Nodding, she added the figure to the form. “That’s what most people do. I’ll just need a final number two weeks before the banquet.”
Liv flipped open her planner. “So, I would need the final count by Halloween.”
With an estimated guest count settled on, Liv moved down the list of required information, and roughly forty-five minutes after sitting down, Lydia was signing the contract and handing over a credit card.
“I’m really looking forward to this year’s banquet. I think the student athletes and their families are going to enjoy it so much more than last year’s.”
When she’d attended the school, there hadn’t been an athletic banquet. Instead, at the end of each sport’s season, everyone gathered in the auditorium and the athletic director recognized those teams that had performed well or, in the case of her brother, set a new school and state record in the 3200-meter race.
“Where was it held last year?” Liv stapled a receipt to Lydia’s copy and handed everything to her.
“The Stage Coach Inn. I won’t go back there again.”
One of the oldest hotels in Bar Harbor, Liv had attended more than one wedding there.
“The food was awful, and there wasn’t enough. Some people ended up with only salad and bread.”
She’d heard the kitchen had experienced a lot of turnover since the new owners purchased the hotel.
“The senior class held its prom there in April, and the same thing happened.”
“Well, I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen in November.”
Smiling, Lydia patted her hand. “I know you won’t.”
Sometimes Liv wondered where she might be if she’d taken her love of cooking to a major city, such as Boston or Los Angeles. Instead of living over her family’s restaurant and picking up shifts as a waitress, she might be running her own kitchen in a five-star restaurant, or maybe she’d have her own show on a cooking channel.
Lydia’s comment, though, told her she was right where she belonged. So what if she didn’t have a brand-new car and a house with a yard big enough to grow all the fresh vegetables she wanted? She was not only doing something she loved, but she had also earned a reputation as not only a great chef but also a trustworthy businesswoman.
“If you think of anything you want to change, call or email me.”
“I will, and as soon as I have the final count, I’ll be in touch.”
Liv waited until the door closed behind Lydia before pulling out her phone. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a message from the person she wanted to hear from. Instead, there were two reminders: one for an upcoming dentist’s appointment and another asking if she wanted a quote on new windows.
Deleting both, she checked the time. It was almost nine in California. More than likely, Matt was awake. Should she call him or wait and see if he reached out?
And if she did call him, what should she say? She didn’t want to accuse him of cheating yet. Despite repeatedly telling herself not to jump to that conclusion, last night she’d been unable to think about anything else every time she thought about the pictures.
Wait a little longer. He might be on his way to see his mom.
While she waited, she’d tackle the next item on her to-do list—this month’s invoices. After selecting a playlist from her phone, she opened her accounting program and got to work.
“Knock, knock.”
At the sound of a male voice, Liv’s heart rate shot through the roof, and she spun in her chair. Usually, she heard the door chimes when someone walked inside. Whether it was because of the music or the fact that she was so focused, she hadn’t heard them.
It took her brain a second to recognize that Sebastian and not some crazy serial killer stood opposite her desk.
“Sebastian, it’s only you.” Closing her eyes, she placed a hand over her heart and took a deep breath. “Man, you scared me.”
“Sorry about that.”
Her brain recognized she wasn’t in danger, but her body still hadn’t received the message, and Liv took another slow, deep breath. “It’s not your fault. I shouldn’t have the music on so loud.”
A mistake she wouldn’t make again.
“I’m sorry I didn’t get back to you yesterday.” Maybe if she’d answered his text, he wouldn’t be standing across from her desk now. She’d been exhausted by the time she got home last night. “I worked a double at the restaurant. How are you?”
