Page 26 of Dangerous December (Northern Pines Suspense #8)
"We barely exchange Christmas cards, and I hadn’t talked to her in years. Yet she thought to call...and this morning, I got an e-mail from an old acquaintance.”
“That’s nice, but...”
“My cousin wants to talk to me about coming down to manage her clothing boutique. Gerard is in Michigan, and asked if I’d be interested in helping him run his insurance office. Two possibilities.”
“That’s wonderful.” Beth smiled at her. “What do you think?”
“Just having options gives me a feeling of hope. But I’d rather stay in this area, if I can.
I’ve been reading the advertisements all along, afraid to try for the jobs that intrigued me the most. Now.
..what do I have to lose? It won’t be so devastating if I’m turned down, because now I have a fallback plan. ”
Beth thought about her own dream of a youth center in the empty building next to the bookstore. If she ever got the program started, it might someday become self-supporting, with the right kind of church and community support.
Eventually, it might require a director with good fundraising and people skills. Someone like Reva, who had been well-entrenched in the community all her adult life.
But that day was so far off that it didn’t even bear mentioning.
“I’ll bet you’ll be surprised at how many opportunities you find. With your social connections, you shouldn’t have any trouble at all.”
“I’m afraid I might have been a bit...lofty in my day.” A faint, sad smile touched Reva’s mouth. “The Bible verse is right about ‘pride goeth before the fall.’” I imagine some of those old connections might find my financial straits and job search amusing, though that’s no more than I deserve.”
“Or, they might find it impressive that you’re choosing to find enjoyment and satisfaction by seeking a career so you can be an independent woman. That would be my view.”
“Thanks, dear. You are such a sweetheart.” Reva skated a calculating look at Dev. “Though I wonder if everyone is sharp enough to see it.”
After adjourning the brief meeting, Dev walked Beth out to her car. “So, what do you think? Are we on track?”
“We need to send our report to the two lawyers at the end of the month, and we’ll be set. One month down, five to go.” Leaning a hip against the front fender of her car, she nibbled on her lower lip. “It sounds like Reva has some options, now.”
“Carl doesn’t. He doesn’t have the strength or stamina to do the kind of work he’s always done. Yet I don’t think he’ll ever be happy unless he can prove himself again.”
“If he doesn’t brighten up his attitude, he won’t get to first base at an interview.” Beth’s mouth twitched. “I’m imagining trying to get him to role-play proper interview techniques. It won’t be easy.”
Bracing a shoulder against the door frame of the car, Dev laughed. “I can give him a man-to-man talk about attitude, but I’ll leave the rest up to you.”
“Thanks,” Beth retorted. “We also need to talk to Elana. She’s one of the most emotionally fragile women I’ve ever met.
She has a support system here with the other tenants and with us.
Why would she want to leave so soon? Even if she gets her scholarships, she could save money for the future by staying here as long as she can. ”
“You’re right. But she’s also free to do what she wants.”
“Isn’t it our role to provide whatever help and guidance we can? Not just because of your mom’s will, but because it’s important. ”
Sunshine dappled down on them through the canopy of bright maple leaves overhead. A cool breeze kicked up an eddy of fallen leaves that swirled around their feet.
A perfect fall day...made all the more perfect because of the chance to stand here and talk to Beth. Just as he had all those years ago when they were teens...before they grew up and life became so complicated.
“Well?” Beth said, eyeing him closely.
He jerked his thoughts back to the present. “Well, what?”
“Any news about that hit-and-run driver?”
The topic felt like a splash of ice water.
“The sheriff doesn’t have a name. He ran various combinations of similar makes, years and models of the car, but no luck so far.
He’s guessing it might have been a tourist from out of the area—maybe a family staying at one of the resorts.
If the car went back to Minneapolis or Chicago, it would be like hunting for a grain of rice on a beach. ”
“So isn’t that a lead in itself?”
“Not enough for a sheriff’s department the size of this one. They have almost no manpower. And—thank heavens—this isn’t a vehicular manslaughter case.”
Beth shuddered at his words. “I’ve thanked God more than once about that. Have you heard when Frank will be released?”
“It depends on his therapy and healing. With his age and fractured hip, things are going slowly.”
“Poor guy. He hates being confined.”
Dev grinned. “Not as much as you might expect, since Reva has been visiting him every day.”
“Silver linings?”
“Silver linings,” he echoed as Beth waved and walked away, realizing that there’d been plenty of those for him, too.
With every passing day, he felt drawn deeper into life here in Agate Creek. And closer to the residents of Sloane House, who were all so unique and so opinionated.
He couldn’t have been more wrong, when he’d first arrived, and assumed they were just a group of old folks in need of care.
As he headed for his cottage, he couldn’t help but laugh at the thought of opinionated people.
Reva thought he and Beth were still a perfect match. Maura thought they were anything but.
And each of them thought they were always right.