Tiffany’s nose wrinkled and her brow furrowed.“I guess I can see how that would be true.He does have an eye for details, and he seems very caring.Just look at Jayni’s Landing.It takes a person with a good heart to put aside the fortune he could have made developing that place into high-end homes to build more affordable ones instead.You don’t meet very many guys in the housing space that would do that – or at least, I haven’t.”
Fred sighed and nodded.In that regard – and only in that regard – his oldest brother was a saint.Will had always taken God’s command to love your neighbour as yourselfveryseriously.If he could help, he did.He was a lot like their mom in that regard.
“You know, when you put it like that … I can’t help feeling extremely blessed – even if Will is annoying at times,” he said as he cut a look towards his sister.“Not everyone gets a family like ours.”
“No, they don’t,” Cari agreed, as she placed Fred’s sandwich in a bag.
“They sure don’t,” Tiffany agreed.
Was that bitterness in her tone?
“You know,” Fred said, “I don’t know much about your family, Tiffany.I mean, I know your aunt a bit from church, but I don’t hang out with the older ladies much.”
“There’s not much to tell.”Her words and tone sounded nonchalant, but the colour in her cheeks said something different.
That was interesting.She appeared to be a woman holding the world by the tail.She was always dressed like she was ready for a magazine shoot featuring the rich and powerful.Even at casual events.And there was always an air of purpose about her.Be that as it may, he knew that confidence could hide some pretty deep secrets.One only needed to know Trish – Henry’s soon-to-be-wife – to know just how true that was.
Fred pulled out his debit card and tapped the payment machine.
“Do you want your regular?”Emma asked Tiffany.
“Yes, for both me and Sandra, please.”
“Hey,” Fred said as a thought struck him, “you seemed to have some good ideas when I toured my house before I bought it.Do you think you could help me finalize some decisions about cabinets and such?I have Eddie’s opinions already, but I’d like to make sure that whatever I do is sellable.”
“Aren’t you planning to live there a while?”
“Well, yeah, that’s the plan, but I figured I should maybe make sure I’m not destroying the place.”
“And maybe one day, he’ll want his girlfriend to like it,” Cari teased.“Not all girls are going to like car parts and guitar strings.”
Fred laughed.“Yeah, I don’t see that being an issue.”
“Why?Because you don’t plan to have a girlfriend or because you won’t be decorating with car parts and guitar strings?”
Fred shook his head.“Both.”The thought caused his smile to falter.And this was where his enjoyment of small talk found its end.“Well, I suppose I need to get to work and stop keeping you from yours.”He turned to leave.Preferably before Emma started asking questions as he knew she would.
“What do you mean both?”Emma, with her hands laden with takeout boxes, had rejoined them at the counter before he had been able to slip away.
“I just don’t see either happening.”He lifted the hand holding his enormous travel mug as if waving and hurried toward the door.
“Mom won’t be happy to hear that,” Emma called after him.
“Mom already knows,” he shot back as he ducked out the door and into the brisk December wind.He had taken two steps towards his car before he realized he hadn’t gotten an answer from Tiffany.Ugh.He was going to have to face his sister again.
He pulled open the door toTheBaked Apple.“So, Tiffany?Will you help me?”
“Um, sure.I guess.”
“Close the door,” Cari scolded, causing Fred to step inside fully.
An older gentleman stepped into the café behind him, and Fred stepped further away from the door.
“Do you have a time in mind?”Tiffany asked as she joined him.
“Well, I work until six tonight, but I’m off tomorrow.I could stop by your office with my selections around noon – or we could meet somewhere for a lunch consultation.”
“Oh, that sounds good.Why don’t you bring your lunch and your things, and we can spread out in the conference room.As far as I know, no one has it booked tomorrow, but if I find out they do, I’ll let you know, and we can adjust things.”
