“Well, you’re going to be proud of me,” Diana boasted. “Because I went and talked to that accountant!”
Eleanor couldn’t resist the flicker of mischief that went through her.
“Sorry,” she said, frowning. “Which accountant was that?”
“Oh!” Diana shook her head as if to clear it. “The guy Cadence and I met at Anchor Bistro.”
Eleanor put her hand to her head. “I’ve beensoscattered with the store recently… remind me a little bit more?”
“Oh, you know,” Diana said. “The guy! Cadence and I went to go see June, and there was the thing with the mixed-up appetizers, and then this handsome guy…”
The instant Diana saidhandsome,Eleanor let the smile spread across her face.
“You knew who I was talking about,” Diana said.
“I did,” Eleanor admitted.
“You just wanted me to say he was attractive,” Diana went on.
“Pretty much.”
“I walked right into that one,” Diana sighed.
“You totally did.”
“Okay, okay.” Diana rolled her eye in a joking sort of way. “Fine. Yes, he is very handsome. And he has a very cute daughter! But we are going to be working togetherprofessionally.”
“I had a professional relationship with Garrett once,” Eleanor said innocently.
“You,” Diana said, pointing at her friend, “are a menace. Is Miriam giving you lessons?”
They both laughed at this.
“Seriously, though,” Eleanor said. “I’m glad you’re getting the help you need with the paperwork. I feel like that’s been weighing heavily on you.”
“It really has,” Diana said. “Plus, turns out that his daughter, Eloise, is a huge bookworm, so they areveryexcited about your store.”
“Ugh, them and me both,” Eleanor said. “Things are so close that it’s starting to feel like it will be this way forever.”
“I remember that feeling with the boutique,” Diana said, reaching out to pat Eleanor’s hand comfortingly. “I promise, it passes.”
Eleanor held up both hands to show her double set of crossed fingers.
“I actually feel really lucky,” she said as Diana chuckled. “I was just talking to my brother, and he’s having a tough time at work.”
“Oh no,” Diana said, face creasing in sympathy. “Is everything okay?”
Eleanor wobbled her hand in a so-so gesture. “I think so. I mean, he’s not worried about losing his job or anything scary like that, thank goodness. He’s just… well, a little burned out, I think. I’m trying to convince him to come visit, get some rest, look out at the ocean until he feels chilled out, and hang out with his best ever sister.”
“Yes! That would be so much fun! He should do that,” Diana said encouragingly.
“Well, it’s not me who needs convincing. But, you know. If you see a shooting star or come across a wishbone, feel free to put it in the ‘convincing Shane to visit’ column.”
“Noted,” Diana said, pretending to jot it down.
They chatted for another few minutes before realizing that the perfect weather was calling to them. They took their drinks to go and strolled back in the direction of their respective businesses. They did both have to get back to work eventually, but neither was in any rush to do so.
They meandered, stopping every now and again to look at some window display or another. Eventually, they approached a small day spa that had, according to Diana, opened up a few years prior. It was cute, and Eleanor made a mental note to check it out sometime. She might like to get her nails done sometime, once she was no longer caught up in all the homeimprovement work that went along with renovating her house into part-home, part-business.
