I knew Min would give me that look. “The one you couldn’t stop staring at Sunday over donuts? The pretty, super nice, and highly overqualified associate? That Brooke?”
“And you accuse me of being sarcastic.”
She ignored me. “What about her?”
“She actually had a really good idea about the docks.” I told her Brooke’s idea, which as it turned out, would be useful since the rumor, unfortunately, turned out to be true. Sunset had managed to grab the Baker property. “I think if we get ahead of it, maybe it could be up and running for the Harvest Festival. Or even before that.”
“Speaking of, with everything else going on, maybe we should shelve that idea? Now that Jena’s leaving? The last thing you need is something new on your plate without her to plan it.”
“Part of me thinks we should. But I do think it’s a good idea. Especially if we can get a contractor to start working this summer on a dock. It would be a perfect time for a big push.”
“I suppose I will be back by then to help out. But we would need to get the ball rolling right away. Any hits on a replacement for Jena?”
“No, but I just had another idea. Not sure it’ll work, though.”
“What?”
Instantly, I began to second-guess myself. Maybe I should have kept my mouth shut.
“Cos? What is it? What’s your idea?”
I checked the time on my phone. She would be here soon. Listening for sounds in the corridor and not hearing anything, I confided in my sister. Good idea? Probably not.
“You said it yourself,” I added before Min could respond to my idea. “Brooke has an MBA from NYU. What if we contracted with her to help with the festival as a one-off project?”
“Oh my god! How did I not think of that? I love it.”
Of course Min would see through me. She was a smart cookie. Indeed, she studied me, no doubt wondering why I wasn’t more excited about the prospect. And then she put two and two together. “Oh.”
“Yeah, oh. It was a hell of a lot easier when I didn’t like her.”
“But now you do?”
Sunday night we’d kicked back nearly two full bottles of wine. Brooke told me about her mom and how often she’d moved around. I talked about growing up on the estate. By the time she left, I was kicking myself over having offered to meet up with her today.
“I can’t screw this up.” My shoulders actually felt as if there were literal weights on them and not just metaphorical ones. Just this morning Dad had called asking about the estate. He hadn’t said anything that should have put me on the defensive, but it seemed like I always did just that when we talked. Defended the decisions I made. Waited for him to approve, or worse, disapprove. Here I’d thought him being an ocean away would help. Not so much.
“Cos,” she said, sounding exactly like our mother, “you will not screw this up. You’ve been preparing for this your entire life. And you’re not doing it alone. You have us.”
Thank God for that.
“I think it’s a great idea. But I don’t have to tell you ...it’s gotta be hands-off.”
“Of course,” I said, as if there was any question.
“Maybe after the summer,” she shrugged. “Who knows?”
“After the summer she’ll be back in the city.”
“Probably. And maybe that’s for the best, no?”
Definitely. “You’re right.”
Of course she was right. I knew all of this already. When Brooke came, I’d tell her it had been a mistake to ask her here for a private tasting. We could do that another day.
“You’re always right,” I said. “It’s fucking annoying.”
Min stood, so I did too. Giving her a squeeze, I said, “Be safe. Let me know when you land.”