But picturing telling Ben she couldn’t buy the inn after all made her shrink all the more.
God, a little help?
If she let Ben down, he’d be gone in a few weeks, back to Australia for good. She’d be in Indianapolis and wouldn’t have to see him again. Which was a sad yet oddly comforting thought.
But Dad? She’d have to deal with him daily. And for all her success and achievements, the fifteen-year-old Cami still yearned for her father to hold her and tell her everything was going to be all right.
One more ping on his phone, and Ben would turn it off.
It had started when Jim called at five in the morning. He’d flown out a few days ago, and Ben wasn’t even sure where he was or what time it was there, but it had been way too early in Sydney to receive a phone call from his fuming boss.
The door locks have been returned. Peter in accounting said we were just credited with a refund. What is going on?
Ben had stumbled out of bed and turned on the coffee, trying to follow Jim’s demands. Last he had heard, the locks had been shipped and were on their way. He had no idea why they’d been returned and the company credited their payment.
Eight hours later, he still didn’t have an answer. And he was shaking from drinking too much coffee. He’d been on hold with the locksmith company for an hour, and now the music played in his office while he read his texts from Myrtle May. They were the one bright spot in his day.
Walt and his tuna. It’s not even Tuesday. When you get back will you convince him it’s not Tuna Tuesday and I’d much rather have tacos?
Maybe just convince him that it’s never a good day for tuna.
We have four new reservations for the end of the month.
Cami hasn’t been by since you’ve been gone. Did you make her angry? Don’t mess things up with her. I like her.
Jordan knocked on his office door, and Ben looked up, rubbed his hand down his face, and nodded toward a chair. His assistant shook his head. “Jim’s on the other line. I’ll listen to the hold music in my office so you can chat with the boss. Give me thirty seconds, then put this call on hold. I’ll pick it up in my office, and you can talk with Jim. Line three.”
Ben counted to thirty, took a deep breath, and put his line on hold. He watched the light change colors, indicating Jordan had picked up. Ben answered line three.
“Hello, Jim. Still trying to work things out with the locks. You’ll be the first to know?—”
“Ben, you’ll figure out those locks. I’m calling with good news for you. The Hong Kong execs were so pleased with the Emerald, they want you to sign on with them when they break ground next year. That will give you time to get the Emerald up and running before you transfer. If the Jade is a success, you’ll be eligible for a director position in the home office.”
Home office. Wow. It’s what he’d been hoping for, working toward. To hear it spoken as a possibility in the near future…
Ben closed his eyes and let his chin fall on his chest—after the early morning call, it was all he could muster in the way of excitement.
Was Dad right? Was this what God had been preparing him for? If so, why was his excitement minimal? This was what he’d been working for. His long-term goal, and he could only muster a mental woo-hoo. A quiet mental cheer at that. Nothing more. Shouldn’t he be jumping for joy like Tom Cruise on a couch?
“But before any of that can happen, the Emerald has to open smoothly.”
“I’m working to make sure everything will run smoothly before I get on the plane in the morning.”
“You’re returning to the States?”
“Yes. I need to go back for closing.”
“Then hurry back. Say mid-August? The Emerald is shining because of you, Ben, and you’re on track to make director.”
“I appreciate that, Jim. I won’t let you down. I’ll be back just as soon as I can. In the meantime, I’ll handle things remotely, and Jordan is here.” Closing was set for August fifteenth, and he still had a lot of his grandparents’ belongings to clean out and pack before then. Hopefully, he could be on the plane the day after.
Jim hung up, and Ben felt exhausted instead of exhilarated. This trip to Sydney was supposed to cement his future, but instead he felt weary, lonely, and out of touch.
Out of touch…with Cami. He’d fly halfway around the world just to see her. Forget the inn and any closing. Moving to the window, he watched traffic buzz by. Sydney was an amazing city, but he missed the quiet streets of Hearts Bend and the fragrances of a Tennessee breeze. He missed the feeling of peace. He missed his relaxing Saturdays with Cami.
He pulled his phone out, ignoring the texts from Myrtle May, and sent a text to Cami.
Heading to HB tomorrow. You around? See you on Saturday?
