Page 129 of Fortune's Control
“The sling went missing this past week,” I explained.
Lainey chimed in with more updates. “He’s depressed because no one has rented out his retail space yet.”
“He’s holding out for the right tenant,” Sophie said. She waved her hand, using it as a fan in a futile effort to keep cool. “Apparently, the train hobbyist dream collapsed in flames. Dean volunteered to take over the management for him.”
“Did he now?” Emma tapped a fingernail against her lip. “I can’t stand waiting to catch up on all the gossip. What else did I miss?”
“Rumor has it Pete plans to ask Diane to marry him,” I volunteered.
Lainey clapped her hands. “Also, Willard says aliens plan to build a campground.”
“I guess this means he still doesn’t accept credit cards,” Emma said.
Our eyes met, and I saw the tension in hers. Emma’s childhood experiences made her lone visit to his gas station uncomfortable, and I knew she didn’t want to return.
Shane stepped up for his turn, and our conversation ceased. I twirled the delicate band on my ring finger as pride and possessiveness took over.
CRACK!
He rounded one base, another, and then another, before taking a stroll toward home plate. “That’s my husband,” I said, only to be greeted with some jealous groans. “I knew he’d hita home run.”
*****
“I enjoyed seeing you both this past weekend,” Sarah Jane said.
“Me too. It was a busy weekend, though.” My former studio apartment was no longer mine, with its contents stuffed into a downstairs bedroom for me to sort through. “Thank you for dinner again.”
“Oh, don’t be silly. I enjoy showing off this city. How’s his friend, Jack? I’ve been thinking about him.”
“What do you mean?” My hackles raised. Jack accompanied us to Atlanta to help move the heavy furniture, since I had lived on the second floor.
“Honey, I’m not going after your friend, so stop that right now. I meant he has a case of the blues. Believe me, I know what that looks like.”
“I don’t think he has depression.”
Jack’s hope of resurrecting his relationship with Sophie finally died. After Fortune’s Creek won the summer intramural baseball championship, Sophie shook Jack’s hand, congratulating him. She did so with the friendliness one might give to an acquaintance. I saw the light in his eyes dim at her sincere gesture. For Jack, her anger fed his hope.
“I didn’t say that. I’m telling you, he has a case of the blues.”
I remembered the advice she had once given me. “Sophie left him first, and he figured that out.”
“Ahh, that will do it. What about the other one? Aiden.”
My mother’s interest in my friends and my life still surprised me. “He’s working in his shop again and still waiting for a tenant. He asked Shane to help him pick up another car, so Emma will stay with me while he’s gone. We all hope she’ll move down here soon.”
“But isn’t your first exam coming up? That must be rough between everything else.”
“It’s next month, and we’ve heard nothing about the grant proposal, so it’s possible we didn’t do as well as we hoped.” I shrugged, although she couldn’t see it. “It’s best not to get my hopes up.”
“I get it. Failure isn’t the end, Delilah. Don’t forget that.”
That was a remarkably inspirational statement for Sarah Jane. “I won’t.”
We said goodbye and ended the call. I needed to make a dessert for tonight’s dinner party, and our friends would be here soon.
“How is she?” Shane asked. He leaned against the door frame, arms crossed, and concern etched onto his features. “Is she still in therapy?”
That piece of news stunned us all. “She is. I think she’ll stick with it, too. I’m not sure what led to it, but whatever it was, I’m grateful for her more than myself.”
