Isabelle narrows her eyes. “Woo-woo?” My sister demands. “And I don’t gossip or complain, thank you very much. I don’t see you offering any words of wisdom, or honesty for that matter, why Zane can’t findoneemployee.”
“Maybe you can ask the crystals what they think,” he snickers. “Or do one of those crystal sacrifices under the full moon.”
My sister looks like she’s ready to throttle him. “It’starot cards, if you’re going to insult someone, at least get it right.”
“Maybe we could organize an exorcism, get rid of all the bad ju-ju in this office, that might help Zane find someone who won’t want to rip his throat out with their bare hands.”
“The only bad ju-ju around here is you and your smug attitude,” she fires back.
“Knock it off, you two,” I say, pinching the bridge of my nose.
Iz clears her throat. Now we’re really in for it. “I’ll have you know that astronomy is a very integral part of my psyche. Just because I like to satisfy a deep curiosity about family origins and our place within the cosmos doesn’t make mewoo woo. Andcrystal sacrifices,as you so eloquently put it, only promote mental, emotional and spiritual well-being by interacting with the body’s energy field. You ought to try it sometime, Georgie-boy.”
She’s been calling him that name since she was old enough to talk, and he hates it.
My sister is a spit-fire, but we put up with her when she’s out of college, keeping us all in line. She runs her own part-time dog walking business on the side, as well as offering guests at the lodge pet sitting services when they have ski tours booked or want to hit the slopes for the day.
It’s actually the perfect job for her. She helps out in the office, but like me, prefers the outdoors; her first love is animals.
The family farm dog, our black and white border collie, Maisie, is often at the helm of the chaos, but she’s a more than willing participant.
“How about you put some of that emotional and spiritualwell-beinginto helping us find a new office assistant,” I grunt. “Surely you have a friend of a friend out there that would love to be a part of a unique small family business.”
Isabelle tucks a loose brown curl behind her ear, checking her Fitbit as she talks to me at the same time. It’s annoying that she can multi-task so easily. “As I said before, all of myfriends know your reputation for being the biggest grump on the mountain. Can’t you just keep out of the office in the first place, and stay amongst the trees?”
George lets out an almighty roar of laughter, but I keep my eyes firmly on my sister, she’s just trying to rile me.
“Stay among the trees?” I balk. “Honestly, Isabelle. I’m glad you think my job is just tree huggin’ all day.” I manage the day to day running of the farm, all exports, planting and maintenance. Working closely with Dad, I get to dabble in the financial side of the business, especially when it comes to profit margins and factoring marketing costs. I’ll take over fully one day, when our folks retire, but they’re more than happy for me to oversee things until that happens.
“Then you need to at least try to NOT be the big fat grump you are!”
“Fat?” My brow furrows on cue. I may be a big, strapping dude, but I’m far from fat. “Julie never had a problem with me.”
“That’s because you only saw her for less than half the year.” George helpfully points out. “And she’s known you since you were born, she was like a second mom.”
I walk over to the other over-sized armchair and drop my hefty body down into it. The only reason I haven’t sat down yet is because once I do, I will probably never want to get back up. “Helpful,” I mutter toward him, then I glance over at Isabelle, who’s tucking her satchel across her body and throwing a shawl over her gray sweatsuit.
“Listen, I’ll agree to do my best if you will agree to help me spread the word. Mom is too busy to worry about this, I said I had a handle on it,” I offer, my tone somewhat softer.
Isabelle regards me for a moment and finally nods. “Fine. I’ll help you find someone. I have a good insight into people, energy is everything,” she tells us. “The right person is going to come along. I already know it. Just don’t do anything until I get back.”
George and I share another glance, and I shake my head. My sister is a tornado, but as long as she finds someone to answer those damn phones, I’ll let her ‘help’.
I’m not insulted that I’m known as a grump. I like that people stay away from me and don’t come up the mountain to chit-chat.
That’s exactly how I like it, and that’s exactly how things are going to stay.
CHAPTER 3
Sadie
“Sit yourself down when you get home and take some calming breaths,” Bailey tells me when I’ve spouted out the whole ordeal to her after I left my office with my belongings; including the stationary supplies, my chart, and the indoor ficus I bought.
I tried to keep my head held high, but it was a little hard considering everything I was juggling in both arms with one broken shoe, plus I was soaking wet thanks to the asshole who drenched me with that puddle.
“You’ve had quite a shock, maybe a stiff drink might help?”
“I was thinking more like a hot cup of tea,” I sniff into the balled up tissues in my hand as I pull up to my apartment, noticing Kelto’s van is nowhere in sight. Typical. I have a growing fear that she’s taken off and I’m never going to see that rent money again.
