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“Last week”
“Unfortunately, the seed we sent you has developed a probleht now Suffice it to say that it’s poisoned”
Charlie blinked “What?” she asked, bad-seed references running through her head
Miles kept his gaze on Clay’s suddenly unreadable face “It has to coerminates And not just the seed The soil, as well It’s been conta with information about our insurance We will, of course, cover the cost for re your farht It will just take a little time”
Charlie leaned against the back of the sofa “It all has to go?” she asked
“Yes,” Miles told her “Along with eight inches of topsoil I’m very sorry”
Clay hadn’t said a word He stood there, nothis dreaun First the burial site, then Nate and now this He must feel like his Haycation dream was cursed
“Hand it over,” Clay said
Miles gave him the paperwork and Clay walked hione, Clay looked back at Charlie
“I need to go deal with his,” he told her
“Are you okay? How can I help? I want to do so”
He looked resigned The next words caet this fixed and then I’ll plant a new crop next spring It’s not i people”
“Clay, don’t You have a great idea The Haycations are going to work out This is a setback”
“A hell of one,” he muttered He leaned in and kissed her cheek “I’ll be in touch”
He left She didn’t try to stop hi co relationship, she wasn’t sure about anything beyond that Should she have insisted he stay and talk? Forced hiirlfriend thing as she went and not doing that great a job, she thought grimly
She did believe that tooat Clay too fast, which could send him to a bad place What she didn’t knoas hoould act when he got there Or what it would change about them
“I’VE NEVER known anyone who lived in a hotel before,” May admitted “It seems so decadent”
Dominique poured tea into the cups and then set down the pot “If I were to buy a house, I would need staff So Someone else for the yard This seemed easier”
May smiled at her “You don’t cook?”
“I don’t like to cook The food here at the Lodge is good, so why not let them take care of the details? With a suite, I have all I need Meals are delivered and housekeeping takes care of everything else”
They were seated in Doe She’d ordered afternoon tea for herself and her guest Not just a luxury, she thought with a sigh as she passed over a plate of cucumber sandwiches A necessary stand in the battle of civilization over chaos
“I don’t mean to pry,” May said, “but isn’t it expensive to live in a hotel?”
Dominique took a sandwich for herself and placed it on the delicate plate in front of her The hotel had lovely china for their tea service Traditional and just fussy enough to be feminine
“Money isn’t a problem,” Dominique said quietly “I did well in my career and I’ve been even more fortunate with my investments I could live in hotels for three lifetimes and never touch the principal balance But as I’ht buy security, but it doesn’t buy relationships Besides, I believe thatin a hotel helps Charlie It makes my time here seem less perht the dance studio”
“I at it from her point of view”
“It seems to help”
Doo when it caress had been made Charlie took her calls and reacted favorably when Doether It would be some ti to do the work When she was around her daughter, she felt a sense of belonging she hadn’t experienced since Dan had died Her only regret was the years she’d wasted being so self-centered and foolish
“You’re doing well,” May told her
“I hope so Once I started to understand what I was doing wrong, I was able toabout h”
May laughed “That’s why you have friends like me”
Dominique smiled and reached for a sandwich, but her hands shook a little Were they friends? she wondered That would be nice She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had a real friend So tied to her business
“Rafe and Heidi are due honificant “Their flight arrives late Friday I’ a football party on Sunday”
Dominique tilted her head “What do you mean?”
“People come over to watch football”
“On purpose?”
“Yes, on purpose” May said the words with a smile “All three of my boys will be there Heidi, of course and Annabelle I suspect Clay ant Charlie there Glen wouldn’t miss it Why don’t you coood ti with Charlie without there being any pressure”
Do, as May called it Just being one of the group
“Thank you I’d like to bring sootten to know the head chef at the restaurant Her sister was a huge fan and danced for several years, so we have that in co delicious”
May laughed “Bring dessert I’er food Nachos, chicken wings and a few other appetizers”
“Perfect,” Do a game on TV “Easy foodwith that Very sensible”
May patted her arm “You haven’t been around many families, have you?”
“No I was always traveling or rehearsing or attending class The world of dance is de When I was on the road, the company had instructors travel with us so ouldn’t miss practice” She smiled “When I know you better, I’ll let you see my feet Dancers’ feet are not pretty Between the broken toes, the bruises, the years of abuse, we end up with battered and twisted feet” She held out her leg, showing off her sensible pump “All concealed under the finest leather”
“You worked very hard for your success”
“I did,” Do aas difficult When I was one, I couldn’t see for me I’ve never been so sad”
“That was a long tio”
“I’ll never stop loving him”