“Why are we talking about shoes?”
“I’m drawing a parallel between her willingness to spend extra on a quality item with the bid on the community center. Where’d I lose you?”
“That’s with her own money. With the city’s money, with the grant money too, she’s going to be conservative. That’s the only thing the board really likes about her. She’s ‘progressive but not a spendthrift’ is how Amos puts it.”
“How would you put it?”
“She does good work, but I can’t stand her. She’s stubborn, has to have her own way.”
“Is it possible she’s right? That she’s good at her job and has researched the options and it’s not ‘her own way’ but the right way?”
“Ugh. This is what comes of you getting married. You’re a feminist all of a sudden. I should’ve known when you let Sadie hang out at the mill and learn the workings that you’d be a girl dad who wants boss ladies in charge.”
I was teasing, but sort of serious. Rachel had definitely changed his overprotective ways with Sadie, and he was sort of outspoken in his defense of women in charge now. It was her influence. He was happy with her, and I was glad for him.
“Before you start burping the alphabet and talking about men’s rights, let’s move on. Are you seeing anyone new?”
“Come on, dude. I don’t ‘see’ anyone. I hook up. I’m not looking for someone to move in and rearrange my kitchen cabinets and my politics. I like to keep things light and fun.”
“And safe,” Max pointed out.
“Jesus,” I said, “you’re relentless.”
“You’re missing out. You remember how I patrolled my borders. Nobody was getting near me and my daughter after what happened with—”
“Her mother,” I supplied.
“Rachel is her mother,” he said firmly. “We have the adoption paperwork to prove it, in fact. She’s the only mother my daughter’s ever had.”
“Okay, sorry,” I said. “And yes, I do remember that you wouldn’t even accept a Coke on a hot summer day from any woman in town because you thought they wanted to get in your pants, put bows in Sadie’s hair, and move in and start making casseroles.”
“In my defense, several of the locals had tried it. I was set in my ways, is my point. And Rachel came along and blew that all away. I needed to change, and she was exactly what Sadie needed too. Best thing that ever happened to me.”
“And who sat in that bar and told you to give her a chance? Me. That’s who.”
“Yes, and I’m returning the advice. Don’t be hard-headed. And don’t be afraid. It’s worth the risk, that’s what I’m saying. You can have more than a couple one-nighters.”
“Oh, I’ve had more than a couple,” I said wryly.
“You know what I mean. You deserve better if you’ll give it a shot.”
“I don’t have time for anything but no strings attached fun. It’s what I like.”
“All right, don’t say I didn’t try to tell you you’re missing out,” Max said ruefully. I shook my head.
“A man can’t stay single once his friends get it in their heads to get married. You won’t be happy till we’re all tied down.”
“I’m not the one that isn’t happy, bro,” he said.
“I’m happy,” I protested.
“Okay, fine,” he said, but the way he looked at me told me he didn’t exactly believe me. I wondered if he was right.
2
Nicole
Lunch with my friends was just what I needed after my morning. I was so glad to see them.
Rachel had really improved the diner, that was for sure. The diner had always been cute and kitschy, but it was still a small-town greasy spoon when I moved to Rockford Falls. Now that Rachel had taken over the business, it had a sharp new attitude. The floors were black and white checkered tile, always gleaming and clean. The old, chipped Formica counter with the scuffed chrome trim had been replaced by a sleek, black granite bar with cherry wood trim. The seating was upgraded, thanks to her husband Max with his gorgeous epoxy-resin-poured tables with chic rivers of blue green down the middle of the wood surface, and high comfortable booths upholstered in a rich brown. It had gone way upscale décor-wise, and the menu was pared down and delicious.
Trixie and Michelle and I liked to go there for lunch on Wednesdays when we could manage it. I took a bite of my Sadie’s Special Grilled Cheese—a menu item named after Rachel’s daughter. It was delicious, simple and good, with toasted homemade bread and plenty of Colby and cheddar melting between the slices. Because I was stressed about the community center project, I’d added the brown sugar bacon and a thick tomato slice to my grilled cheese today. It was glorious.
“You gonna talk to anything but that sandwich?” Trixie teased.
“Sorry. I’m in an exclusive relationship with this cheese right now. Talk to my secretary for an appointment later in the week,” I joked.