Page 5 of The Reading

“I…I didn’t mean to imply that-”

“What Mr. Daring means, Mrs. Ramos,” Vivian cut in, “is that we’re here only to provide the best assessment that we can for you, and we can only do that by assessing the physical damage individually from the emotional damage, though the emotional damage is the greater cost.”

Susie Ramos gave Vivian a tender smile. “I knew that you’d understand.” She reached out and wrapped a hand around Vivian’s wrist. “I knew it when I saw you that you were good people.”

Just fucking great.

*****

Vivian~

Iwas going to murder him with my bare hands when we got back to thehotel. For all his good looks, sexy body, panty-dropping voice, and brilliant intelligence, Cash Daring was a dickhead.

“I’m just doing my job,” I said, trying to reassure Mrs. Ramos and not stab Cash in the face.

“I just…you now, Valentine’s Day is this weekend, and now…we’re going to be spending it in a hotel room, surrounded by boxes of our broken things.”

“You don’t have any family that you can stay with?” I asked, getting more personal than I’d like, but Cash leaving me no choice. It was either this or beat him in the head with my camera.

“We…we do,” she replied reluctantly. “It’s just…you know, our children are grown and have their own lives. We don’t want to intrude.” She waved a hand around, indicating her surroundings. “As for friends, they’re all living the same nightmare that we are.”

“Mrs. Ramos, while we understand how difficult this is, this is not your first tornado claim,” Cash pointed out, and I really was going to kill him. “This is not an easy process, nor is it a speedy one. The sooner that we can finish up here, the sooner that we can start on helping you build your new home.” Cash gave her the most awkward smile ever. “One to build new memories in.”

Her face turned red, and I was about ready to grab one of the handy slabs of broken wood nearby and smash it against Cash’s face.

The prick.

“Of course,” she muttered. “I…I know that I’m probably not helping.”

“Nonsen-”

“I just…I guess I was just feeling…at odds,” she said, talking over me. “I…I don’t like being stuck at the hotel with only my thoughts to keep me company.”

“What about your job?” Cash asked, and I almost kicked him. “Are you not back to work yet?”

“I was working at Rhonda’s Best Ever Baked Goods,” she answered. “The shop was another casualty of the tornado, so…so, until and unless Rhonda rebuilds, I’m out of a job.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Cash replied, and he sounded sincere enough that I didn’t reach for one of the wooden planks.

Putting on a brave face, she said, “Well, luckily, we don’t have any small children to still raise, or any unreasonable debt.” Her sad, wet, blue eyes looked back and forth between me and Cash. “It could be worse, right?” Her smile was wobbly, but she was trying. “Here I am, complaining and carrying on, and it really could be worse. I…I didn’t lose anyone in the destruction, so that’s something.”

“We always have something to be grateful for if we take the time to look hard enough,” I offered. “Sometimes, it’s just hard to look with tears in our eyes. It’s completely understandable, Mrs. Ramos.”

“I guess…I guess I should let you guys get on with your work,” she mumbled despondently. It was clear that she didn’t want to be alone right now, but there wasn’t anything that I could do about that. I had a job to do, so comforting her was going to have to wait for a more opportune time.

“I promise you that we’ll be in contact as soon as we type up our initial report,” I told her. “However, we’ll be in town all week if you have any questions that can’t wait until then.”

Susie Ramos reached out to shake my hand. “Thank you, Ms. Morris,” she said graciously. “I’m sure that you had better plans on how to spend your Valentine’s Day.”

I gave her a tender smile. “Well, that’s hardly your fault. I blame Mother Nature for ruining my plans, not anyone else.”

“Still, a woman shouldn’t be spending her Valentine’s Day in some random hotel, working,” she insisted.

No, I agreed.

It should be in a random hotel, getting my bell rung.

“Well, that’s neither here nor there,” I said, getting off the subject of my non-existent love life. “Besides, there’ll be more Valentine’s Days.”

---