“We should play one of those.I’ll go first.How did you start your employment with Varner?”
“Really, you’re going with that?”He shrugged.“It sounds stereotypical, but I literally started in the mailroom when I was fifteen.I sorted and delivered company mail.Every summer, I took a different job within the company…including scrubbing floors.The summer I washed windows was the worst.”He said it with grumbling fondness.
“I never would have guessed that.I figured Daddy’s the CEO, so you just went to college and stepped into some management role.”
“Ouch.That would have been easy.I had to take dual degrees in accounting and business management.I have two doctorates.”
“Geez, how old are you?”
“Thirty-seven, not that it matters.I got the doctorates while working full time.How did you get started in business, and who hired you at Varner?”He checked his mirrors and pulled around a semi.
“I looked after my neighbor’s outside plants when I was twelve; she paid me five dollars a week for the summer.She had a broken leg and had difficulty moving around.I loved every minute of it, even the weeding.I used part of the money to buy my first houseplant.A spider plant.I love how they grow little babies.It just grew from there.When I turned thirty, I decided I was tired of working for other people and used my savings to open a greenhouse.”
“Impressive.And how did you get on at Varner?”
He sounded genuinely interested, so she answered.“Actually, your HR department approached me about plants for the lobby of your main office building.We struck a deal.I come in once a week to water all the plants in the building.I also take care of any I notice that need attention, even if they aren’t the ones I was hired to supply and care for.I can’t stand to see an unhealthy plant.It hurts my soul.”
He was so silent she wondered what she’d said wrong, and was about to ask when he said, “You know what, that impresses me.I admire your dedication.”
“Thanks.”She opened one of the two bottles of water they’d purchased and offered it to him.He drank deeply and handed it back.
“Those are so sweet,” he said out of nowhere, shaking what was left of his licorice.“I love them, but I prefer black licorice.Especially salted licorice.”
She mock gagged.“Black licorice, yes.Those candy-coated licorice bits are delish, but salted or double salted.No way.No how.”
Something about her comment must have struck him as funny.He burst into loud laughter, totally shocking Wanda.
“It’s not that funny.”She chuckled.His mirth was contagious.They laughed together for several minutes.Her laughter faded, and she glanced at him.His grin set her off again, as they traveled around the back of Innisfail toward Sylvan Lake.
Chapter Five
“Ihaveanidea,”Ericblurted as they drove through Sylvan.“We should see if the water park is open.”
“The one with the bouncy castle on the water?The water would be freezing.I’m sure the ice has barely even melted.Besides, we have a bus to catch.”
“Come on.It’ll be fun.You must have brought a swimsuit.”
“Yeah, no.I don’t know if you recall, but our bags are currently under a bus that’s getting further and further ahead of us.”
“Right.”
He looked so downcast, she said, “We could buy new ones.”
“Yes!”He thrust his fist in the air in triumph.He handed her his phone.“Google the best place to get suits.”
After a quick stop at a big box store for suits and towels, they were lined up for admission.
“You know this is crazy, right?”She looked up at him.Dang, he was tall.And the sun put reddish highlights in his nearly black hair.
“It might be crazy, but it’s going to be a blast.”They were already decked out in their suits; their clothing and valuables stored in a nearby rental locker.“I’ve been here once before.There’s a set course.I’ll race you around it.”
She looked him up and down.“Clearly, you have the advantage.Your legs are way longer than mine.”She shrugged.“What the heck?Game on, Mr.CEO.”
The youth who had been listening to their conversation, and manning the gate, opened it just wide enough for her to slip through.
“See you on the other side,” she shouted over her shoulder, carefully sprinting ahead of him toward the combination bouncy castle and floating obstacle course.
“Not fair!”
