Page 126 of Other Side Of Never
I was considering offering classes here in my kitchen.Kian was looking into licensing.Jake joined the band at school, and his new guitar took up most of his spare time.
When my kitchen became our unofficial gathering place, Kian moved a circle of comfortable chairs into the corner as well as a wood stove.We were cozy, the five of us all together with all the babies.
Today was Noelle’s first time out of the house since she’d had Christy.“I’m going to need more help at work,” she blurted out of the blue.
I peeked over my shoulder in time to see Harley eying me.
“I was thinking the same,” she said.
Wren dipped her chin and picked at a pill on her sweater.
They were up to something.
Smiling and prepared to wait them out, I turned back to my kettles.
“I want to keep the bridezillas,” Noelle stated.
“How you enjoy them, I have no idea,” Harley mused.
“Stay on track,” Noelle murmured.
My shoulders began to shake.
Shae sat in her chair, bent near double over her embroidery.
The four of them were the polar opposite of smooth.
I wandered over.“I can help.”
Harley feigned surprise.“Really?What are you thinking?”
“We were thinking you could take over all the event planning and I’d be the go-between wedding consult--” Noelle cut herself off mid syllable.
Harley slowly turned to face her.“You are such a bucket mouth.”
Shae snorted.“I wouldn’t talk.Your acting skills need a lot of work before you take your gig on the road.”
“Excuse me,” Harley countered.“You two are bent nearly double like a couple of arthritic geriatrics trying to hide your faces.You’re not pulling off casual the way you think you are.”
“Oh my God,” Wren laughed, pulling her crochet project out of her bag.
Grumbling, Harley turned to me.“What do you say?Take over the event planning with Noelle heading up weddings.I’ll draw up a contract to put your chocolates in every room, just name your price.We’ll leave forms for the guests to place orders, and have you cater all the treat boxes for our events.We’ll be famous for carrying Cocoa Loco chocolates.We’ll also help you branch out to other businesses in the area if you want.Mom knows everybody.”
“I don’t know, Harley,” I mused.“I’d like to try to get on my feet on my own.”
Wren leaned forward.“Sometimes you need to accept help.”
Harley snorted.“Says you.”
Wren rolled her eyes up to the ceiling.
“And stop rolling your eyes,” Harley grumbled.“Your fucking eyeballs are going to get stuck up there.”
Shae giggled, turning the new baby blanket she was working on over in her hands.“Are you going to do it, Bridge?”
“Can I take some time to think about it?I want to make sure I’m not taking too much time away from my boys.”
Harley narrowed her eyes.“We’ll talk.”
