He sounds a bit defeated when he speaks. “Well, what is this you’re working on for your career? Can I help in any way?”
I fill him in on my project and we make a rough plan. It feels good to have him in on my screenplay. He may get overenthusiastic about things, like wanting me to take that role, but he’s a great agent.
I end the call and find a text waiting from Mrs. Parker.
REBECCA PARKER
We decided to close the restaurant.
I call her.
“Hello?”
“You can’t just drop that sort of news in a text.”
“Hello, Alex. How are you, dear?”
I grin. “I’m sorry. I’m doing very well. I hope you both are.”
“We are. We’re excited. Do you know how difficult it is to take a vacation or even just relax when you own and operate a restaurant?”
I hear Mr. Parker in the background. “I’ve told her for years we need to hire a manager.”
“I couldn’t trust anyone else to do things the way I want. Butanyway, this Saturday is our last day. And we already have two prospective buyers. Apparently, we are in a highly desirable location.”
I’m hit with a crazy idea. “Would you like to take a trip with me? I’m going to North Carolina next week. I’d like your opinion on something.”
“To see Ivy? My opinion is yes!”
I laugh. “Your opinion on Ivy or your opinion on going?”
“Both.”
“Alright.” I chuckle. “I want your opinion on something I’m considering buying. I’m coming to eat later, and I’ll fill you in.”
“Alex, this is too much.” This was at least the fourth time Mrs. Parker has said something of that nature. She’s taking her seat beside me in first class, with Mr. Parker just across the aisle. I’d asked her to sit with me to avoid sitting with a stranger.
“Not for you, it’s not,” I remind her. They had become my family without me realizing it, and I was going to treat them to anything they’d let me.
“I think this seat is more comfortable than my recliner,” Mr. Parker says with a laugh.
We’re on the red-eye, so once the flight is at altitude andeveryone is settled, the cabin lights dim. I’m happy to see both Parkers asleep within minutes. Did they take something? I didn’t think it was possible to fall asleep so quickly on a plane.
I’m sure I won’t sleep at all, until five minutes later when I’m startled awake by an announcement stating we will be beginning our descent into Charlotte. I guess I did sleep, and sleep hard.
“There you are,” Mrs. Parker says. “I was afraid you’d be too excited to sleep.”
“I was too.”
“Have any particularly pleasant dreams?” she asks with a grin and raised eyebrows.
“Not that I know of, but I’m heading toward one. At least I hope I am.”
Mrs. Parker places her hand on my knee. “She’d be a fool not to see you and jump right into your arms.”
We’re met by a car at a discreet exit for high-profile passengers, then I drive us west. Mountains come into view in the distance as we near Ivy’s town. It’s peaceful out here. Certainly different from the places I’ve lived. I can see why she likes it.
I pull out my phone and aim it at my face to unlock it, then hand it to Mrs. Parker. “Will you text Micah and tell him we will be there in five minutes?”
