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“I was, but I’ve got some business to take care of in town. Some of us start work before 8:00 a.m., missy.” He grabbed a glass from the cabinet and walked over to the refrigerator for water.
“Rollin, you know I can’t get here any earlier. I have to get the kids off to school.” He teased her about her hours every week. Since she quit managing Save-A-Lot groceries and started working at the Coleman House she’d only averaged about thirty hours a week.
Rollin threw back his water and set the glass on the counter. “Sis, I need you to do something for me today.”
“What’s that?” Corra asked, as she finished her plate and pushed it aside.
“I’m expecting a guy to drop by this morning and demo a new computer program. I need you to handle it for me.”
“Me! Why me? You know more about that system than I do. Or Tayler, she knows it.”
“Tayler’s in town taking care of some business and there’s an issue with the last shipment for Whole Foods that I need to attend to. You can do it. Just see if what he has is better than what we’re currently using.”
“But, I have a client coming by this morning.” She placed her plate and his glass in the dishwasher.
“He’s not coming until around noon. And it won’t take long.” Rollin turned and looked out the back window. “Here comes the morning truck. You should have seen the crew this morning. They’re from the city and were so excited to tour the farm they practically ran out and jumped on the truck.”
Corra walked over to the window and stood beside her brother. The pickup truck slowly made its way up the road to the house. The bed-and-breakfast was a working farm where every morning at 8:00 a.m. Kevin, a full-time employee, and Kyla, their cousin and a new employee, loaded the guests on the back of the truck and carried them out to the fields to pick the day’s meal. Rita would prepare their vegetables and fruits for dinner. However, nothing was in season at the moment. So, the guests toured the farm.
“We’ve got a full house this week, don’t we?” Corra asked.
“Yep. For Greek Alumni week at the college, Tayler suggested we offer a discount. Booked us up for two weeks. After that we have a few vacancies.”
“Well, I’d better get ready to open the gift shop.”
“Hey, don’t forget about the computer guy. He’ll come to the house, not the gift shop.”
“Rollin, how can I be in two places at once?”
“Kyla will help you out. Let her cover the shop once he gets here.”
Corra nodded. In the time Corra spent recovering from a broken fibula, Tayler had convinced Rollin to do something she couldn’t—hire more staff. Tayler had taken over serving breakfast from Rollin while Rita remained the queen of the kitchen. To assist her they’d brought on two relatives. Tracee Coleman, who’d spent five years working for a bakery in Louisville, Kentucky, and her younger sister Kyla who was working on her Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Kentucky. She worked on the farm four days a week. She had even helped Rollin set up an internship with the local college. They currently had two young interns onboard.
Corra walked outside as the truck pulled up. She waved to Kevin as Kyla jumped off the back of the truck. She gave a few instructions to the guests before waving at Corra.
“Morning, Corra. You missed a fun ride this morning.”
“I’m sure I did.” Corra waved back. Kyla had the body of a dancer, with her long legs and trim figure. She was super smart, highly adaptable, and she had an insatiable curiosity about the bed-and-breakfast. She was just the type of employee they needed.
Seconds after Corra opened up shop the bell over the door jingled. In walked her first customer of the day.
* * *
When the decision was made to move 3C Evolution’s call center to Danville, Kentucky, two employees accepted the offer to move with Christopher Williams. Customer service manager Terry Davis and office manager Valerie Amares were now Danville residents.
The new office was small, but large enough to cover the Southeastern territory. Chris and Terry walked out of a meeting where they discussed how successfully the staffing of the center was going.
“Chris, are you sure you don’t want me to handle this demo for you?” Terry asked.
“I can handle this one. The bed-and-breakfast is owned by one of my former teammates.”
“The Coleman House?” Terry asked.
“Yeah, Rollin Coleman and I played football together in high school. We had some great times out at the farm. Some of which I can’t tell you about.”
Terry laughed. “Yeah, I bet. Getting girls in the cornfield.”
Chris shrugged. “Hey, don’t knock it.”
“Naw, man. I understand. I grew up in a small town myself outside of Indianapolis. I was on my high school basketball team. It was by far the best time of my life. But, those were the good old days,” Terry concluded.
Terry walked down the hall with Chris until they stood at Val’s desk.
“Headed out, Chris?” Val asked.
“I’m going to swing by my folks’ place first, then I’ll be at the Coleman House if anybody’s looking for me.”
“We’ll hold the fort down,” Terry said.
“Do you think you’ll be back in time for the four o’clock conference call?” Val asked.
Chris snapped his fingers. “I forgot all about that.” He turned to Terry. “What are you doing at four o’clock?”
Terry’s eyes widened. “Uh, nothing.”
“Great.” Chris turned to Val. “Terry will sit in for me. Let Craig know.”
“But it’s a director’s meeting!” Terry’s voice rose.
“Good preparation for the increased responsibilities you’ll have here. Just keep me abreast of what’s going on.”
Chris laughed at the startled looks on Terry and Val’s faces. He had a promotion in mind for the both of them, as long as the call center went off without a hitch.
Chris suddenly thought of Corra Coleman. He’d been in town two weeks and he hadn’t seen or spoken to her since his return. Although he’d been extremely busy getting everything functional and assisting Terry in hiring a supervisor and a few call center reps, he should have called Corra the day he arrived. The last time he spoke to her she was recovering nicely from the accident and had no hard feelings toward him. He hoped those emotions hadn’t changed.
Chapter 2 (#u3295ed9f-f471-5a93-9fcd-7d158345ce4a)
Seven years ago, Chris sold his first business and purchased his parents a modest home on Mitchellsburg Road. The ranch-style home sat on four acres, and was big enough for family barbecues, yet small enough for his mother to get around without much help.
Chris pulled his Cadillac CT6 all the way up to the garage door and killed the engine. Since his return to Danville two weeks ago he’d only visited his parents once, and hadn’t seen his little sister, Pamela, at all. All of that was about to change. Pamela’s car was parked next to his.
Chris climbed out of the car and walked around to the front door. He rang the bell and waited for his father to answer. Instead, Pamela threw the door open.
“Hey, big bro, it’s good to see you.” Pamela stood on her tiptoes to greet Chris with a hug.
Chris squeezed her so hard he lifted her off the ground.
“Chris.” She hit him on the back. “Put me down.”
After a quick kiss on the cheek he planted her feet back on the floor and released her. “Damn, you are skinnier than you were the last time I saw you. What you trying to do, waste away?”
She stepped back and stuck a pose. “I’m not skinny, I’m trim.”
“Oh, yeah. Looks like you’re headed toward an eating disorder to me. You’re not throwing your food up, are you?”
She whacked him good on the arm. “That’s not funny. Eating disorders are a disease.”
“I know. I’m sorry. Come here and give me another hug.”
This time he left her feet on the ground. “I think you felt a little heavier that time,” he said when he released her.
“Boy.” Pamela shoved him and turned away. “Mama’s in the den and Daddy’s out in the garage working on something.”
Chris followed Pamela back into the house. His mother sat on her favorite massage lounger with a throw over her legs, looking as regal as ever. To the naked eye Dakota Williams looked fine. Since Chris was a little boy, pain had been her constant companion. Her invisible illness hadn’t been easy to explain to anyone outside the family. But, after years of suffering, the final diagnosis was fibromyalgia.
“Hey Mom, how you doing?” He bent over and kissed his mother on the forehead before giving her one of his bear hugs. His heart swelled every time he saw his mother.
“I’m fine, baby. And happy to see you.”
“How’s the pain today?” he asked.
“Oh, it’s about a six. That’s why I’m sitting down here watching all these talk shows with Pamela.” She glanced up at Chris. “You know personally I’d rather read a book.”
Pamela crossed her arms. “I thought you wanted to watch The View?”
“I do, honey. The View or whatever that other show was you had me watching a few minutes ago. I tell you, I don’t see how those women have the energy to keep trying to outtalk each other every day.”
Chris chuckled and planted himself on the edge of his mother’s lounger. “If your pain gets up to an eight, you have Pamela help you to bed.”
“Honey, I’m okay. I swear, you worry about me more than I stress about myself.”
“I just want to make sure you’re comfortable is all.”
“I couldn’t be more comfortable than in this massager. Thank you again for the chair, it helps so much.”
“I’m glad. The minute I saw it I thought about you.” Chris looked at Pamela who was so engrossed in her talk show he doubted she remembered he was in the room.
“I’m going out to the garage and see what Daddy’s up to.” He gave his mother another kiss on the forehead.
“I hope he’s not working on another table out there. We’ve got enough already.”
Chris walked down the hall lined with family pictures from his childhood to the present. He opened the door to the garage and could hear his father’s radio playing quietly in the corner while he tinkered with another creation. When Chris closed the door, his father turned around.
“How’s everything, Chris? Glad you stopped by. Let me get your opinion on something.”
“Sure, what you up to?” Chris walked over to see what his father was taking apart now. Before Nathaniel Williams’s former employer up and left Danville, he had a very stressful career. Between work and taking care of his wife he needed an outlet, so he took up woodworking. Now Chris’s dad was one of the most sought-after table designers and furniture repairmen in the county. His original and custom pieces had been commissioned from as far away as the Caribbean Islands.
When Chris was young he used to help his dad build things for work, and remodel their home. Once he started playing football, he spent his summers working in construction for extra money. Between the two of them, they could build a house. And that’s exactly what Chris planned on doing.
Chris placed his hand on his father’s shoulder and observed the handcrafted cigar box he worked on. His father was an inch shorter than Chris’s six-two frame, and thinner too.
“Which one of those designs do you like?” Nathaniel asked, pointing to a piece of paper next to the box. “Mr. Richardson up the street commissioned me to create a set of cigar boxes for his boys about to go off to college.”
Chris frowned. “They smoke cigars?”
“I reckon not. He just wanted all of them to have something special from him.”
Chris picked up the paper and read the inscription written in two different fonts. “I like the second one. It’s fancy, but still legible.”
His father took the paper from him. “Perfect. That’s what I hoped you’d say. That’s my choice as well.” With the paper he tapped Chris softly upside his head. “Like I always say, two heads are better than one.”
“Or, great minds think alike. Don’t forget that one,” Chris added.
Nathaniel laughed. “So what brings you by so early? Your day’s not over already, is it?”
Chris walked over and balanced himself on a stool near the radio. “I’m on my way out to the Colemans’ to demo some new software. I had a few minutes to spare so I thought I’d drop by.”
“That’s your friend Rollin’s place, right?”
“Yes sir.”
“Umm-hum.” Nathaniel picked up the box and examined his handiwork. “Isn’t he the one whose sister was in the car with you when you totaled it last year?”
Chris usually kept his dates to himself, but everyone in town probably knew about that accident. “Yep, that’s him.”
“What’s his sister’s name?”
“Corra.”
“Yeah, I’ve seen her around. She’s the manager over at Save-A-Lot, isn’t she? Or she used to be. Haven’t seen her around lately.”
His father did a lot of the grocery shopping for the family and he’d probably run into Corra on several occasions.
“Have you?” Nathaniel asked.
Chris shook his head. “No. I haven’t seen her since I’ve been back.”
“Why not?” Nathaniel asked, as he put the box down and cleaned up his work area.
Chris shrugged. “Haven’t had time. Opening the call center is a lot of work. Besides, I’m probably the last person she wants to see.”
“I thought you said you were on good terms with her when you left town?”
“Yeah I was. We even talked on the phone a couple of times after I left, but then I got busy and she never called me back. I haven’t spoken to her in months.”
“Son, I know you feel bad about the accident, but it wasn’t your fault.”
“I know. But if only I’d let her ride with her friends instead, it might not have happened.”
