Clara sighed. "I'm not here to complain. This is an intervention."
My brows furrowed. "I'm sorry?"
She threw her arms up. "We're worried about you."
"With everything going on, you're worried about me?"
She gestured around the office, the piles of paperwork, the clothes hanging in the bathroom, the blanket and pillow on the couch. "Yes, you. You're working too much."
"There's no one else who can do the job," I said slowly, still unsure exactly what she needed.
She crossed her arms over her chest. "So you can't ask your sister for help?"
"She's busy with the inn and the renovations there." She was in a new relationship, and I didn't want to be the one to put stress on their reunion. Natasha deserved to be happy.
"Have you talked to her, asked her to help?"
"This is my responsibility."
"Eve, this town is everyone's. Natasha and you might own it, but we all have a stake. We want to help you."
I studied her. "You do?"
"Well, maybe not all of us, but enough of us. We want you to lean on us when you need help. We can make phone calls, arrange inspections."
"But—"
"No buts. First, you're going home to take a shower and eat something." She lifted a bag that smelled wonderful from behind her back along with a to-go cup of coffee. "You're going to eat this and drink this. I'm a little scared to give you more caffeine but more scared not to."
"Smart," I remarked as I took the steaming bag and to-go cup.
"I'm going to handle the inspections. I'll work with Hudson to come up with a timeline."
"What if Bill?—"
"Send him to me. I'm in charge at the moment. We all have an interest in this town being successful. And you working yourself to death isn't helping anyone."
"There's nothing I can say to change your mind?" I asked.
"A bunch of the shop owners met and talked about this. This is what we've decided. You can still be the town coordinator, but you need to start delegating stuff. And until you do, we're stepping in to help."
My shoulders lowered. I'd lost this fight.
"Eat and then get home to shower. I don't want to see you in this office or town for a few hours. Take a nap if you need one."
"That sounds decadent."
"That's the idea." She dropped into the seat across from me while I unwrapped the egg croissant.
I took a few bites and sipped my coffee, and when I felt more awake, I said, "Maddox wanted me to go away with him this weekend."
"Just you and him?"
"It's a little bed-and-breakfast a couple of hours from here." I'd carefully kept my personal business away from the other shop owners. I assumed that's what any boss should do. But I needed someone to talk to, and I'd decided not to burden Natasha with my relationship woes.
"That sounds lovely."
I grimaced. "I said I couldn't go because it’s before Christmas, and we have the pipe situation."
