It didn’t seem possible he’d been without her for three years. He should be all right by now. Everyone thought so, even if they didn’t say it out loud. He knew he should be looking for another woman to fill the empty space in his heart, but he couldn’t even bring himself to date.
It seemed as if he’d just been treading water since he’d lost her. Working. Marking time. If he could have her back he’d buy her that house in the Keys right now. He’d make her the mother she’d wanted to be instead of telling her to be patient. His eyes stung as guilt swamped him.
***
Connor had said to ring him if she needed anything, but Maddy couldn’t seem to get hold of him this afternoon. She left the Landing’s restroom, grateful for a breath of fresh air. She wasn’t above the dirty job of stopped-up toilets—they happened when you served the public—but this particular job went way beyond a plunger.
She scoured her hands in the women’s restroom, then let Amber know she was headed out for a few minutes. She had to get this figured out before the dinner rush.
As she walked toward the marina, the sun beat down from a clear blue sky, making sweat bead on the back of her neck. She didn’t see Connor, but when she asked an employee he sent her inside.
The waft of cool air was welcome as she slipped through the door. The lobby was small, painted dove gray with white trim, and contained a few padded chairs and a high counter that featured an empty workstation and a dying geranium. Judging by the blisters on the stem and lack of blooms it was suffering from edema. She resisted the urge to move the plant to a sunny windowsill.
To one side of the desk was a short hall with two bathrooms and a drinking fountain. To the other side was a door labeled Office. It was open by several inches. She moved that way and peeked inside.
A desk took up most of the space. On top of it were numerous stacks of files and papers, a pencil holder, photos, boating magazines, and a laptop. Though the office appeared cluttered, it was organized chaos, and she suspected Connor could probably find anything at a moment’s notice.
Her eyes drifted to Connor, who was facing the picture window that overlooked part of the marina. His head was bowed as if in prayer or distress, and she got the distinct feeling she was interrupting something.
As she shifted, the floor squeaked under her feet.
Connor turned.
Silhouetted by the light from the window, she couldn’t see his expression. But the feeling that she’d come at a bad time persisted. “Sorry to bother you.”
He cleared his throat and came around the desk. “No, come on in. Is everything okay at the restaurant?”
“More or less. I do have an issue I could use some help with, though.” As he came closer she noted the vacant look in his eyes, the tightness around his mouth.
He cleared his expression with a benign smile and perched on the edge of the desk. “What can I do for you, Maddy?”
“I was wondering if you have a plumber you regularly use? The men’s restroom...” She wrinkled her nose. “There’s a... situation.”
“Uh-oh.”
“I tried to plunge it, but it’s pretty hopeless. I’d like to have it in working order as soon as possible, obviously.”
“Say no more.” He was already searching through his phone contacts. “I have a guy who’s pretty quick. Let me give him a call.”
Maddy pulled out her phone. “If you give me the number I don’t mind doing it.”
He spared her a smile as he tapped the phone and held it to his ear. “He’ll respond more quickly if I call... Hey, Darren, it’s Connor Sullivan. How you doing?”
Maddy waited as he made small talk with a guy he’d apparently known awhile. When he got to the point she could tell from his end the plumber was coming right out.
Connor ended the conversation and pocketed his phone, then confirmed it with her.
“How’s everything else going? The staff treating you all right? Any other problems I can help with?”
“The staff is great. A little younger than I’m accustomed to, but pretty competent nonetheless.” She caught him up on the changes she’d made—promoting the line chef to sous chef and making Amber a shift leader.
“The cashier, huh? That didn’t even occur to me. She’s awfully young, isn’t she?”
“She is, but she’s quite capable, and she’s a fast learner. She’s also been there for two years.”
He made a face. “I should’ve known that.”
“Don’t get me wrong, she’s not ready to step into a managerial position just yet, but as a leader in training, she’ll do just fine. The others like and respect her.”
