Suddenly, I heard the ring and felt the vibration from his pocket as his phone rang. He pressed his forehead to mine. “Back to work.” He sighed and walked out of the room. “Roger, good to hear from you.”
I sat at the table. I had no idea how this was going to work.
I didn’t need to wait for my fancy new computer to arrive to jump on the first order of business for Lachlan Corporation. I drove toward Beach Combers Cove. It was good to get out of the condo. I couldn’t stay in there all day, watching Mason pace on the phone. I shifted between wanting to rip his clothes off and wanting to ask him a hundred questions about the job and his company. Neither was on his agenda today.
I parked at the end of the row of trailers. The signs were posted marking the impending demolition of the lot. I tried to wrap my head around the fact that I was now representing the company building the resort, not trying to unearth dirt on it.
I knocked on Shawna’s door. The plastic pool next to the beach chairs was half full. The door swung open and Lindy started to giggle.
“Hi, Lindy. Is your mom home?”
“Lindy, I’ve told you not to open the door.” Shawna stopped. “Oh, hey. I didn’t know who had knocked, and she has this way of running to the door. She can even unlock it.”
“That must make you a little nervous.”
“Tell me about it. As long as an ax murderer doesn’t show up I guess we’re ok.” She laughed. “Come on in.”
“Oh, thanks.” I hadn’t expected Shawna to show me inside. This was our third meeting. We usually sat outside.
The kitchen booth was lined with Barbies and an assortment of pink and purple doll dresses. Lindy scooted onto one of the benches and began to dress one of the dolls.
Shawna turned to me. “Are you writing another article?”
“Yes. But I should tell you I’m not with the News & Record anymore.”
“Really? What paper now?” She rinsed off a plate in the sink and began to dry it.
“Actually, it’s not a paper. I’m doing public relations work for Lachlan Corporation.”
I saw the smile on the side of her face. “Mason’s a sweet talker, isn’t he?”
“I guess he is.”
“I knew it the second I saw him in the Pancake House. I bet he gets whatever he wants with those baby blues. A man like that probably doesn’t hear the word ‘no’.”
“I doubt he’s heard it often.” I sat across from Lindy, picking up one of the bare dolls and I started to help her wriggle a dress over the arms.
“So, you have a new job and you’re here to discuss what exactly?”
“Mason told me about the site he’s clearing so you can move.”
“Not the worst plan, but I’d rather stay here. If we have to move I’m glad we can stay on the island. Lindy won’t have to register at a new school.”
“I’m writing an article for the Lachlan website and we’ll also distribute it to some media outlets. I was hoping I could interview you again, if you don’t mind.” I realized how much of her time I had taken with the first two pieces I had written.
She tossed the kitchen towel on the corner and sat to join our doll dressing challenge. The clothes always stuck on the legs. Lindy’s face was balled up in concentration. Her tongue stuck out of the side of her mouth as she struggled to fasten the snaps.
“I guess that would be fine. He is doing me a favor. He said he’d pay for the move and have everything taken care of.”
“Really?” I laid the Barbie on the table so I could take a few notes.
“He’s even putting in a swimming platform for Lindy, but you probably know all that.”
I shook my head. “No, go on. What else did he say?”
It was as if I was peeling away layers of him. Discovering secrets about how he thought. How he conducted business. Only this time it wasn’t a calculated business deal, he was building something that mattered. The little girl sitting across the table from me would have a different life because of him. It made me smile.
“Oh, he’s going to add grills and a swing set and slide. I started thinking about it, and even though I’ll miss hearing the ocean when I wake up, this new site is going to be better for her. There’s even a family of cats. I know Lindy’s hoping they’ll stay, but I’m not so sure about that.”
We laughed. Shawna told me about her favorite memories from the Cove. We discussed the advantages of the new yard she would have. Somehow an hour passed by while we talked. I had successfully completed an entire Barbie fashion show, drank imaginary tea sprinkled with glitter, and worn a purple tiara.