Four Kicks

Maddy looks back behind us but the men are no longer visible in the crowd. “No one was with them today.”

She has a point. Come to think of it, I haven’t seen or heard any signs of women at the office, either, though Amy certainly has, according to her warnings. “Oh, the other thing is that they’re only here temporarily. Their plan is to build on the island for a while and then move the business elsewhere.”

“You wouldn’t consider moving away with someone?”

I shake my head. “No, I don’t think I would. You know I love it here. This is where I want to raise a family.”

“Maddy! Hi! Bring my granddaughter over here!” Maddy’s mom, Jen, is waving to us, arms outstretched, from behind a long table laden with baked goods.

Actually, as we get closer I see her table isn’t nearly as full as it probably was earlier. I scan the trays with the hope that there are apple fritters left.

“Hi, Lacy! How are you?” I’m honored that Jen tears her attention away from Amelia to say hello to me. “I’ve been waving at your parents. Our booths ended up being near each other.” She points across the way to my family’s booth and when I look over my mom is gesturing at me like something’s urgent.

“It’s great to see you, Mrs. Harding. I’ll be right back. It looks like my mom wants me. Can you save an apple fritter for me?”

I tell Maddy that I’ll see her later and hurry over to my family’s booth.

“Lacy, you won’t believe it!” Mom is more excited than I’ve seen her in quite some time. Dad’s grinning. Bianca’s there, too, but doesn’t look up from her phone.

“What’s going on?”

“Four men – they said they work with you – just bought all of our gift cards! We only brought twenty – we hardly ever sell any – and they bought all of them, loading them with one hundred dollars each!”

“What?”

“They bought all of the picture frames and hats, too.” She gestures to the big empty spaces on the table. “They said they give gifts to their clients and that things from our store would be perfect.”

Twenty gift cards? Being that the construction company only takes on two clients at a time, twenty seems excessive. It hits me all at once that they spent money here to help my family. They knew this was my family’s booth and bought things because I’d told them about the financial troubles. I’m irritated for some reason, but also grateful. It’s a confusing combination of emotions.

My mom is still gushing. “They were so nice. Handsome, too.”

Bianca finally looks up then to give me a narrowed-eye look, as if I’m guilty of something, before she returns to whoever she’s texting.

David eventually finds me and we walk around the festival for another hour or so. I don’t see my bosses again, but I also don’t have much of a chance to talk with David since his friend is with us the whole time.

Finally, we say our goodbyes and David drives me home. When he parks the car and makes moves to walk me to my door, I stop him. “It’s been good reconnecting with you, but I don’t think we should go out anymore.”

If I were expecting a protest, or even questions, I get none. David’s expression is neutral, and maybe he’s even relieved. I was afraid that I was imagining our lack of connection or having too high of expectations for our relationship, but his response, or lack thereof, convinces me that I’ve made the right decision.

12

Hungry wolves about to feast

At Monday afternoon’s office meeting, I linger behind after Amy leaves. I’m not sure which of the men to address, so I direct my words to all of them. “It was really nice of you to buy things from my parents at the festival.”

“They were things we needed,” Landon says. “We’re putting together welcome baskets for our homeowners.”

“Well, I’m guessing you didn’t need to buy so much, but thank you. You really helped them out.” I look each man in the eye, and I like what I see there: kindness. None of them makes any suggestive comments about expecting any sort of sexual payback for their generosity.

“You’ve been helping us out immensely, so we’re glad we could do something that helped you,” Nathan adds.

“I’m just doing my job.”

“Speaking of,” Derek says, changing the subject, “I’m expecting documents to be delivered here around lunch tomorrow, and I won’t be able to get away to pick them up. Could you bring them to me at the Williams site as soon as they arrive?”

“Sure thing.”

The next day, those documents don’t arrive until after four. I phone Derek who asks if I can stop by on my way home because he needs to work late.