––––––––
“Hello. Daniel Sterling speaking.” Daniel didn’t recognize the number displayed on his phone. As a personal financial adviser, he sometimes got calls from clients using unfamiliar numbers.
“Daniel, it’s Nic.” She spoke softly and was maybe... a bit uncertain?
The sound of her voice sent a rush of relief running through him followed quickly by uncertainty as he tried to evaluate her tone of voice.
He loved this woman.
The two weeks since the board meeting... Not contacting her... If she was willing to give him a second chance, he’d grasp it in both hands. She wasn’t getting rid of him... ever again.
“Nic! Thanks for calling me back.” He wanted to be sure that he kept a point of contact with her so he asked, “Is this a new number?”
“Yeah. This is the best way to reach me now.”
Daniel went on alert. Something was going on. Why would Nic go to the trouble of changing her cell number? Maybe she was finally tired of those crank calls? He reminded himself to stay on task, he'd ask later. "Listen, I'd like a chance to talk with you, face to face." He waited.
The was silence on her end, then she spoke slowly, reluctantly?. “Well, my van is in the shop for a few days.”
Daniel hoped this wasn’t the automotive equivalent of the hair washing excuse. “That’s okay. Could Bentley and I come to see you?”
“Bentley.” Her voice softened. “How is he doing?”
“He’s fine and I now keep the avocados on the top of the refrigerator.” That got the laugh he’d hoped for. No fool, he. He was a pragmatist. If his dog was the way to her heart, he’d use the dog... and thankfully.
He winked at Bentley who was sacked out on the leather sofa, watching him talk. A big ear twitched in response.
Lying smoothly, he said, “Luke isn’t available to dog sit...”
“Oh! I’d love to see Bentley. And you.” she added.
“Would tomorrow work for you?” Optimistically, he’d cleared his schedule for the next few days, hoping that she’d contact him... that she was too kind to ignore him.
“Tomorrow is fine. I’m in Warfield’s Landing now, so it will be a bit of a drive for you.”
“No problem. Can you give me directions?”
“Sure. It’s the same exit as Havre de Grace and Port Deposit.”
He carefully wrote down the directions and added her new number into his Contact list.
“Bentley and I’ll leave here about nine tomorrow morning. That would get us there...” he calculated, “in about two hours. Right?”
“That sounds doable.” She agreed.
“We’ll take you to lunch, if that works for you.” He sounded casual, he thought.
“There’s a great little cafe here. Lunch would be good.”
*****
Daniel and Bentley were up early. They took their run, ate breakfast, and then discussed what to pack for their trip to see Nic in Warfield’s Landing.
“I don’t want to count on her being willing to restart things, although that’s what I’m hoping.”
The dog nodded in grave agreement.
“I think I’ll pack an overnight bag, but say that I have it for emergencies.”
Bentley seemed to think that was opportunistic.
Daniel acquiesced. “Okay. You’re right. You’re absolutely right. I’ll buy what we need. I’ll take your bowl and water because she knows I always have that in the car. If we do get to stay overnight, I’ll make sure you get a reasonable dinner.”
At the tilt of the big head, Daniel added defensively, “And breakfast.”