Foolish Games(79)

The sound of Stephen furiously tapping his pen on the desk traveled over the phone. “Sure. I’ll have the money to you next week.”

It wasn’t until after they’d hung up that she realized Stephen hadn’t said anything about supporting Will. She doodled on her folder again. If the truth ever came out, her brother was going to owe her a huge apology for doubting Will. She was looking forward to that day.

“Hi there!” Annabeth strolled through the kitchen door, setting her bag down on the table.

“You’re early.” Julianne jumped to her feet and clapped her hands. “Perfect! I have news.”

Annabeth laughed. “I hope it involves food, because I’m starving.”

Julianne pulled a salad out of the fridge and began adding grilled chicken to it. “It was too hot to cook anything heavy,” she explained. “There’s fruit here, too.”

“Mmm.” Annabeth poured herself a glass of wine. “Will isn’t the best at expressing his appreciation, but I am.” She saluted Julianne with her wineglass. “Thank you for pampering the babysitter.”

Julianne blushed. If Will’s mother only knew her son had been appreciating her against the island in the kitchen just hours before, she’d be shocked. Placing the salad on the table, she ushered Annabeth to sit down and pulled out a chair to sit beside her.

“I have news about the new company.” Julianne had shared her plans with Annabeth last week when her mother-in-law and her friend Patricia discovered her sketches. Both women persuaded her to proceed with the line and to locate her company in their economically depressed hometown. “I have the start-up funds, so we can move to the next phase.”

Annabeth’s face lit up. “That was fast. How did you manage it so quickly?”

“I had money left after paying Owen’s medical bills, and my business manager is investing. I also have money in a trust that my brother is allowing me to borrow against.”

Annabeth arched an eyebrow at her. “Your brother?”

Julianne waved a hand. “Long story. But after selling my soul to the devil, my brother has agreed get me the money. I should have all the funds by next week.”

Annabeth had offered to loan her the money, but that would be like taking Will’s money, and Julianne still felt the need to do this on her own. She needed to prove to Will that her career wasn’t some flight of fancy, that she did have some direction to her life despite her screwups of the last year.

“So tomorrow we check out the mills?” Annabeth asked before taking a bite of her salad.

“If you and Patricia can still make it, I’d love to. We’re headed up to Baltimore next week, and I want to have some ideas to present to Sebastian by then.”

“She and I are planning on it. The only new business we’ve had in two years is an orthopedic rehab hospital. While it’s great for the community, the only ones who’ve been able to find a job there are those with technical skills. We need jobs for the less skilled employees who are out of work in town. In the past five years, this town has lost a blue jeans manufacturer and a linen company. A small company manufacturing clothing will provide jobs to those who stuck around and are scrimping by on the wages they earn during the tourism season.”

Julianne stood, brushing out her skirt. “Great. Owen is asleep upstairs. There’s a bottle made in the fridge. I should hurry over to the ball field to catch up with Will.” She hesitated. “You’re okay with not telling Will about this yet, right?”

Annabeth snorted. “If you know what’s good for you, you won’t tell him yet. Most men are domineering when it comes to business, but Will is over-the-top. He went ballistic when he found out I bought my grandmother’s shop in town. It didn’t fit with his idea of what he wanted me to do with my life. As if I were going to follow his plans.”

“Where’d you get the money to buy the store?”

“His rookie season, he gave me money for a down payment on a house. I used it to buy the store instead. I lived in the trailer for another nine months, saving up what was eventually the down payment for this house.”

Julianne stilled. “Does Will know this?”

“Heavens, no! I like to let him think he got his way.” Annabeth eyed her sternly. “Don’t you tell him, either, Julianne. That one’s our secret.”

Julianne smiled and held up her pinkie. “Pinkie swear!” Instinctively she leaned in and hugged Annabeth. Her mother-in-law paused a moment but then hugged her back.

• • •

Owen’s eyes rolled back in his head in complete contentment as Annabeth slipped the finished bottle from his lips. A small smile formed on his face as he dozed off to sleep. She brushed her thumb over his soft, wispy hair.