I nibble my bottom lip as I bow my head with one shake. “I guess not. Even if the sale goes through, I still plan to return to Lake Spark Academy in September. It will be a while, anyhow, until renovations and all of the registrations and checks with the state go through.” Oh shit, did I just ruin my chance? “I mean, the renovations are to spruce things up and ensure the space is utilized correctly for teaching and kids. It is a lot of space.” Flattery might not get me far.
Ingrid tips her chin up with a little hum. “Would you keep the original features?”
I hold my palm up to encourage her to relax. “Everywhere I can. It’s just the building has been empty for a little while and electrical will probably have to be updated, along with windows.”
“My family was not ready to let it go.”
“And I appreciate the sentimental value. I promise, I’ll do all I can. The garden will be the same, just a little sprucing up.”
“Will the gargoyle stay? It’s impossible to move.” Her tone is a little tart.
My brows rise, as I forgot about that. “It might scare the children,” I reply mundanely. Also, it’s probably cursed and scares the shit out of me. She doesn’t seem impressed. Hmm.“But.” I snap my fingers and rustle up some enthusiasm. “I could dress him according to our current themes. A little mascot maybe.”
That seems to help.
“Hailey will actually add a lot of wind chimes to the garden. It sweeps in luck and fortune,” Oliver adds.
I turn my view to my husband and my eyes lighten. It’s the way he says it that uplifts me. Sweet and reflective. A flashback from our road trip comes to me, and I cling to how the excitement felt then and how the fondness for him now mixes with that.
He winks at me, and I half-smile.
“Well, you two. I really do appreciate meeting face to face. You’ll hear from me next week. Now, shall we leave business aside and enjoy all of this food?”
All I can do is hope, as there is nothing I can do now.
Oliver blowsout a long breath as I enter through his garage. After another hour of listening to Ingrid talk about her time in England and her grandkids, I feel extremely bad that he got dragged along.
He went home, and five minutes later, here I am after dropping my car off at my house and now sneaking through the garage. Oliver is in the kitchen grabbing two beers from the fridge. He’s now in a different pair of jeans and a dark tee.
“Again, I’m so incredibly sorry.” I’ve been apologizing profusely.
His cheek lifts from his amusement. “Why? It was funny and also a necessity. You don’t need to apologize.”
I take my spot leaning against the counter, hearing the pop of the bottle caps and click of them on the counter. “Still… anyhow. I don’t want to talk about Ingrid anymore, as I’ve done all I can do.”
He hands me a beer, and we clink our bottles before taking sips. “That’s a good approach.”
His gaze feels heavy, and it causes my brows to lift in caution. “Why do I feel like there is something you want to tell me?”
The rumble in his throat doesn’t sound comforting. “Right, so funny thing.” He sets the bottle on the counter and wets his lips before tilting his head to the side. “My brother knows.”
“Knows?”
“About us… the marriage part.”
“What?” I squeak.
He steps forward and touches my arm to calm me. “Relax, he won’t tell anyone… I think. No, he won’t.” Oliver is trying to convince himself; then again, Carter doesn’t seem like someone who would particularly want to involve himself with spreading the latest gossip.
I stand still, pondering what to do or say. “Okay. And?”
Oliver gentle tilts his head to the side. “It doesn’t matter. We go on as usual. I just thought you should know, and soon you will get your preschool, anyhow. By then, we will have everything figured out.”
“What exactly?” I dare raise the question, and it’s a dangerous one. We both keep getting lost lately in thoughts that neither of us want to share with each other.
Right now, we both seem to still take that stance.
“Hailey, let’s not think. Just celebrate that we survived a high tea with an old lady who probably has a cat at home and plays bridge.”
