“I did.” And she’d used all her cash reserves to do it.
“Attention on the music,” Caleb said.
Ryan scowled as Julia strode out of the club with her friend Susan. “I didn’t realize…I thought I’d be able to talk her around without breaking a sweat.”Bigheaded oaf.
“Your usual charm offensive not working for you?”
“Not as well as I’d hoped. I’m not sure what to do next.”
“Have you tried sex?”
“Yes.” His tone emerged curt with a whiff of pissed.
“Interesting. You could give up,” Caleb said, strumming several chords and making a notation on the music sheet.
“No.” Ryan stood and shoved his guitar back in its case. “This song isn’t working right. I need a break. Have you met Julia’s mother?”
“No.”
“Come and meet her now.”
They met Elise and her friend Janet at the base of the stairs.
“We’re going out for a late breakfast,” Elise said. “Why don’t you come with us?”
“Caleb?” Ryan turned to his mate. “How would you like to escort these two lovely ladies on their outing?”
“Sounds good,” Caleb said.
The Viaduct was quieter than usual since it was a weekday and not yet mid-morning. The late summer sun sent sparkles of light dancing over the water, and the foursome settled at an outside table to watch the activity on the two luxury yachts moored nearby.
“I love a water view,” Elise said.
“Once you’ve recovered from the operation, we’ll go to Fiji,” Janet said. “Imagine the white sand and the glorious sunsets.”
Elise frowned. “I’m not sure I can afford to go now.”
“Why not?” Ryan asked.
“The bank has called in the loan. There was plenty of money to cover it, but my last manager did a runner after cleaning me out. The police haven’t found him,” Elise said. “Julia has made an appointment to see the bank manager today.”
Caleb and Ryan exchanged a quick look. They had stacks of money.
“Julia didn’t tell me,” Ryan said. “She was gone when I woke up this morning.”
Janet made atskingsound at the back of her throat. “She’s working too hard.”
“I know this is nosy,” Ryan said, “but how much is the loan? What is Julia going to do if the bank won’t relent?”
Elise frowned. “She told me not to worry and said she’d work out something.”
“The loan is just under fifty thousand,” Janet said. “Elise and I can’t put any more money into the business. We might have to sell.”
“I can give you the money,” Ryan said.
“But why would you want to—” Elise broke off when the waitress arrived with their coffee.
“Julia is my wife,” Ryan said.
