hidden at your house forever, Shane. This may be your honeymoon, but a lady still enjoys her evenings out. Keeping them happy, that’s the secret to wedded bliss.” Pete, a lifelong bachelor, crossed his arms with satisfaction
“That’s excellent advice, Pete. I’ll think about it.” Thought and dismissed. There was no value in taking advice, no matter how well-intentioned, from a man content to admire Diane from afar. He was fifteen years older and had latched on to the idea that their age difference could not be overcome, and it wasn’t my place to convince him otherwise.
“You do that. Dinner, and maybe one of the baseball games. Give yourself someone in the stands rooting for you.”
My mood soured. “I’ll consider it.” There was no point ingoing public with Lilah, considering an annulment lay in our future. Five days in, and we had rarely spoken since picking up her car. She used the pool and thanked me with a batch of chocolate chip cookies, which I gave to my friends. She rode a bike one afternoon and spent another reading under an oak tree.
“Pleased to hear it, and now it’s time for me to help decorate their dining tables.” Pete wagged his brow, rehearsing his well-used sales pitch. “Shane, one last thing. Smaller items. Come up with more products, and let’s talk.”
“I’ll work on that.”
Pete didn’t hear me. I chuckled and left the store.
*****
“Why are we doing this again?” Jack asked.
“Because my success is your greatest dream.” Aiden walked past me, carrying more debris to the rented dumpster out back. “Admit it. You find my ambition aspirational.”
“Fixing up sixty-year-old cars for obnoxious rich guys? Yes, that’s my greatest dream.”
Aiden’s well-known knack for taking apart broken jalopies and putting them back together led to restoring antique cars for a retired professor, who later referred Aiden to other collectors. So far, he used his father’s garage or rented space in Willard’s auto shop, but further growth required a larger, more permanent space.
“The dumpster is full. Who’s doing a run?” I asked. Mostly to break up an argument before it started, and also because it was one damaged tile away from overflowing.
“Dean volunteered his services. I have a date tonight. Also, you’re doing it again.” Aiden double-punchedmy arm. “I’m irresponsible, not oblivious.”
“I made an observation. That’s not the same as giving orders.”
Jack frowned, waving his hand from side to side. “With you, it kind of is.”
“It’s really not,” I persisted and changed the topic. “That reminds me. I need you over tomorrow at ten. We’re loading up more chairs to drop off at Pete’s in the morning.”
“Is that a request or an order?”
“It’s an order this time.”
“Sure, if you watch the game with me tonight.”
“What game?”
“The one that involves a six-pack of beer,” Jack said as Aiden returned from the dumpster. “What took you so long?”
