by Mia Ross
“Charles,” Rick said, standing to shake his mentor’s hand. “This is a great surprise. I had no idea the boss was coming by today.”
“That was the plan. You know how I love popping in to catch my people slacking off.”
More than once, Rick recalled that Charles had ventured into random branches dressed as a mechanic or a deliveryman, pretending to be a prospective customer. Sometimes he was pleased with the treatment he received, and sometimes not. But the ruse always gave him a genuine view of how things were running in the banks he owned. Rick admired the man as much for those visits as for his brilliant financial mind.
Motioning to a chair, he said, “Have a seat. Can I get you anything?”
“Answers,” the robust man replied as he sat. “This branch is still fairly new, and I wasn’t thrilled with the numbers they generated last year. That’s why I sent you up here to get it whipped into shape. How are things running these days?”
That was a loaded question if ever he’d heard one, and Rick knew better than to go off-the-cuff when answering it. Besides, Charles had long ago taught him that demonstrating something to someone was much more effective than telling them about it. Spinning his monitor for his boss to see, he sat down and folded his hands on the leather blotter in a casual, confident pose. “See for yourself.”
Pulling a pair of wire-rimmed reading glasses from his jacket pocket, Charles put them on and stared at the screen, touching tabs here and there to access different sets of figures. After a couple minutes of that, he removed his glasses and leaned back in his chair to give Rick a keen-eyed once-over. Rick knew better than to speak at this point, since the intense scrutiny was aimed at seeing if the owner’s target would start to squirm. Another tactic Rick had learned from the master himself.
Finally, the older man casually set his left leg across his right knee, resting over it a hand that sported a gleaming diamond-studded wedding band and a watch that had cost more than Rick’s car. “I’m impressed. I didn’t doubt that you’d find a way to boost this place, but I wouldn’t have expected even you to get it going so fast. What’s your secret?”
“Getting to know the people here has made all the difference,” Rick answered truthfully. “It’s a great community, full of hardworking, honest people who want to build a better life for their families. Their financial needs aren’t huge, but they’re important, and folks tend to honor their obligations.”
“That kind of accountability is pretty rare these days. What do you think makes these customers different?”
“Pride. Some of these families have been here for generations, and they’re planning to stay for generations to come.”
Charles gave him a long look, then nodded. “So keeping this branch instead of selling it off was a good idea, after all. I was beginning to wonder.”
“Not to brag, but I told you that last fall.”
“Yes, you did.” His boss chortled, then sobered in a way that alerted Rick their conversation was about to shift onto a different track. “Well, you honored our deal and righted this sinking ship for me. Without your expert touch, this place would be closing at the end of the quarter. I’m grateful for your help.”
Rick recognized that tone, and his pulse picked up speed before he settled it back down with a quiet breath. “I’m grateful for the opportunity you gave me to prove myself.”
“I know that.” After a pause he went on, “Aside from your professional accomplishments, your loyalty and willingness to live in the middle of nowhere all this time mean a lot to me personally. So I have a new assignment for you. How does Charleston sound?”
Rick’s heart leaped at the thought of returning there, being near his family, raising his girls in the warm, sunny home he’d always longed to go back to. But there was a hitch. “We don’t have a branch in Charleston.”
“Patriots Bank has a presence in all of the original thirteen colonies except for South Carolina. I want to put you in charge of fixing that.”
“You mean I’d be the branch manager?” When Charles nodded, Rick swallowed to be sure his voice wouldn’t crack from the excitement coursing through his body. He had a reputation for being cool and steady no matter the circumstances, and he didn’t want to ruin that by being impulsive. “I’m honored that you’d consider me for such an important position.”
The bank owner smiled at him as if he knew exactly what Rick was thinking. Fortunately, he didn’t chide him for hiding his true feelings about the offer. “You’ve earned it, and more. Just how much more will depend on how well things go down there.”
The tantalizing promise of a future promotion made it even tougher for Rick not to jump in and take the job, but he managed to keep calm. At least on the outside. “I understand. It’s better to make an assessment of the local environment and then see where we should go from there. When would this assignment start?”
“I know you’ve got a daughter in school here. When is she done?”
“Kindergarten graduation is in two weeks,” Rick replied, grinning at the amused look on his boss’s face.
“My grandson had his last year. Be on your guard—they do their best to make the parents cry.”
Rick laughed. “Thanks for the warning.”
“Anyway, if you’re ready for work by July first, that’ll be fine. That gives you time to get settled and make sure the girls are comfortable before you start. Once a proper site is located and purchased, we’ll be putting up our own stand-alone building using local contractors and suppliers. That will ensure buy-in from the community and hopefully encourage them to get in line as our new customers. I want you on site every day, overseeing their progress to make sure they stay on track.” Standing, he extended his hand again. “I’ve contracted with a human resources firm to expedite the hiring, but you’ll have the final say on your staff. I have every confidence that you’ll get it right.”
He didn’t wait for a decision, or for Rick to ask for time to make one. As Charles strode from the office on his way to go torment some other poor, unsuspecting manager, it was obvious that he fully expected the offer to be accepted, and gladly. For Rick, the path ahead wasn’t quite so clear.
Closing the door, he returned to his chair and rocked back into his heavy-thinking pose. The colorful landscape that brightened the mundane room caught his eye, and he swiveled to gaze at it, hoping to find some inspiration in the tranquil scene.
His career had taken him up and down the East Coast, so he’d moved often enough that he had the process down pat. The thought of doing it again didn’t bother him, particularly because he knew that, this time, Charleston was waiting for him at the other end. While that appealed to him, he and his girls had made some wonderful friends here, and had become attached to the residents of this quirky little town in the middle of the New Hampshire woods.
Especially Emma.
He could no longer deny his growing fondness for the soft-spoken teacher who’d brought so much into his life. Not to mention, she’d come to mean a lot to his daughters, who adored her in a way he’d never anticipated. He tried to envision what it would be like never seeing her, sharing a walk around the square or meeting her at Ellie’s bakery for lunch. It was no surprise for him to discover that he couldn’t do it.
Instead, his imagination inserted her into some of his favorite old haunts, marveling at the treasures hanging in one of the art galleries to be found throughout the downtown district, or touring The Charleston Museum with her and his daughters. It was easy to think of her drinking in the rich history of his home the way she’d so generously shared hers with him. And that was when it hit him.
Maybe she’d like Charleston. The vote for her job had gone better than he’d anticipated, but there was no guarantee that the school boards would continue their experiment beyond the coming year. That would leave Emma in the same trouble she’d just come through, and next time there might not be a rem
edy for it. During his career, he’d learned that most fiscal problems never really went away. They just morphed into something slightly different down the road.
One of his longtime friends was the headmaster of a private high school near the large suburb of Mount Pleasant. Was it possible that they were looking for an art teacher?
Deciding that there was no time like the present, Rick pulled up the contact list on his phone and found the right number. When his old buddy picked up on the first ring, Rick summoned a casual tone and returned the greeting. “How’re things down there?”
“Hot and sticky,” Peter drawled with a chuckle. “How ’bout up there in your neck o’ the woods? Run into any bears yet?”
“Hardly.” Rick heard his own Low-Country accent creeping in and remembered Emma’s comment about how nice it sounded. Grinning at the memory, he charged ahead. “I know someone who might be relocating soon, and I’m wondering if Franklin or another school in the area might be needing a teacher.”
“That depends. What kind of teacher?”
Duh, Rick thought with a mental forehead slap. Apparently, thoughts of Emma had short-circuited his usual sharpness. “Art.”
There was an awkward pause, and Rick worried that he’d lost the connection. Then he heard a knowing laugh on the other end. “How pretty is she?”
Busted, he thought with a grimace. Then, because it was Peter, he laughed, too. “Very. Her name is Emma Calhoun, and she’s great with kids of all ages, from kindergarten right up through high school. She has her master’s in art education, and she’s incredibly talented.”
“Anything I might’ve seen?”
“I doubt it, since she’s from New Hampshire.” The canvas hanging on his wall caught his eye again, and he said, “Hang on a second.” Snapping a picture, he sent the photo to his friend. “Did you get it?”
“Wow,” Peter breathed in obvious appreciation. “If it looks like this as a digital image, it must be amazing in person.”
“It is. Whattya think?”
“I think I need to meet this woman. We don’t have a spot currently, but if she’s as great as you claim, I’m sure we can make one.”
Private schools, Rick thought in relief. The big ones like Franklin had deep pockets and more leeway on spending decisions than public districts. If Emma got a job there, it would be as secure as anything could be these days. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
“When you get down here, let’s get the families together at our place for a good, old-fashioned barbecue.”
“Sounds great. Thanks a lot, Peter.”
“Sure and done,” he replied in one of the high school phrases they’d invented. Rick echoed it and ended the call with a smile.
The past few years had been full of challenges for him and his daughters, and the going had been pretty rocky for them at times. Maybe now, things were finally changing for the better.
And if Emma was part of the picture, then everything would be perfect.
Excited by the prospect of grabbing that elusive brass ring, he glanced at his watch to find that it was almost noon. He called up Emma’s number and waited for her to answer. When she did, he opened with, “What are you doing for lunch today?”
“Nothing. Why?”
“Can you meet me at the bakery in about ten minutes? I’ve got something to discuss with you, and it can’t wait.”
“Ooo...sounds mysterious,” she teased. He could imagine those incredible blue eyes twinkling in fun, and it occurred to him that he was officially a goner. “Can you at least give me a hint?”
“Nope. See you in a few.”
Rick closed his laptop and his office door, feeling as if he was on top of the world. All of his hard work, the sacrifices he’d made, were about to pay off in the best way possible. Even agreeing to Charles’s oddball request to move to the middle of nowhere and take over a struggling New England branch now looked like a shrewd career move rather than an insane leap into the abyss. Loyalty meant everything to his boss, and while Rick would have taken the Liberty Creek assignment without the promise of a better post later, it was gratifying to know that personal integrity still had value for some people.
It was a nice day, so he decided to walk the few blocks to meet Emma. As he approached Ellie’s Bakery and Bike Rentals, he recalled the bleak afternoon when he first drove into this little town several months ago. It was a bitter January day, and after crossing the landmark covered bridge, he’d been baffled to find this oddly named business in the center of town. Inside he’d discovered a woman who seemed to consider herself everyone’s grandmother and had charmed his tired daughters with milk and cookies fresh from the oven.
The lady herself was behind the counter when he strolled in, and she came around to greet him as if she hadn’t seen him in ages. After a warm hug, she asked, “How’s my favorite businessman today?”
“Hungry, and something smells fantastic. What is it?”
“My latest culinary invention,” she replied, adding a wink and a smile. “I think you’ll like it. Why don’t you try it and let me know what you think?”
“Sounds good,” Emma said from the doorway. “Make it two.”
Beaming at her granddaughter, Ellie folded her into an emotional embrace, holding her tight before letting her go. “Anything for you, my sweet pea.”
Rick had a feeling something was going on, but he knew it wasn’t his place to ask about it. As the talented cook hurried into the kitchen to get their order, he motioned Emma to a table for two near the window. Before they sat, she turned to him and said, “I’m actually glad you got in touch with me earlier. Dr. Finley called with the results of my last test this morning. As of today, my leukemia is in full remission.”
Rick let out an uncharacteristic whoop, sweeping her off her feet for a joyful hug. Setting her down, he grasped her arms as he fought off the urge to kiss her. They were in a public place, after all, and he knew it was important to behave with some sort of decorum. “Emma, that’s fantastic! Judging by the way she greeted you, I’m assuming Ellie knows about it.”
“I called everyone in the family as soon as I heard, but I wanted to wait and tell you in person. Since you went to the appointment with me, I thought it was the least I could do.”
Once they were seated across from each other, she rested her arms on the table and leaned forward eagerly. “Now that you’ve heard my news, what’s up with you? You look like you’re about to burst.”
That was exactly how he felt, but for once he didn’t bother wondering how she knew that. Despite the calm demeanor that he’d always prided himself on, Emma had a knack for reading his moods, both good and bad. Instead of trying to explain it, he decided to accept her uncanny perceptiveness and forge ahead. “I had a visit from my boss this morning.”
While he filled her in, she followed along with nods and an occasional comment about how wonderful it all sounded. If she believed the professional aspect of the offer was good, he thought with anticipation, wait until she heard the rest.
“But that’s not even the best part.”
“You and the girls moving home to Charleston? What could be better for you than that?”
Reaching over, he took her delicate hands in his and steadied his voice before answering. “I want you to come with us.”
Her eyes widened in astonishment, and she blinked at him a couple of times as if he’d completely lost his mind. “You...what?”
When it occurred to him that they’d only recently begun dating, he realized how his crazy suggestion must sound to her. Feeling foolish for jumping the gun that way, he backed up a step. “Not to live with us, but on your own. I know you’d love it down there, and I’ll help you find a nice place near Charleston.”
She let out a noncommittal sound, and he forged ahead. “A good friend of mine is the headmaster of a private school down there.” He went on
to relate their discussion, and how excited Peter was to meet her in person.
“I can’t imagine why. He has no idea who I am.”
“I told him all about you, and he was very impressed. Besides that, you’re young and dedicated, and you’re not only a great teacher, you’re a really talented artist.”
Now her eyes narrowed suspiciously. “How does he know that?”
“I sent him a pic of your work. The landscape that hangs in my office. He’d really like to meet you and talk about you taking a job at Franklin.”
“But I have a job,” she pointed out, clearly bewildered by the whole thing. “The one you worked so hard to help me save last week. Remember?”
“That’s a one-year contract,” he argued sensibly. “This time next year, you could be facing the exact same problem.”
“Or I might not. Whatever happens, I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.”
“I appreciate that attitude, but Franklin is an amazing institution that prepares kids for Ivy League colleges. Here, they’re just...” A warning flashed in her eyes, and he slammed his runaway mouth shut before he blundered into saying something that would make this normally sweet-tempered woman angry.
“Just what, Rick? Two small schools in the middle of Nowhere, New Hampshire? Not important enough to be taken seriously?” Her voice rose, and she pulled her hands away from his before standing to her full height. Which wasn’t that tall, but the fury sparking in her eyes as she glared down at him would have made anyone think twice about taking her on.
“I am a teacher,” she reminded him in a lethally cool tone that made his skin crawl. “And nurturing students means everything to me, no matter how many of them are in my classroom. The kids in Liberty Creek and Fairfield are every bit as important as the ones in some private school for families who can afford to give their children virtually anything they want. Thank your friend for his interest in me, but I won’t be going to Charleston. Or anywhere else, for that matter.”
