“Thanks for the invite, Kenzie, but I’ve got a lot to do here today myself.” And he couldn’t be sure when his cell phone would ring and drag him away. Melinda had wanted to see Sam for Mother’s Day and intended to spend quality time with him all weekend, so she was at the house. But Will knew from experience that the length of time she stayed depended purely on the kind of day Sam was having.
Of course, the kind of day Sam would have depended purely on Melinda’s ability to deal with him.
The chicken and the egg again.
“Have you eaten yet?” Kenzie surprised him by her persistence.
He shook his head.
“Then let me put together a plate for you and bring it over. I know you’ve been working nonstop, Will, and I really appreciate all you’ve done. The very least I can do is feed you.”
There really wasn’t any nice way to turn her down. Especially when the mention of food had reminded him he hadn’t eaten since the banana he’d grabbed on the way out the door before dawn. Guadalupe had told him to start packing lunches. A good idea that would probably make his life easier if he could only remember to do it.
“Thanks. I’ll come over and grab something.” After all, that would be quicker than closing up this place and heading to the deli for to-go.
“Great.” She liked getting her way. He could tell because a smile played around her mouth—a soft, full mouth that made him think of kissing.
Kenzie with the kissing mouth.
That thought made him groan inwardly. Sleep deprivation truly might be the death of him.
Twisting off the top of the bottle, he took an appreciative swig of cold beer as they walked to the entrance that would soon become the drop-off point for the kids at Angel House.
“So how’s the work coming over here?” she asked, obviously more comfortable with chatter than the quiet.
As far as Will was concerned, this was a leap for Kenzie, a big one. To his way of thinking they weren’t at the chatting stage of their relationship. To date, they’d discussed the building. Period. Kenzie kept distance around her like an invisible wall and surprised him today by breaching it. Because she appreciated the work he’d done. He appreciated her making the move as quickly as she had, so they were even.
But he was glad she liked the flowers.
They headed outside and around the building.
“Look at all these cars,” Will said. “You weren’t kidding about everyone helping you move. Anyone notice the windowsills yet?”
That got another smile. He was on a roll today. “If they did, they haven’t mentioned it to me.”
“Then we’re good. We’ll get there.”
“I know,” she said earnestly. “I also know how much work there is before school begins. I have to get settled in, so we’ll get to the windowsills when we get to the windowsills. Sound good?”
Will appreciated her flexibility. And his first glimpse of Kenzie the not-always-distant-professional. Maybe she was simply the type of person who took some time warming up.
But he had to reevaluate that opinion once he stepped inside her agency’s newly renovated reception area, where a party was clearly in full swing. There were people everywhere. A full spread of food was laid out on a table. Another table was loaded with drinks and cups. Coolers and buckets of ice sat on the floor close by. There was a half keg perched on the reception counter. And here he’d been worried she’d think he was a drunk.
“Excuse me, everyone,” Kenzie said then repeated in a loud voice that didn’t do much to lower the volume of the chatter.
Only a whistle finally pierced the noise. A blond man from the other end of the room yelled in a dull roar, “Yo, pay attention to the lady.”
Kenzie inclined her head in appreciation of the man’s intervention as the volume dropped. When she had everyone’s attention, she said, “Everyone, I want you to meet Will, the man responsible for bringing Madame Estelle’s place back to life. He and his company have done all the work.”
There was a polite round of applause, and Will raised the beer bottle to acknowledge everyone, wondering how many of these folks recognized him as a councilman, but hadn’t voted for him. Or hadn’t voted at all. In Will’s new line of work, one never stopped campaigning. Constituents were everywhere he went. He forgot that sometimes. He’d made a good call not going for that second beer.
Then Kenzie ushered him toward the food, introducing him as they worked their way through the crowd.
He met some cousins and some friends, buddies from the dance studio who approved the way he and the city council were utilizing this beloved building.
“Our tax dollars visibly at work,” Kenzie pointed out and her friends agreed.
He hadn’t expected her support, but appreciated it. If he hadn’t been convinced she was pleased with the renovations, he was convinced now. For a woman who hadn’t voted for him...
He met her parents who, at first glance, he’d pegged as her grandparents. Thank God he hadn’t opened his mouth. But Kenzie had been quick to make introductions, so quick, in fact that he suspected she might have encountered that problem before.
“These are my parents, Will. Carl and Mary James. Dad, Mom, this is Will Russell, not only the renovation contractor but also one of our city councilmen.”
Kenzie had obviously inherited her red hair from her father, whose faded hair still held a tinge of red with the gray. His skin was more weathered than his wife’s healthy tan, but both appeared to enjoy the outdoors. Retired, if Will guessed right.
“We voted for you,” Carl said over a genial handshake. “Know about your work with the Historic Preservation Commission from a friend who sits on the advisory committee. He owns a sporting goods place on Main Street and has been pushing the city to do something with downtown for a long time.”
This appeared to be news to Kenzie, who simply fixed a smile on her face and didn’t say a word.
“That’d be Steve Berry, right?” Will said.
“That’s him. Good guy. Great golfer.”
Definitely retired. Probably playing golf every day and loving every minute. “That’s what I’ve heard. Family Foundations has me working closely with the council member who serves as liaison and nonvoting member to the committee. Steve’s member-at-large this term if memory serves.”
Mary leaned into her husband and gave Will a sweet smile that looked a lot like the one currently plastered on her daughter’s face. “Memory does serve. His wife, Marianna, coordinates my bridge club. She says he’s not around to help her anymore, and she’s filling five tables every week.”
“Good thing they have term appointments then.”
“I believe Marianna would agree.”
“Will’s working on the other side of the building today,” Kenzie explained. “I wanted him to grab something to eat before everything’s gone.”
“I think he’ll be okay, honeybunch.” Carl winked. “If you get him over to that table fast.”
“And don’t you forget to grab something, too, Kenzie,” Mary added.
“Will do.” Then Kenzie urged him forward again, but before he reached the table, Will encountered someone he recognized.
“Judge Parrish.” He extended his hand.
She did not look as formidable in her jeans as she did in her robes, but he still would have recognized her anywhere. He’d run into her often enough coming and going through the revolving door that was the mayor’s office.
�
�Good to see you, Will. You’ve done an amazing job on this place. I can see why Kenzie’s so pleased.”
“Glad to hear she is.”
Will supposed he shouldn’t be surprised Kenzie knew the judge when he considered that Judge Parrish was originally the one to mention this agency to Deanne.
They finally reached the food, and he noticed how the flowers he’d sent presided over the table. She seemed genuinely pleased he’d sent them, and Will was glad he’d gotten that right. Anything to keep in her good graces so he could fit in the rest of her work around Angel House’s schedule.
Kenzie grabbed two plates, handed him one and instructed him to help himself. Since she hadn’t eaten yet, either, his plan to grab some food and run was out the window. But Will didn’t mind. He should mind, of course, with everything he needed to accomplish before he sent in the guys to install the new ductwork on Monday. Yet he didn’t feel frantic or stressed. Instead, he felt welcomed at this working party, even though he’d met only a few people.
“I can’t believe you’re getting anything done in here with all these people,” he said when she directed him behind the reception counter, the only place left to sit.
She set down her plate and glanced fondly at the group. “They’re a handful, all right, but so generous to give up their Saturday. We packed up my old office, loaded the truck and got over here by noon.”
“That’s why everyone is thirsty.” A woman peered over the counter as she filled a disposable cup from the keg.
Kenzie only smiled. “Will, this is my assistant, Lou.”
“So, you’re the man of the hour,” Lou said. “Place looks great. Think the agency will be perfect here once we get everything in place.”
“I hope so.” Will sat beside Kenzie.
Her parents and the judge appeared again, and they all chatted while Will made quick work of lunch and went back for seconds.
The blond whistler showed up, too. An attorney named Nathanial, who appeared to be on good terms with everyone. Especially Kenzie. The guy was certainly territorial, draping his arm over her shoulder, casually drinking from her bottled water. Her boyfriend?
Of course such a beautiful woman would have one. Will didn’t want to think about why he was suddenly so interested in Kenzie’s personal life. Their relationship was building and business focused. Period.
But maybe he just felt included in her life right now. The whole situation felt familiar, in fact. Lots of laughter and affection. Wasn’t all that long ago he and Melinda had thrown their own parties. Family gatherings on holidays. Dinner parties to schmooze Melinda’s clients or his own business associates.
But that had been before they’d decided to take the next step in their long-term relationship, to get married and settle down. That’s when life had taken a sharp left turn in a new direction, one that involved autism, divorce and an unexpected career in politics.
* * *
KENZIE DROPPED ANOTHER folder into the file drawer of her desk. After the moving party yesterday, she was left alone to organize her office so she could work this week. Only the cases she currently mediated were kept nearby. Most of the information she needed to work was handled digitally, but there were still some hard-copy documents that needed old-fashioned signatures.
Crossing another item off her list, she scanned what was left to do in preparation for Monday’s appointments.
Check internet connection.
Get printer and scanner running.
Set up switchboard.
Hang shingle.
The equipment company would move the copier tomorrow afternoon and set up the machine, so Lou would deal with that. Kenzie could temporarily live without the switchboard thanks to other modes of communication—voice mail, cell phones and email—but the shingle was important.
Her parents had gifted her with the gold nameplate when she’d first opened her agency. It had hung beside the door to her offices in the strip plaza since the day she’d first opened for business.
To Kenzie, the shingle symbolized a lot more than a good-luck memento. Wrapped up in one simple nameplate, inscribed in an elegant font, was all the love and support and respect of parents who loved and supported unconditionally but didn’t give their respect unless earned.
Her parents were the product of another generation with a different work ethic, a generation that had been big on rewarding effort. Businesses were established by the sweat of hard work and practical choices, of tightening belts when times were tough and making disciplined sacrifices for long-term goals rather than indulging immediate gratification.
They hadn’t bought their first home until they’d saved enough money to purchase a starter house in cash. They’d bought only used cars until financially able to afford new cars and didn’t believe in paying a bank to lend them money. They believed they shouldn’t be spending money unless they had it in their pockets—or accounts—to spend.
Her father had established his title insurance company with her mother running the office by his side, and they’d grown that company successfully over forty-plus years. Not only had they provided quality of life for Kenzie, including a private school education, but they’d looked after their own retirement. When they’d finally sold the company, they were financially secure and able to enjoy their golden years.
They were proud of Kenzie’s accomplishments, and she didn’t want to begin her first official day in her new location without that shingle hanging beside the front door. Sentimental, true, but Kenzie liked feeling that love and support was with her on this all-important start, so she was motivated to get the equipment up fast, so there’d be some daylight left to install the shingle.
A scanner and printer were essential since she’d scheduled her first meeting for 7:30 a.m. The furniture was already in place thanks to Nathanial, so all she had to do was unpack the boxes, network the equipment and make sure everything worked.
Fortunately, her mother hadn’t minded cutting short the Mother’s Day festivities. Since her parents had arrived back in town from their winter home in Punta Gorda specifically to help Kenzie move, they hadn’t yet settled in from the trip.
Both had looked tired at the celebratory lunch and more than content to get home and rest after a long drive and moving day. Kenzie was tired, too. With any luck tonight would be an early one, so she could start the week somewhat clearheaded.
Fortunately both her new internet connection and equipment cooperated and she was ready to tackle the shingle with plenty of daylight to spare. She should have asked her father to install it before returning the rental truck yesterday, but she’d gotten derailed by her inspiration to provide Will a meal. How hard could hanging a shingle be? She was all sorts of handy. She’d hung everything in her house from new drapery hardware to mirrors.
But when Kenzie tried to track down her toolbox, she couldn’t find it anywhere. The last person she’d seen with it yesterday had been Nathanial, who had been using the drill to reassemble table legs.
One phone call solved the mystery.
“Damn, Kenz. It must still be on my backseat,” Nathanial said. “I had it when I got ambushed by Fiona and Jess in the parking lot.”
Fiona and Jess were identical twin sisters and friends of Kenzie’s from the earliest years with Madame Estelle. They’d alternated having crushes on Nathanial all through middle school, vying for his attention unsuccessfully until Kenzie had officially claimed him for herself in the eighth grade. To this very day neither could resist the cha
nce to bask in his blond-haired, blued-eyed, president-of-the-student-government gorgeousness and reminisce about the old days.
“I meant to bring it inside with those books I promised you,” Nathanial explained. “But I couldn’t shake them without jumping in my car and physically leaving.”
Kenzie smiled. Fiona and Jess in tandem had always had the ability to overwhelm Nathanial. Truth be told, they could overwhelm Kenzie when they got going. “Where are you now?”
“Command performance at Sarah and Sean’s for Mother’s Day.”
That ended her plan to retrieve the toolbox since his older sister Sarah and her husband lived in Charlotte, two hours away. “Her first Mother’s Day. How special. She feeling all right?”
“Okay for just having a baby I guess. Can’t stop smiling but looks pretty wiped. I wouldn’t say that to her face, of course. Little Sophie is pretty cute. Doesn’t do much but sleep.”
“I think that’s normal. Probably good for Sarah because it sounds like she needs to rest up. Well, no big deal. Say hi to everyone and give Mom and Sarah hugs.”
“Will do. Sure you don’t mind waiting until tomorrow? I’ll drop everything off on my way into the office in the morning.”
“No problem. Have fun and get home safely.”
“Will do. Sorry I bailed on you today. Not enough hours in the day, and this case is kicking my butt.”
Kenzie sank back in her chair and yawned. She needed coffee. “Nathanial, please. You went above and beyond this week helping me. I appreciate everything you’ve done. Enjoy your day. I’m trying to get out of here myself.”
“Get done what you need to and leave the rest. It will be there waiting tomorrow.”
“Sound advice.”
“That you need to hear even if you don’t ever listen.”
“Ha! Takes one to know one.”
Right from the Start Page 9
