Page 17 of Until Forever

“Not as much as what I’m about to say will,” he sighed. “I’ve thought it over and talked to my brother. And…well, I’ve decided to take you up on your offer.”

I let out a big sigh of relief and jumped to my feet to shake his hand. “So, business partners then?” As I said it out loud, I wondered if this would be as disastrous as the words sounded rolling off of my tongue. Business partners with Keith Mullins? I had obviously lost my mind.

“We can meet with that lawyer you mentioned and get everything signed,” he added, shaking my hand.

“You bet. I’ll set something up for us now.”

I stepped away to give the lawyer a call. As the phone rang, I glanced back at Keith. He was standing on the water’s edge, staring down the old marina just as I had been doing before he showed up. He looked hopeful, but nervous.

“We can go by his office now if you’re free,” I told him as I hung up the phone a few minutes later.

“Sure. We can take my car.”

“Uh, no thanks,” I forced a polite smile. “I can drive myself.”

He didn’t look surprised at my refusal to ride with him. It looked like he was reminded of something he had momentarily forgotten, which was likely the fact that we were not friends. This deal didn’t change that.

An hour later, the papers were signed. I was walking back to my car when Keith came running up, calling out to me.

“Wait up. I was wondering…what’s next?” he asked.

“Oh, uh,” my brow furrowed. I really wasn’t much of a team player most of the time, unless I was with someone I trusted, like Kyle. Of course, it made sense that I’d need to keep Keith in the loop of my plans, but that was going to take some getting used to.

“I was going to call the clean-up crew and get them started right away while I’m finalizing the plans with the architect and designer.”

He hung his head and laughed. “Wow. I didn’t even know we had designers and architects around here. It’s been years since anyone’s built something new here, and anything that has gone up, me and my brother built it.”

“We don’t, actually,” I admitted. “Have any architects in town, I mean. Or designers, for that matter, but Molly has some experience there, actually. I believe you know her.” I flashed him a teasing grin. “I called in some people she recommended and can hire them on contract.”

He tensed up, looking worried. “I don’t like working with people who aren’t from around here. You only get a pass because you pretty much grew up here.”

“Trust me. It will be fine,” I huffed, turning back towards my car.

“Hey, where are you running off to?” he fired back. “I thought we could…I don’t know. Grab a celebratory drink or something?”

I faced him again, sighing. It would have been wise to start trying to find a way to get along with him. We were going to be working together, after all. And for a split second, as I stared into his brown eyes, it felt like old times again when we were just two kids who were friends.

But this wasn’t celebratory for me. It felt more like defeat. I got what I wanted with the land and the permission to move ahead with the marina without everyone thinking I was the world’s biggest jerk, but it came with a price. And not just the hefty price tag. I was stuck pairing up with a guy I hated, and I could already tell he was going to be difficult at every turn.

“No thanks,” I replied. “I should get back and check on Claire.”

He nodded, then asked, “How’s she doing these days anyway?”

I was already halfway in my car door. “She’s been better, but she’s pushing through. I’ll text you about when construction will begin.”

His lips parted to speak again, but I slammed the door shut before he could get the words out. He stood there and watched me drive away.

The following week, we were ready to break ground on the new construction. Within a few days, the crew had the basics of the foundation in place. Derek and Keith met me at the site to do a walk-through.

There was a folding table set up under a tent where I spread out all of the plans and papers. Keith and his brother stood behind me, watching over my shoulder as I talked them through it all. Of course, I had barely gotten two words out when Keith cut me off.

“Wait just a minute,” he laughed, pointing to the top of one of the papers. “What is that?”

“The name,” I said sternly.

“The name is Mullins Cove Marina,” he barked. “This says MHM Marina.”

“Miller, Halstead, Mullins,” I nodded in confirmation. “I figured it was only fair that both of our names be a part of it. And anyway, I wanted to pay tribute to Claire’s mom and dad.”

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