Page 67 of Seer

TEXT CONVERSATION

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29

Craig

It’s not that I *need* you here, but you’re a lot better at some things than I am

Greg

What now?

Craig

Kinda scraping the bottom of the barrel for the front desk applicants, but desperate times. I invited this guy to interview. He only had a year of retail experience, but it was a department store, so I thought maybe.

Greg

How bad was he?

Craig

Oh, I have no idea. His *mother* came with him and wanted to sit in on the interview. I told her no, and she argued with me in the lobby. I asked if he had any need for special accommodations, and she said no, she’d just needed to be there to make sure he answered the questions correctly.

Greg

[face palm emoji]

Craig

Yep. I kicked them both out. But I’m not as scary as you are, and I really wanted her to be scared.

CHAPTER 17

CAL

After Greg wentoff with Delphia to make breakfast, Edgar, Bettina, and I tackled the books again. We decided since time was short we’d just set aside anything that seemed promising, and either we’d go through them at the end of the day or Greg and I would take them back to Bent Oak with us along with Ms. Jackson.

Twenty minutes later, Lloyd and Silvia showed up wanting to put some of Lloyd’s stuff in Greg’s SUV. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed Ms. Jackson had turned back into the cat statue.

Before I could send them to the kitchen to find Greg, Silvia asked about the books. The next thing I knew, she and Lloyd were pitching in to help us go through them.

Greg came to get us a few minutes later, but with the additional help we’d now moved over half the books out of the book room. One side of the work room was covered in stacks of books, but I figured Delphia or someone would want to clean the book room before they all went back.

Or maybe this room was the new book room. Either way, someone else would deal with it.

We broke for breakfast, and after that Edgar and Bettina went back to the books while Greg and I put a load of Lloyd’s stuff in Greg’s SUV.

“Thanks,” Lloyd told us. “We’re heading back to Bent Oak right now. Feel free to drop it by tonight or tomorrow, whenever it’s convenient.”

“I’ll text you an ETA,” Greg told him. He shook Lloyd’s hand and kissed Silvia on the cheek.

“I can’t wait to have you as our neighbor,” Silvia said to Greg. She must’ve noticed my confused face. “Didn’t Greg tell you? The house he bought is at the end of my street.” She glanced at Lloyd and turned a little red. “Our street.” He put his arm around her.

I shook my head. “No, but that sounds great. I’m sure it’ll be fun being so close.”

She extricated herself from Lloyd and gave me a quick hug. “Craig and Foster live across from me. Make sure Greg brings you to the next game night at their house,sí?”

“Um, sure.” Unless I could get out of it. I was certain I could find some fog monsters to chase instead.