The deer-caught-in-headlights look faded, transforming into something else. He cleared his throat, gaze returning to me every few seconds. Whatever was on that screen, Joe did not want it to be seen. Probably porn.
“Would you like one?” I asked, taking a step toward the table.
His whole body tensed as if he was preparing to jump up and cover whatever it was. “One what?”
“Coffee.”
“No,” he said. “Thanks.”
“Okay.” I gave him a brief smile, strolling toward the door. “Back in a minute.”
His chin jerked, eyes stuck to me like I might vault over the desk and launch a violent invasion of his online privacy at any moment.
Very strange.
When I came back with my coffee, Joe had disappeared out the back door. Nell had left a list detailing what kinds of expenses belonged in which category. Beyond that, it was pretty basic. I worked away at the piles of receipts, banking records, and invoices. Inputting all of the information—business name, items in question, their price, etc. Gradually, the backlog began to dwindle.
The best part of doing this particular job (which no one else wanted to do) were the excellent service and gastronomical benefits. Rosie or Masa regularly delivered coffees, bottles of sparkling water, a delectable Vietnamese-style chicken salad for lunch, and an amazingly good steak with a baked potato and all the trimmings for dinner. I had no idea what they did to the cow to make the meat so tender. Daily massages. Weekly pedicures. Whatever it was, it worked. Best steak ever.
“How’s it going?” Nell collapsed into the chair opposite my desk, face still pale and shadows beneath her eyes. She looked only marginally better than the other day.
“I’m slowly beating the accounts into submission. Should you be home in bed?”
“Probably.” She cracked the lid on a bottle of apple juice and gulped some down, then set it on the table. “I’m heading home soon.”
“Good.” And here came the nervy part. “Nell…”
“Yeah?”
I rubbed the tip of my tongue over my teeth, trying to think of the best way to say what I needed to say. Fear and excitement stirred inside of me, speeding my heart and making my hands shake. No matter how I tried to calm myself. “Not to sound like some psycho corporate spy out to infiltrate you.”
She raised her brows in question.
“But while I was going over the figures, I went over the figures.”
With a groan, she shook her head. “I’m tired, Lydia. What do you want to say?”
I sat forward, hiding my trembling hands beneath the table. “Last night, Eric offered me a month’s trial managing the restaurant floor section. I trust you’re in agreement about that?”
“Of course.”
“And Pat still wants to sell his third of the business?”
Her lips tightened, pain flitting across her face before being determinedly smoothed away. “Very much so.”
“Okay.”
“Lydia, tell me you’re saying what I think you’re saying.”
“I’d like to do the month’s trial with a view to purchasing Pat’s share of the business at the end of that time, if we’re all in agreement that we can work together long-term.”
Nell’s smile was beatific. “You do?”
“Yes. I know this probably seems sudden, but the idea has been growing in the back of my mind for the last few days. Which still sounds sudden.”
She said nothing.
“Anyway, I want to do something I like for a change, sell products I believe in, and I think the Dive Bar could be that opportunity for me.” I didn’t know what to do with myself. Jump around the room or hide in a corner. Both were viable options. “I realize it’s a lot of money, a big commitment, but this feels right to me. I think I’d regret it if I didn’t give it a try.”
“But you definitely have the money?”
“I will in a couple of days, yes.”
Curiosity lit her eyes. “A couple of days?”
“Between you and me?”
“Of course.” No hesitation. One of my favorite qualities about Nell was her plainspokenness.
“I have a legal settlement coming through from the Delaneys.”
“Okay,” said Nell. “It is a bit sudden, but you saw the figures. You’ve worked here, you’ve seen how much local people like the place. We’re not relying on seasonal trade to the same degree as others. This is going to be awesome.”
“I hope so.” I tried to bite back a smile; it didn’t quite work.
“I know so.” Nell’s gaze dropped to her lap, fingers fidgeting. “In the interest of full disclosure … I have some news to tell you. No one else knows about this just yet as I only found out this morning. So I’d appreciate you keeping it to yourself for now.”
“Of course.”
“I’m pregnant.”
My mouth hung open, my eyes feeling bigger than the moon.
“That was pretty much my reaction too.” She gave me a grim smile. “It’s Eric’s. So, yeah. Not exactly planned. Not even remotely.”
“Congratulations?” I asked quietly.
Her smile improved. “Thank you. I always wanted kids. I thought they’d be with Pat, but things change, right?”