Hard As Stone

by K. M. Scott

  It was a valid question since we were close enough we told each other almost everything. I hadn’t mentioned anything about Ethan to my parents or anyone else in the world, except Dawn, and she didn’t even know his name. He’d just been a new guy I was seeing.

  “I was too ashamed. My boss fired me because I was dating that guy, and that was right after he and I broke up.”

  “And you didn’t tell me that either? Why all the secrets, Summer?”

  Again, a very valid question.

  “I don’t know. It hurt too much to talk about what happened, I guess. It’s been a rough couple months, but oddly enough, his sister hired me to be her assistant, so I’m back on the road to fame and fortune,” I joked, hoping I didn’t sound too pathetic to my baby sister.

  “I wish you would have told me. You know I would have been there for you. We could have sat together and gorged on chocolate while we bashed Julia and your ex. You know I’m always good for that.”

  That was my sister in a nutshell. One minute she was asking for help to make life better for shelter animals, and the next she was offering to talk shit about people who hurt me because she knew it would be exactly what I needed.

  “It was all too much at one time, so I didn’t really want to talk about any of it. After I had to move out of my apartment, I felt pretty low.”

  “You had to move out of your apartment? I can’t believe you didn’t tell me that either!” she exclaimed in justified surprise.

  I had been basically living a lie when it came to her for the past few months. I wasn’t much of a sister, it seemed.

  “Yeah. That’s the reason we never video phone anymore. I didn’t want you to see where I was when we talked, so that’s why I asked you to call on the cell. I’m sorry I had to lie. It was just too humiliating to admit my life was falling apart. It’s better now, though. I’m living in a hotel room my new boss let me stay in for nothing, so if you want to, we can go back to talking and looking at one another. I just have to get a connector.”

  “So you have a new job and a new place, but what about the guy? Do you have a new one of those yet?”

  I had a feeling she was teasing me, but with how much I’d been hiding, I deserved it, so I laughed it off. Since I had no idea what was going on between Ethan and me, I believed I was telling the truth when I said, “No new guy yet, so this girl’s still single.”

  “And here I was thinking I had all the problems because of the animals.”

  A thought popped into my head about how I could make it up to her for all my lying and help those little kitties and puppies she took care of. “What if I could find a photographer to take pictures of the animals for the shelter’s website and social media pages?”

  Dawn didn’t understand what I was trying to suggest. “We have pictures of all the animals already, Summer.”

  “No, I mean something more. They could be like those glamour shots Mom has from when she was a teenager. You know the ones with her looking like a movie star. You could put the animals in front of a nice background and in little costumes and show the pictures off as marketing tools. I’ve heard of this done somewhere, I don’t remember where, but I think it helped get some of the animals adopted. I might know a photographer who might be willing to help. Do you want me to ask him?”

  “Yeah, but the rescue has no budget for this, so we can’t pay. I doubt any photographer from the city would be willing to do this for free,” she said, sounding dejected already about the prospects of my idea working.

  “I know. That will be the first thing I tell him. There’s no money in the deal. Just helping out kittens and puppies.”

  “We do have older animals too, you know. Those are even harder to adopt out, especially the ones with problems like a missing eye or leg. He has to be willing to take their pictures too or I can’t even think of bringing this to my director.”

  Jumping off the couch, I began to pace around my hotel room in excitement. “Of course! I just figured I’d sell it to him with the kittens and puppies, but every one you want a picture of will have their chance to be a star. What do you say?”

  “It sounds great! You ask your photographer friend and I’ll talk to my director tonight before I leave. I can’t imagine she’ll say no, but I want to get her permission first before we do anything. As soon as I find out if it’s okay, I’ll let you know.”

  “Great! If she gives the go-ahead, I’ll ask him first thing tomorrow morning.”

  “Thank you so much, Summer. And remember, you don’t have to hide things from me anymore. I’m a big girl now. I can handle a little truth from you.”

  I had to give my sister credit. Without me noticing, she’d grown up to be a pretty great woman in addition to being an incredible sister and best friend.

  “I promise no more lying. And just to prove that, I’ll let you in on a bit of truth. The photographer I’m going to ask to do this is none other than Ethan, the guy I was dating.”

  Dawn’s sharp intake of air told me I’d surprised her. “Really? So you two aren’t seeing each other anymore, but you’re friendly enough to ask him to do something like this for free? You’re not going to be exchanging sex or anything for payment, are you? Because as much as I love these animals, I would never ask you to do anything like that. I hope you know that.”

  In the middle of my hotel room, I stopped dead in my tracks as my mouth dropped open in shock. “I can’t believe you sometimes, Dawn! No, I don’t plan on exchanging sexual favors for some pictures of your animals.”

  “Hey, I don’t know what happens in New York. I’ll let you know as soon as I find out what my director says. And thanks again, Summer. Love you.”

  “Love you too, you crazy woman.”

  I tossed my phone back onto the couch and continued to pace from excitement. If Dawn’s boss agreed and I could get Ethan to agree, not only would those kitties and doggies be getting some help. I’d be doing my job, and Ethan might even see why he should get back to what he loved.

  Looking over at the mini-bar, I thought I deserved a drink to celebrate this wonderful plan.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Summer

  I awoke to find Dawn’s message on my phone telling me the shelter’s director had given her approval for my idea, so it was a go on their end. Happy the first hurdle had been cleared, I made sure to wear my nicest work clothes in the hopes that it would help me convince Ethan to do this huge favor for me. Wearing my black sweater dress that fit perfectly in all the right spots, my black leather boots, and my hair and makeup done as perfectly as I could, I took one last look in the hotel bathroom mirror and smiled.

  “Okay, Dawn’s little animal friends. I’ve done my best with how I look. Now let’s see if I can add some persuasion to the offer.”

  As soon as I stepped off the elevator, though, all my plans were shot to hell by Tressa. Waiting for me in the hallway, she slid her arm around me and deftly guided me right past Ethan’s office to hers as she talked about how busy we’d be all day planning this party to celebrate her mother’s art show. Just before the door to her office closed, I looked back to see Ethan sitting in his office looking as miserable as ever behind his desk.

  Pushing my plans back to lunchtime, I took my seat in front of Tressa’s desk and listened as she eagerly explained all her plans for the party we were to plan. She’d thought of everything from the location to the caterer who absolutely had to handle it and even to the color scheme she wanted to use for the decorations.

  “This party is the most important part of your job this week, so you’re going to focus on it exclusively. I want it to be perfect for my mother, and cost is no object. I know it’s late, but I’ve gotten the caterer on board and the site is all approved. The building next to the gallery has agreed to let me use their first floor since it’s been recently renovated and their tenant isn’t scheduled to move in for another month, so it’s perfect. That just leaves getting the invitations to guests and the decorations. I’ll email you
what I want on the invitations. Oh, also I’ll need you to handle the alcohol and floral deliveries. Of course, you’ll have the car service at your beck and call since I don’t expect you to be hoofing it back and forth between here and the gallery in SoHo. Any questions?”

  By the time she finished, Tressa was nearly out of breath and my stomach was in knots. Planning this party wasn’t out of my wheelhouse by any means since I’d organized similar parties for Julia before, but knowing it was for Nina Stone put far more added pressure on me to get this right.

  “Do you have a preference as to where I get the invitations made and do you want them to coordinate with the gold and royal blue color scheme you’ve decided on or would you prefer a simpler look with gold and white?” I asked as I struggled to remember where I’d gotten Julia’s invitations for last year’s summer barbeque party made.

  After thinking about my question for a moment, she nodded. “Good idea. Let’s go with the gold and white. Anything else?”

  “Who should I use to get them printed?”

  “Oh yeah. Use the company we always use for Stone Worldwide events,” she answered as she began opening her desk drawers. “I know I have the card in here. They’ll get them done fast so you can have them sent out ASAP.”

  She pulled the business card out of the top drawer and held it out for me. “Here it is. Tell them you’re my assistant. That’ll do the trick.”

  “Can I hire anyone to do the decorating, or do you have someone in mind? I can do it, but I’m not going to lie. I don’t have a great eye for things like that.”

  “Whoever you want. It’s late notice, so you might have to be convincing. Feel free to throw my name around and my father’s. I want this to be perfect for my mother, so spare no cost either. Anything else?”

  Our whirlwind meeting made thinking of ideas next to impossible, so I shook my head no. “I don’t think so. If I have any questions, I’ll ask.”

  “Excellent! I can’t wait to see the fruits of your efforts. I’ve got a shareholders’ meeting to attend with my father, but if anything comes up, just message me. I should be back here in the office by mid-afternoon.”

  Tressa began flipping through papers on her desk, so I took that as my cue to leave. As I made my way to the door, she asked, “By the way, any news yet on the other part of your job?”

  Turning around, I smiled. “I think I have a lead on something that might work. If it pans out, I’ll let you know.”

  “Terrific! Let’s hope it works out.”

  By lunchtime, I’d spent nearly three hours straight on the phone contacting vendors I needed to get this party set. As I began to see co-workers filing out of their offices to head out to get food, I ended a call to the printer Tressa had directed me to. The invitations would be done later that afternoon, so I could begin sending them out today, thankfully. That only left just under two weeks before Nina Stone’s show, but hopefully, that would be long enough for guests to plan to attend.

  I stretched my legs and walked down the hallway toward Ethan’s office. As usual, he sat at his desk looking bored and unhappy. I took a deep breath and knocked on his door, hoping his being miserable wouldn’t stop him from considering my request.

  He looked up at me and smiled. “Have you been sent by the almighty Tressa to deliver a message?”

  I shook my head and tried to stifle a giggle at his characterization of my boss. “Nope. This visit is purely Summer driven. I have a favor to ask you.”

  Ethan’s eyebrows shot up into his forehead, and his eyes grew wide with curiosity. “A favor. This is the most interesting thing I’ve heard all day. What’s up?”

  “My sister Dawn works as a vet tech at Mended Paws Shelter and Rescue outside my hometown in Pennsylvania. They take in animals, many of whom have problems like they’ve been injured or they’re sick. They’re overflowing with cats and dogs and are desperate for adoptions, but they have little to no promotion budget. That’s where the favor I want to ask you comes in.”

  He listened to me as I tried to fit in all the information I wanted to explain and nodded. “Okay. So what do you need from me?”

  “Well, I was hoping you’d help them out by taking some pictures of the animals for their social media pages and website.” I quickly found the rescue’s site on my phone and showed him the pictures the staff had taken of the animals. “See, what they have is pretty lame. I’ve heard of shelters taking interesting pictures of the animals to gin up interest and get people in to adopt these poor little creatures. They shouldn’t have to spend their lives in cages at the shelter, Ethan.”

  He studied the images on my phone and looked up at me. “I’ve never shot animals, Summer. Christ, even saying it like that sounds bad. I’m not sure I’m the right person for this.”

  “Please? I know I’m the last person who should be asking you for a favor, but I’m asking you to help my sister more than me. I’m sure if the animals were photographed in interesting ways that I know you can do that more people would want to adopt them. They just need some help. Will you do it?”

  He didn’t say anything, and I remembered that I hadn’t told him the least appealing part of this favor. “Oh, and they can’t pay you. I know that probably doesn’t make you want to do it at all, but please do it anyway.”

  Nodding, he looked up at me and said, “I’ll do it on one condition. If I do this, you have to go with me to the shelter.”

  Thrilled he had only that condition, I eagerly agreed. “Of course! I’d planned on offering to go since I love seeing the animals and it would give me a chance to see my sister.”

  “Okay. When do you want to do it? I can go today, if my slave driver of a sister will let you off early.”

  “There’s no way I can do it today. She has me planning the party for your mother’s show, and I have no less than a million things to arrange so it’s not an utter disaster.”

  His smile faded, and he turned his head to look away. “Oh, the show. Yeah, everyone in my family can talk of nothing else.”

  “What about this weekend?” I suggested. “I know it’s a lot to ask to give up a Saturday or Sunday, but it isn’t for me. It’s for the kitties and puppies.”

  Ethan looked over at me and my attempt to look pitiful with big eyes full of sadness for those poor animals. “You don’t have to do that, Summer. I’m happy to do it whenever. I’ll pick you up at ten tomorrow morning. Sound good?”

  Barely able to contain my excitement, I practically jumped in the air. “Oh, that’s great! Thank you! I really appreciate you doing this. Ten it is. I better go grab my lunch now and get back to my desk since I have a busy afternoon ahead of me. Those party decorations aren’t going to get ordered by themselves. Thanks again, Ethan. This means a lot to me, and I know it’s going to help the animals.”

  “My pleasure.”

  I hurried out of his office, and when I looked back at him, he was watching me walk away. My face instantly heated so my cheeks felt warm and likely made me look like I was blushing. I didn’t know if I liked the idea of him thinking he could still have that effect on me.

  As the elevator doors opened and I headed out into the Stone Worldwide building lobby, I texted Tressa with the good news.

  Ethan has agreed to take some pictures of the animals at the rescue shelter my sister works at in PA. He and I will be traveling there tomorrow.

  Stepping out into the warmer than usual February weather, I made my way down the street to the coffee shop to grab a bite for lunch. Just as I arrived, my phone vibrated and I looked to see a message back from Tressa.

  Excellent! Happy to hear this news. I’ll be back in the office later today so you can tell me all you’ve accomplished on the party too.

  She wasn’t a slave driver like her brother thought, but she certainly did have a way about her that made my days fuller than they’d ever been. I couldn’t say anything bad about her, though. She’d given me a job and a place to live, and I’d never forget that.

  Chapter
Eighteen

  Ethan

  A little more than a two hour drive filled with talk about work mostly and Summer and I arrived at the Mended Paws Shelter and Rescue just outside of Devon, Pennsylvania. My mother had taken my sisters and me to this part of the state a few times when we were young, but I’d forgotten how beautiful the area was, even in the dead of winter.

  “So this is where you grew up?” I asked Summer as she unfastened her seat belt. “Pretty nice.”

  She shrugged like it was no big deal. “It was a good place to be a kid. It’s nothing compared to where you grew up, but it was okay.”

  Before she got out of the car, she said, “While you get your equipment, I’m going to find my sister. See you in a few.”

  Even though she punctuated that with a smile, I couldn’t miss the distance she’d intentionally put between us that morning. We’d sat right next to each other for hours, but emotionally, it was as if a five foot wall had been dropped between the driver’s and passenger’s seats in my Land Rover.

  I knew I deserved it, but it didn’t make it any easier to take. In a world full of people, lately I’d missed Summer more than I could say. As I watched her walk toward the door dressed in jeans that definitely reminded me how much I liked the view of her from behind, I couldn’t help but be sad at the fact that we didn’t share things like that with each other anymore. Back when we were together, I would have walked up behind her and patted her on the ass while I whispered, “Thanks for the show” or something equally as idiotic. She always gave me a smile, though, because she knew no matter how I said it, I meant I liked the parts of her that worried her the most.

  I missed those times with her.

  As I hauled the last of my gear inside the shelter, Summer brought her sister over to introduce us. Similar looking, Dawn was slightly thinner and wore her brown hair short. I didn’t know if she was younger than Summer, but she looked about twenty.