Page 21 of The Layover

“They’re lovely, thank you.” I gave her a reassuring smile, though it felt odd to do so without knowing why she needed to be reassured. “Ellie, why don’t you take Carly to find a vase, and put the flowers on the dinner table, while Dad and I bring out food?”

“Okay. Come with me.” Eloise reached for Carly’s hand and yanked her inside.

The instant they were out of sight, Raul leaned his weight against a nearby wall with a soft sigh.

“What was that?” I asked aloud this time.

He shook his head and let out a long sigh. “Curtis Webb is her ex-husband.”

“Oh.” I’d need a minute to think up a more comprehensive response. Curtis had talked a great game when he approached us, but not only did his vision not align with ours, but all of our due diligence also said most of his promises were smoke and mirrors. “And?”

“I don’t get the impression she likes him any more than we do.”

It was reasonable that I was relieved at the news, and that she wouldn’t get along with an ex. After all, she was a business partner, and he was a rival. But my reaction felt like it was tied to more than the professional.

“So what do we do?” Raul asked.

I didn’t know which part of the situation he was focused on, but it probably wouldn’t change my answer. “Keep him the fuck away from her and otherwise, it’s business as usual.”

“Agreed.” Raul pushed away from the wall. “Help me bring the food out to the table?”

“Of course.”

We grabbed the soup and bread and carried it out to the small dining table just outside the kitchen.

Eloise and Carly were already seated next to each other, with Ellie mimicking our guest’s straight back posture.

I wouldn’t complain about a good influence like that.

“What are your intentions toward my dads?” Eloise asked as Raul and I set the food on the table.

Where did she learn English like that? I needed to take a look at her online video history or ask Ariana what she’d been teaching our little girl.

“Carly works with us.” Raul took Eloise’s soup bowl and filled it, before moving on to everyone else’s.

Eloise looked at him with pursed lips. “I didn’t ask you.”

“Ellie.” I put enough reprimand in my voice to let her know she was being rude.

She pouted. “I’m sorry, Daddy.”

One corner of Carly’s mouth twitched up, but she recovered quickly. “My bosses very much believe in this restaurant, and so do I. I’m here to make sure the rest of the world sees how wonderful your dads’ idea is.”

“Well I think you’re the perfect person for the job.” Eloise had already recovered from the mild scolding.

I thought Carly was right for the job too, but I was curious how Eloise had formed an opinion in such a short period of time.

Carly smiled. “You’re right, I am. How did you know?”

“You’re pretty, and you have pretty shoes, and you’re really smart.”

Apparently Eloise had been learning more from Raul than I realized.

“Thank you,” Carly said. “You’re pretty smart, too.”

“And pretty?”

Carly’s mouth twitched again. “And pretty.”

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