“What does the vet say?”
“I talked to the emergency line first thing this morning. Dr. Mahmood says I can take her in later today.”
“Do you need a personal day to be with her? I totally understand. I can handle things here.”
“No. It’s fine. I’ve been watching on the cat cam and she seems to be resting comfortably. One of my neighbors is going to pop in to check on her this morning and I’ll go home on my lunch break.”
“Okay. But if you need to run out before that, let me know. The only thing on my calendar today is the weekly meeting with the project managers. I should be able to handle that on my own.”
“Thanks, Rosie. You’re the best.”
They both knew that was not true. Pam was the glue holding everything together here. She had been instrumental to the success of Lucas Construction. During the early years after Gary died, Pam and Victor Blackwood, Gary’s second in command at the time, had done their best to run the company. It hadn’t been their fault that everything seemed to go south at the same time, with supply shortages, economic hardships in the area and a long string of bad luck.
Only after Vic left to start his own construction company when she refused to sell to him did Rosie realize what bad shape Lucas Construction was in. With no other choice, she had stepped up. Along with Pam’s considerable help as well as other loyal employees who had stayed with them, they had managed to yank it back from the brink.
Pam and her other coworkers were the most valuable asset Lucas Construction had. For a time, Rosie had left them all to flounder alone. She wouldn’t do it again.
“I’ve left the agenda for today’s meeting on your desk in case I have to rush out,” the other woman said.
“Thanks for that. I meant to be here earlier to organize my thoughts, but I had Olive again this morning.”
“How is that cute little girl?”
Rosie could feel her heart sigh when she thought of hergranddaughter, who already had brought immeasurable light and joy to her world. “Adorable. She never stops talking.”
Pam chuckled. “A lot like her mom was, if I remember correctly.”
“You most certainly do.”
“You’re so lucky to have both of them staying with you this summer.”
The other woman’s voice held only a trace of envy, but it was enough to make Rosie feel sad for her.
This was not the first time Rosie had caught a few glimpses of envy in the other woman’s tone or expression. Pam had no children. She had been married and divorced three times and had a few stepchildren she didn’t stay in touch with.
Rosie certainly didn’t think every woman needed a husband and children to be happy. Definitely not. There were plenty of women who were happily single and/or childless and had created exactly the life they wanted.
Unfortunately, she suspected Pam was not among their number. As much as Rosie enjoyed her friendship with the other woman and valued her highly in a professional manner, at times Pam exuded an indefinable air of discontent. Whether that was from her personal life or something else, Rosie didn’t know.
“Thank you,” she said now, then picked up a stack of papers out of her cubby and headed into her office.
She had redecorated the space a few years ago, though she had kept Gary’s desk. If she closed her eyes, she could still see him sitting behind it, completely in his element as he made plans for another project.
He had loved Lucas Construction and had been so very proud of the work they had done.
On her desk were pictures of her and Gary together andanother one of Olive and Emma. Her family. The walls were covered in framed photographs of some of the larger projects they had finished, touchstones that filled her with pride.
She was double-checking the agenda for the meeting when someone knocked on the frame of her open door. She looked up and smiled when Bryce came into her office.
“Morning,” he said. “I was hoping to catch you before the meeting, but you look like you’re in the middle of something.”
“Not really. Just going over what we need to talk about.” She set the agenda aside. “Come in. What’s going on?”
He sat in the visitor chair across from her desk. He looked nervous, as if he were about to confess a dark secret.
“I thought you should know I’ve offered to help Emma out at the bookstore in my free time. I was there last night and I’m heading over again tonight.”
“Emma? My Emma,” she asked in surprise.
