A Song For Rory

“Dani, go see to your tables.”

“But—”

“Now.”

Sawyer heard the snap of photos and looked past Connor to see several restaurant patrons brandishing their phones and clicking away in his direction. He smiled at them and gave a little wave.

Dani began to slink away with an air of disappointment surrounding her.

“How about I drop by later and bring you a signed copy of one of my CDs?” Sawyer offered to her retreating back.

Dani turned, her face lighting happily. She nodded and then caught Connor’s eye before scurrying away again. Vanessa took her cue from her coworker and followed.

Before the two men could continue their argument, a customer approached and held out her napkin, along with a pen.

“Excuse me? Mr. Landry? My daughter is a big fan, and she’d just love it if I could get her your autograph.” She held out her napkin and a pen, and he took the items in hand.

“Sure, what’s her name?”

The woman beamed. “Allison. Allie, that is. Or whichever you prefer.”

He scribbled a quick note, wishing Allie all the best, and then signed his name with a flourish.

He sensed Connor’s mounting irritation.

“Oh, thank you, thank you so much.” The woman paused. “And...would you mind taking a picture with me? Just so I can prove to her it was really you?”

“No problem.” Sawyer stepped to the side so the woman could move in beside him.

She turned to Connor and handed him her cell phone.

“Would you mind terribly?”

Connor did mind, Sawyer could see it, but he wasn’t about to deny a customer. He wordlessly took the phone, framed the shot and clicked as Sawyer grinned broadly for the camera.

“Oh, that’s just wonderful. Thank you!” The woman was speaking to him, barely sparing Connor a glance as she reclaimed her cell phone. “Thank you so much! Allie will be so excited.”

Sawyer looked at Connor, eyebrows raised as though daring him to allow this to continue. A few chairs scraped, and Sawyer had the sense a receiving line was about to form. Connor must have realized it, too, because he grabbed Sawyer by the arm and hauled him away from the table.

“In the back. Now.”

Sawyer shot one last look over his shoulder and saw several crestfallen faces as he was dragged away. Once the dining room disappeared from view, Connor warned him, “I’ll take you to her, but if she doesn’t want to talk to you, you leave through the back. You got it?”

“Got it.”

Connor hesitated, his green eyes cold. “You don’t deserve her forgiveness, you know.”

Sawyer grew serious. “I know. But I’m hoping she’ll grant it anyway.”

Connor gestured for him to follow and didn’t comment further one way or another.

* * *

RORY PACED IN Connor’s office, her black Converse sneakers squeaking on the hardwood floor each time she pivoted on her heel. Normally, she found this room soothing. After the fire that had damaged a large part of the building, Harper had seen to it that the back office was remodeled into a charming work space for Connor. Though it wasn’t overly large, the slate-blue walls and sea-glass collage artwork were calming. Harper shared the space with Connor, too, and while his half of the room was usually a jumble of papers and notes, Harper’s tiny glass-topped desk remained neat and tidy, often with fresh flowers in the pottery vase displayed on the corner surface. Rory had caught Connor adding flowers to that vase on more than one occasion. It warmed her to think her brother could be such a romantic where Harper was concerned.

Today, however, she spared little thought for her brother’s love life. She was too overwhelmed with her own.

Sawyer was here. Back in Findlay Roads. In the restaurant. Sawyer was here...for her? After the last couple of years trying to separate herself from the idea of ever seeing him again, he was suddenly back. And he’d sought her out.

She was still trying to wrap her head around this revelation when a soft knock sounded on Connor’s office door.

A second later, it eased open, and Connor stuck in his head.

Behind him, she caught a glance of Sawyer. She stepped back and shook her head.

“No. Connor, no. I said I don’t want to talk to him.”

Connor grimaced. “I know, but I can’t have him in the restaurant.”

“Then kick him out!”

“He won’t go without talking to you first.”

She scowled.

“Rory, please.” Sawyer’s voice sounded from the crack in the doorway. He edged it open and stood next to Connor. “Just five minutes. Five minutes, and then I won’t bother you anymore. Please.”

She raised her chin. “I can’t. I’m on the clock.”

“Not anymore,” Connor said. “You’re taking a break.”

“I just got here,” she protested, but Connor’s gaze pleaded with her.

“Vanessa can fill in for you for a bit.”

Rory opened her mouth to protest and then closed it. If Connor was asking her to do this then she should. He wouldn’t make such a request of her lightly.

“Fine,” she snapped. “Five minutes.”

Connor appeared relieved and then sheepish. “Um, would you both mind discussing things...elsewhere?”

Rory raised an eyebrow.

“I think it would be better if Sawyer left the premises,” he explained.

“Oh.” Rory wasn’t sure what that was about, but decided that if she was going to talk to Sawyer, it didn’t matter whether it was here or somewhere else.

“Why don’t we take a stroll on the promenade?” Sawyer suggested.