Page 73 of No Such Thing as Serendipity
Mary Lou spoke for the next hour and a half, sharing stories and encouraging the audience to discuss the ideas she laid out. I remained silent. She was right, nothing she said was earth shattering or new. Still by the end of her talk, my mind was full, and my chest ached.
I debated whether I wanted to hug Emma or curse her. During the presentation, I’d noticed Emma sneaking peeks at me, but I kept my eyes focused on Mary Lou. I wasn’t ready to talk about the thoughts swirling in my head, and I hoped Emma wouldn’t push.
Several of the women crowded around Mary Lou after she finished, but I told Emma I needed to use the restroom and hurried from the room.
CHAPTER 20
I was embarrassed toadmit I stayed in the bathroom for some time. When I came out, I disappeared in the racks, browsing the books. Something told me Emma knew I needed space since she didn’t come looking for me. The bookstore aisles were uncrowded. I suspected most of the women remained gathered in the café discussing the presentation. Hopefully, they’d get it out of their systems, so we wouldn’t have to rehash it over dinner.
I glanced at my watch. We needed to leave for dinner soon. Following that thought, Emma appeared with Robyn in tow.
“I need your help,” Emma said without preamble.
I tilted my head. “For?” I was cautious, even though her demeanor said she wasn’t here to corner me.
“Relax.” Emma smiled. “I didn’t come to harass you. I’m here so you can help me harass Robyn.”
“Sign me up,” I said with a genuine smile. I knew Emma well enough to know she wasn’t one to end run me.
“No fair,” Robyn said, but her eyes danced.
I rubbed my hands together. “Give me my harassment instructions, and I’m all over it.”
“A participant from another villa can’t make it tonight. We have an extra ticket forWicked, so—”
“So you’re trying to get Robyn to come with,” I said, finishing Emma’s sentence.
“Yep.”
“But she’s being obstinate.” I glanced at Robyn as I said it.
“Hey, now.” Robyn drew her eyebrows together.
“We’ve been in the café, trying to convince her.”
“Apparently, you’ve been unsuccessful.”
Emma nodded. “But I told them you’re a master at closing the deal, so here we are.”
“Under protest,” Robyn added.
I held my hands up in front of me, took a step back, and framed Robyn between my hands. “Okay, I’ve got this.”
Robyn grinned. “Do you?”
“All over it,” I responded. “Tell me why you object to going.”
Robyn’s grin faded. She turned to Emma. “Damn it, not a single one of you took this approach.”
Emma’s smile widened. “I told you. She knows how to close the deal.”
It didn’t take long for me to persuade Robyn. As she laid out her reasons for declining, I countered each with an alternate way of thinking.
“Damn it,” Robyn said to Emma. “I never should have let you bring me over to her.”
“I think you secretly wanted to go,” Emma answered.
Robyn crinkled her nose, but she didn’t disagree. “I need to change my clothes.”
