Josie knew enough about men to know that a woman saying “We need to talk” would be man-translated into “I’m gonna say a bunch of stuff you don’t want to hear.”
Saturday, 8:16 PM
Josie: We need to talk.
Gabe: Do we have to? Can’t we just eat and you know… ?
Josie read the message again. I said we need to talk and he proposed sex instead? Huh? That might have helped, she admitted to herself.
Saturday, 8:35 PM
Gabe: Okay, you’re right. We need to talk but can it wait until after the Howm meeting on Monday morning? Can’t we just eat and you know… for now?
Saturday, 8:45 PM
Gabe: It’s getting too late to drive to Haven. Maybe we can work something for tomorrow. Night.
Sunday, 11:47 AM
Gabe: I’m at the office. Interrupt. Please.
Sunday, 4 PM
Gabe: Hit a snag. I’m stuck here. Treats might help.
That’s it? That’s the last message? Her worry meter skyrocketed. She looked at the clock. If the traffic gods were on her side, she could stop at one of the stores and load up on coffee and treats and bring them to the meeting as a mid-morning snack. It would be a show of support for Gabe, plus her sweet goodies could turn even the sourest tooth.
She carefully backed out of the mall parking space before calling Elle. “Please tell me you’re done at the mall and you’re heading back now.” Josie cringed when she heard the begging tone in Elle’s voice. Elle never begged. She cajoled and wheedled and bribed, but she never begged.
“Yes and no. I am the proud new owner of a cell phone complete with an extended warranty and a waterproof case and I’m not coming in,” she rushed.
“I’m sorry. Could you repeat that last part? It sounded like you said you weren’t coming in.”
“I’m not. Gabe needs me.”
“Jo’s Joe needs you, too,” Elle reminded her and Josie felt the knife turn.
“I need him more,” Josie admitted.
Elle huffed and Josie bet her CEO’s face was scrunched. The scrunch that gave Elle the wrinkle-inducing vertical lines between her eyebrows. “Let me get this straight. You need him more than you need Jo’s Joe?”
“Yes. Yes, I do.” Elle looked over her shoulder as she merged onto the freeway.
“Okay, then. You’re the boss. Don’t worry about us. Just do what you need to do. We close early today so we’ll survive. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Actually, yes. Can you call the Roseville store and let them know I’ll be there in about thirty minutes to take all of the baked goods they can spare? And they should have two coffee canteens ready to go, complete with cups and all the fixings.”
“Consider it done. And, Josie? Be careful out there. Sounds like the roads are a mess and all the idiots with bad tires are driving.”
“Good thing I’ve got new tires and four-wheel drive then, isn’t it? Gotta go. I’ll check in later.” Josie ended the call.
Traffic was thick but once Josie left the mall area it settled down to a trickle. She was five minutes late picking up her treats, which worked out since the order wasn’t ready. Josie wasn’t happy about that and made a note to talk to the manager on duty about it after the holidays. She wasn’t Scrooge. No one needed a gentle scolding on Christmas Eve.
Josie loaded her Jeep with muffins, scones, cookies, and coffee, and pulled Witz Holdings up on her GPS. To make it on time, she needed the fastest route possible. Josie glanced at the clock and her hands tightened on the steering wheel. Tight, but doable, she thought as she pulled into traffic.
Josie kept an eye out for state patrol troopers as her fingers kept the beat to the holiday songs on the radio. She could survive one more day of it before changing back to her alternative rock station. She drove in the middle lane, not the fast lane on the left-hand side, but even here traffic moved above the speed limit. The last thing she needed was a ticket. That would really slow her down.
Josie changed into the slower right-hand lane for her upcoming exit. She took her foot off the accelerator and lightly applied the brakes as she coasted up the exit ramp. It was icy but she maintained control and stopped safely at the top with the other cars waiting for the traffic light to turn green. The pickup truck behind her didn’t. Josie was caught in the middle with nowhere to go.
18
Gabe’s fingers itched to loosen his tie. He’d never known the conference room to be so stifling. Probably due to all the hot air spewing from Edgar Jensen, the owner of Howm Industries, and his lawyer. But he wouldn’t let them see him sweat.
Negotiations were not going as planned. Even after yesterday’s snag, Uncle Bruce, Hallie, and his review team had assured him this would be a slam dunk. Jensen was eager to sell, Howm was ripe for the picking, and the terms were reasonable. Until they weren’t.
Gabe regretted their catered lunch. It would have been better if they’d braved the weather and had gone out to eat. It would have forced them to stretch their legs and move some fresh blood up to their brains, like Molly, the intern, was doing in the hallway. Everyone looked defeated and Gabe had a hard time concentrating. Molly’s pacing in the hallway didn’t help him either.
I’m an idiot, he thought as Jensen talked about the history of Howm, again, and how important tradition was to his family. What kind of moron responds to his wife’s “We need to talk” with “Let’s eat and have sex”?
“Excuse me,” Duncan said, interrupting Gabe’s thoughts. “Did I just hear you say that you also want a round-trip ticket to New Zealand each year? So you can go fly fishing?” Jensen nodded his head like it was a reasonable request, but Gabe noticed Howm’s legal counsel clench his jaw and shoot a warning glance at his employer.
What game is he playing? Gabe studied the older man across the table from him. He saw Molly pass by again out of the corner of his eye. She was wringing her hands and it looked like she was talking to herself. Molly stopped and looked at him and her eyes went wide. She motioned for him to step out of the room. He motioned for her to come in. He won.
“Excuse me, please,” he said to the room at large as he approached Molly. “This had better be good,” he said under his breath.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, Mr. Kane, and I hope you’re not mad, but your phone was ringing like crazy and I couldn’t take it anymore so I answered it.”
“And?” he prompted. He held his patience in check.
“It was a Mr. Josh Wright calling to say that there’d been a car accident, and Josie was in the hospital. I have his number written down for you if you need it.” She handed him the pink message slip.
“Which hospital.”
“Oh, he said North. Again, I’m sorry for interrupting, sir.”
Gabe squeezed her arm. “No, you did the right thing. Thank you.” Again, her eyes widened, but this time in pleasant surprise. Gabriel Kane wasn’t known for saying thank you.
Gabe turned to the room at large. “I’m sorry, Edgar, but I need to leave.”
Jensen snorted. “What kind of tactic is this, leaving in the middle of a meeting? I wouldn’t call this a good-faith negotiation.”
“Molly just told me that my wife’s been in a car accident. I need to go.”
“Be reasonable, Gabriel,” Aunt Sandra scolded. “You’re not a doctor. You’ll only be in the way. There’s nothing you can do for a while. Let’s get this deal hammered out and by then Josie will either be released or resting in her room.” Gabe’s hands clenched the back of his chair as he pushed it in. He had a few choice words he’d like to say to his cold-hearted aunt, but they needed to maintain a united front for the deal. Family bickering wasn’t going to land this deal or get him to the hospital.
“Again, my apologies.”
Hallie squeezed his hand in support.
“If you’re not here, who has the final say?” Howm’s legal council asked.
“Duncan.”
“Really?” Aunt Sandra asked. She looked
surprised but it was hard to tell with the Botox treatments. Duncan didn’t run and tell mommy, Gabe thought. They’d agreed to keep the leadership change amongst the two of them, Danielle, Uncle Bruce, and Hallie until they’d worked out the details. Duncan had kept his promise.
“Yes. He knows this deal and our position just as well as I do. I have total confidence in him.” Gabe gave Duncan a slap on the back as he walked toward the door. “And Edgar.” Gabe stopped and turned in the doorway to look back at the older man. “This isn’t a negotiating tactic. My wife is more important to me than acquiring another business, no matter how many good jobs we can save and create.”
“Keep us in the loop,” Duncan called after him. Gabe rushed toward the elevator bank and was grateful to see Molly standing there with his coat, phone, and car keys.
Gabe slouched further in this seat. Then sat up straight. Arched his back. Stood up and walked to the window. He didn’t think he could sit any longer. Six hours. And Josie hadn’t stirred.
He looked back over his shoulder at her. She looked so small lying in the hospital bed. The white cotton bedding was a stark contrast to the bruises on her face and the angry red stitches near her hairline. The doctor had immobilized her wrist and it rested on her stomach. As soon as the swelling went down in a few days, they would x-ray it.
In the Emergency Room, Josie hadn’t been able to stay awake and the doctor had been concerned about a possible concussion, so she’d admitted Josie to the hospital for observation.
Gabe lay his forehead against the cold window. The conversation he’d had with Wren from Fortress Advisers shortly after arriving at the hospital played in his mind like an endless loop. She’d called Josie to let her know their office was closing soon but, if she wanted, Wren could run over to Jo’s Joe and pick up the paperwork Miller was waiting for “for the low, low, price of an eggnog latte,” she’d joked. Wren had been mortified when Gabe had explained Josie was in the hospital. Wren had tripped over her southern accent. She couldn’t apologize fast enough.
Wren had been friendly until he’d pressed her for more information about the paperwork Miller was waiting for. She’d claimed client confidentiality. “Come on, Wren. You can trust me,” he’d joked.
“Sorry, Gabe. Just tell Josie I called and we’ll be here when she’s ready. I hope she’s better soon. Merry Christmas.”
I’m too late, he thought as he stared down at the empty parking lot. He banged his forehead against the windowpane, hoping an idea would come to him. At times like this, his grandmother had always suggested prayer. Prayer had been her solution to everything. But as with everything good, Grandfather had scoffed at it so the rest of the family had kept religion at arm’s length, only befriending it at times like this. The last time he’d prayed was in this same hospital after his father’s heart attack.
It wasn’t that Gabe wasn’t a believer, it was more the concept of trusting in a higher power that he had trouble with. That and asking for help. The whole “let go and let God” idea had always seemed irresponsible to him. He preferred ‘trust in God but tie up your horses’.
Gabe shook his head in disgust. If I can trust Duncan with the business and ask him to close the deal, I sure as hell can pray for Josie. Sorry, God, he apologized as he returned to the poor excuse for a chair, placed Josie’s uninjured hand between his, closed his eyes, and put his trust in a higher power. He prayed for his wife. For her health and for their relationship. He prayed like his life depended on it.
Josie’s fingers stretched through the soft, short hair. It reminded her of the dog she’d had growing up. She knew she was in the hospital. The noise. The smell. The fact that her body hurt everywhere. She opened her eyes. Nope, make that one eye. The other wouldn’t open. She slowly turned her head to see what her fingers were caressing. “Gabe,” she sighed and then winced. Smiling hurt, too.
“Hey.” He lifted his head. She felt the scratch of his beard as her hand slid back to the bed. He brought her fingers back to his lips and kissed each fingertip.
“Are we all getting lawn mowers for Christmas?” she asked. Her voice sounded rusty. It had been a running joke between them that once Witz Holdings owned Howm Industries, Gabe would take the easy way out and give everyone lawn and garden equipment as Christmas and birthday gifts.
“I don’t know. Do you want some water? The nurse left some if you do.”
She nodded her head, and Gabe placed some ice chips in her mouth. “Gabe, what do you mean you don’t know? Why are you here?”
“I’m here because you’re more important to me than any deal. And I don’t know because I left Duncan in charge and now my cell phone is dead.”
“At least you didn’t freeze it or drown it.”
Gabe looked concerned and he reached for the call button.
“No. Don’t. I’m fine.”
He pulled his arm back and sat down.
“I had a slew of phone problems myself the last week. I’ll tell you when it doesn’t hurt so much to talk.” They stared at each other. Gabe looked as happy and relieved to see her as she did him. Josie’s eyes blurred and she blinked to clear them.
He picked up her hand and kissed it again. “Why weren’t you at work?”
“I was bringing coffee and snacks to the meeting. Treats might help, remember?” She stopped and licked her dry lips. “And as an apology. I was mad and petty. And scared.”
“Was?”
“It doesn’t seem too important anymore. Can I get a clean slate? Can we start over?”
“Josie, honey, I’m the one who needs a do-over. What kind of asshole responds to ‘We need to talk’ with ‘Let’s eat and tangle the sheets’?”
“Watch it, mister, that asshole’s my husband.” She squeezed his hand to reassure him.
“So, you’re not divorcing me?” At Josie’s confused look, he relayed his conversation with Wren.
“Why would I divorce you when I’m crazy about you?”
“Because you think I want your business? And you think I’m not a good husband? Josie, if we’re getting a clean slate you’ve got to trust me and believe me when I say Witz Holdings doesn’t want Jo’s Joe. And I’m going to do better on the husband part from here on out.”
“Then why meet with Elle?” If Elle wouldn’t answer her question, then maybe Gabe would. Gabe tore his fingers through his hair and sighed. She could tell by his expression that he didn’t want to tell her either.
“We’ve been discussing the possibility of leasing some of our retail space in Plymouth to Jo’s Joe as another location and private labeling some coffee for the Las Vegas and Idaho resorts. Currently, we’re at an impasse on the retail location, though. Elle thinks we’re asking too much in rent and she wants us to pay to add a drive-through lane.”
“No drive-through lane is a deal-breaker for me, and I’m not sure our laid-back atmosphere would work very well in your steel and glass building.”
“Maybe not, but Elle, Josh, and I are meeting on it again next week.”
“Why didn’t you include me?” Josie tried to sound professional and not like a tween who hadn’t been invited to a sleepover.
“Because Elle is your Chief Executive and new locations have always been her and Josh’s responsibility with you having the final say.”
“How do you know?”
“I dug through your papers, remember? I didn’t want to step on anyone’s toes, and I didn’t want to add more to your already overflowing plate.” She narrowed her good eye at him but he didn’t squirm. It looked like he was telling the truth.
“Oh.” Josie looked away embarrassed. She felt like a world-class fool. She’d misread him and his intentions. Josie motioned to the water cup and Gabe gave her a few more ice chips. “Those papers? For Miller? Someone is interested in buying Jo’s Joe. Early days though.” Gabe smiled and squeezed her hand. “Ironic isn’t it? I’ve been busy accusing you of wanting to steal it when I didn’t even want it anymore.” Josie’s chuckle turned into a sob.
Gabe wiped the tears from her face. “Maybe you should rest? Before Elle, Josh, and Jamie left, Elle said you’d been really tired and I know you haven’t been feeling well.”
Josie shook her head. “A few more questions then I’ll close my eye. Promise.”
“Okay. Ask away.”
“Who’s Nikki?”
“Nikki?”
“Short, uber-perky young woman I met at the skating event.” Out of her good eye, she saw Gabe shift in his seat.
He looked uncomfortable and slightly guilty. “Why?” he hedged.
“She said she was looking forward to working with me in the coming year.”
Gabe huffed. “Damn. I’m sorry. I should have seen that coming. Nikki does all of our event planning. She told me she was looking forward to working with you because you seemed so excited and approachable at the event, unlike Aunt Sandra, who she usually works with. I didn’t correct her, because, well, you seemed to be enjoying yourself and I wanted to talk to you about taking on that responsibility. But I get it. You’re busy. I’ll tell her she’s stuck with Aunt Sandra.”
“Oh, so she’s not helping me at Jo’s Joe or as some sort of assistant at Witz Holdings?”
“Nope. She’s the event planner. The only contact you’d have with her would be about company events, unless you want to do more, like fulfilling the coffee orders for parties and meetings.”
“I like a good party and the family skating was fun. Even Awful Anna seemed to have a good time.”
Gabe chuckled. “I think of her as Annoying Anna. She’s like a persistent mosquito.”
Josie sighed. Nikki and Anna weren’t threats. Gabe didn’t want her business. He may have twisted the truth but he hadn’t lied. He’d walked out of the Howm negotiation for her. I’m such an idiot. She’d invented trouble where there wasn’t any. Josie squeezed her eye tight before looking back at him.
Josie Page 18