Page 59 of Stacked
“The last time I checked, I’d acquired five thousand new followers on my account.”
I raised both my eyebrows. “That’s a lot.”
“Before this, I think about one hundred people followed my account and most of them were just my friends from Facebook.”
I let out a low whistle and studied the neighborhood outside the car window. It was so quiet and still, row after row of candy-colored Victorian homes with painted trim and gingerbread gables. This was one of the most well-kept neighborhoods in the community, but there was only one other person out that morning, an older man in a pair of blue gym shorts walking a medium-sized border collie.
“I can’t believe it’s so dead out here,” I said. “Everybody must still be asleep or on vacation for the holiday.”
“Back in the city, everyone who doesn’t have a summer home in the Hamptons is already back to work, pushing and grinding to make that extra dollar, to squeeze money out of whatever sale or advantage they can.”
“That sort of thing never appealed to me. Too much pressure.”
“I liked plenty about it, but I also like this.” He leaned forward until his forehead fell against mine, keeping up the gentle massage of my hand. “And you, of course. You help.”
“Last night helped.”
“A lot.” He kissed me. “Keep thinking about how much I want more of that.”
“Tonight.”
He grinned, the expression lighting his features and softening his eyes. “I’m going to hold you to it, Anya, so you better be ready.”
“I was born ready.” I hooked the fingers of my free hand around the car door handle and yanked it open. “But first, Gwen.”
“Absolutely.”
Gwen answered the door a few beats after we rang the bell. She was using a walker for support, but I still knew immediately this was a good day for her, and her lipstick confirmed it. She was happy to see me and excited to meet Robert, ushering him into her parlor and insisting he stay for tea.
“You don’t have to go out of your way,” he said, sinking into the brocade couch.
When did she last entertain guests in this room? I don’t even get this kind of special treatment.
“You don’t have to overdo it just for me,” he added.
“Oh, I’m not.” She nodded at me. “Anya will get your tea.”
I laughed. “Is that what I’m here for?”
“Certainly.” Gwen seemed to bite back a smile as she sat in the wingback chair opposite the sofa. “He’s this month’s cover model forLiving, after all. We need to be on our best behavior.”
Smiling, I agreed and exited the room, heading toward the kitchen. This was going well so far, and I was glad. If Gwen approved of the morning show appearance, that would go a long way toward making me feel comfortable about doing it.
As they talked in the living room, I prepared the tea on a small tray, glad her kitchen seemed much cleaner than it had the day I found her on the floor. Maybe this was another sign. Maybe things were starting to go my way.
I’ll keep hoping.
When I returned to the room about ten minutes later, Gwen and Robert were engaged in what sounded like a lively, animated discussion, their voices and laughter filling the room, trailing down the hallway and into the kitchen. While I’d been preparing the tea, I caught most of the conversation, which covered current events, town gossip, and Robert’s vision for his store. As I set the tray on the coffee table, I took a deep breath. Now seemed as good of a time as any to tell Gwen about what happened at the float contest.
“You’re probably not shocked to learn that Robert won first place yesterday.” I passed Gwen a cup of Earl Grey tea, which I knew she took plain with no additions. Gwen gave me a small thank-you as she took it from my hands.
“I am not surprised, given what I read in the magazine. I know you’re putting a lot of time into your business, so I’ll bet you approached the contest with the same kind of focus.”
Robert reached for his own teacup before I could give it to him and dumped a slash of milk and a dash of sugar into it. “I’m humbled the judges found it outstanding.”
“I’m just sorry we didn’t place this year.” I sank into the chair that matched Robert’s. “I tried very hard.”
“I know you did. You always do,” Gwen replied.
