“So what’s going on with you, Martha? Find any good properties to consider lately?” I ask, desperate to keep the conversation off me and more on business. “I can do drive-by checks if you need some help.” I need something to keep me busy, dammit!
Martha shakes her head, leaning back and crossing her legs primly before giving me a rueful smile. “No, dear. I’m afraid that Oli’s got me looking at commercial properties for a client right now, not for his own investment. So I’m working directly with their management team to find the right place. Thanks for the offer though. I haven’t seen much of you lately. How’s your house project going?”
“Pretty well. The demo and reconstruction are done, including the electrical and plumbing. The new porch is in, and by now, the painting should all be done too. All that’s left are the kitchen and two and a half baths, and then I’ll stage it for sale. Comps are looking good and we’re under budget just a little, so that helps with the tight profit margin.”
Martha gives a little hum. “It does sound like you’ve got it well in hand, Cassie. Congrats on doing such a great job. I know Oliver had some worries about it, but it sounds like you’ll do fine. How’s it been with Caleb? Y’all are always a hoot to listen to when he comes in the office. Have you guys been able to keep it, well, professional and friendly when the time’s right?”
I can tell she’s fishing, trying to pump me for information, but I’m not ready to go there yet. Instead, I stir my coffee, letting it cool for a moment before I take a sip, letting the bitter drink wash down my throat and hit my stomach. It’s good, and I remind myself that before I head upstairs, I should probably get an iced one. Martha clears her throat and raises an eyebrow, and I know I can’t delay any longer, so instead, I deadpan, “We’re doing fine. We’ve managed to wrangle our incessant need to bicker and have gotten stuff done. It’s been . . . fine.”
Martha gives a soft laugh. “Nice try, Cassie. Try again. In the fif—well, the more years than I’d like to admit being around, never have I known a woman to use the word fine to actually mean fine. Especially when it comes to men.”
I give her a long look and finally just shrug. “I don’t know what to say.”
Martha sips at her coffee, the silence drawing out for a few minutes before she speaks again. “Cassie, you don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to, but I’m always here to listen if you need someone. Don’t let it shock you, but I have a little experience in matters of the heart and maybe even a bit of wisdom in this old body of mine if you ever want to pick my brain.”
She sits silently, finishing her first coffee and ordering another as she waits. I fight an internal battle of whether to say anything. It’s over, but it’d feel good to get it off my chest maybe? Finally, after Martha has her second coffee, I spit it out, and not quite like I intended. “I fell for him.”
I expect condemnation, or perhaps sappy false pity. Instead, Martha sips her coffee before calmly commenting, “Well, normally, I’d say that’s a good thing, but given the look on your face, perhaps not?”
“I don’t know. I mean, you know how we were, and I know you sort of gave me a warning, but it’s gotten . . . complicated,” I reply tentatively, looking hopefully at Martha. Oh, God, I wish I had someone I could talk to about this, but Hannah’s for sure asleep. It’s like three in the morning her time or something. Mindy’s cool, but she’s also the boss’s wife. And Emily, I still don’t know very well. It’s one thing to giddily chat with girlfriends about getting some, but quite another for them to listen to you whine when it blows up as it always does. I really do need to make some more friends instead of working all the time. So instead, I’m unloading myself on . . . well, my boss.
Martha sits back, sighing. “Complicated. So many things contained within a single word, and none of them easy to understand.”
“You sound like you’ve had experience with it,” I say, and Martha laughs darkly.
“Believe it or not, back in my wild days, we had sex too. Despite the shoulder pads and hairstyles. And I had my fair share of office romance back then, and some stories that I won’t share since I still see some of those people around town. And it’s still . . . complicated.”
“Yeah, so that, and it was going well . . . but then he bolted. It’s fine, that’s what guys do. I’m cool with that. I understand that some men are the forever type and some aren’t. But I guess I fell for him more than I meant to, and now . . . it just hurts because I don’t want it to mess up our friendship. But don’t worry, it’ll be fine. I’ll be fine.” I force the corners of my mouth up to resemble a smile, but the look Martha gives me makes it feel even faker than it is.
“Cassie, I’m so sorry. But not all guys bolt. I’m not sure whatever gave you that idea. Maybe some do, but some stay forever. Maybe that’s not Caleb for you, but it will be someone someday. So don’t give up hope. And honestly,
