The Reunion(87)

What could they possibly be doing together?

Are they working on the anniversary party together? Maybe Ford assigned the party to Larkin to take care of. I could see that happening. He’s too busy, so he makes his assistant do it.

Rolling my eyes, I’m about to pull away when Larkin lifts up the tablet, revealing a teal and light-blue Watchful Wanderers logo.

I grip the bush leaves in front of me as I lean closer.

Caught, red handed. This isn’t about the anniversary party. This is about the company.

And those are new logos.

Different logos.

Nice, actually.

Where did they come from?

And why is Cooper involved?

Wait . . . why is Cooper involved? Are they all working together? I thought Ford turned down Cooper? Was that all a lie to make me think Cooper isn’t helping out with the business? Is that why Ford was weird about the rebranding? Because he was secretly working with Cooper and wanted to keep me out of it? Like he’s kept me out of other areas of the business, despite his knowing I want to help?

Anxiety roars through me as a wave of momentary embarrassment strikes. They’ve never really wanted me to be a part of the store, and I’ve never known why.

Maybe if I can lean in a little more to hear what they’re saying . . .

The air conditioner turns on next to me, drowning out their voices completely.

“Damn it,” I mutter as I look around, seeing if there’s a way I can get closer.

If it was about the anniversary party, whatever. They can talk all they want. It would annoy me that Ford wasn’t actually doing his part, but nothing to get all tied up about. This clearly isn’t about the anniversary party, though; this is about business. A business I’m not allowed to be involved in, however much I desperately want to be.

So, I need to know what they’re talking about. If anything, just to have a taste of that insider knowledge.

And that starts with getting closer. I spot a trail through the bushes that abuts their table, and if I’m careful, I can stay undetected. Incognito. I’ll need to move around these bushes while the air conditioner is still running to distract from any noise I might make. As the youngest of three, I know I can be a stealthy sleuth, but I’m weighed down by a cumbersome cast that could throw me off balance at any point. Got to be smart about these things.

Pushing past a few branches, I pause to see if they notice, but they’re both transfixed by the tablet. I make a quick pass through the bushiest shrubs and then land lightly on my feet, arms spread for balance. They’re still focused on the tablet, so I make another leap over a tree branch and then duck under one.

My foot gets caught on the root of a tree and I nearly face plant, but I quickly grab onto a branch with my good hand and hold in the squeal as a wave of “close encounter” heat erupts up my neck.

Ooof, steady, Palmer.

Taking a deep breath, I regain my composure and close in the last few feet, drawing even with their table just as the air conditioner shuts off. Could not have timed that more perfectly.

Quiet, they both study the tablet, and I stand on my toes to get a better look at it.

It’s a new logo for sure.

And it’s good.

But why the hell are Cooper and Larkin working together? And where is Ford? Especially if this has to do with the branding, shouldn’t he be part of the conversation?

“They’re all the same but with slight variations for different generations,” Cooper points out with his finger. “I think one of the greatest attributes the company has over the competition is that we started from a family-owned business. Watchful Wanderers isn’t just a store; it’s a brand itself. People love the feeling behind it. It’s like North Face, and people would wear the logo just because it’s well known in the outdoor community, and I do think that’s something the company could do better with—merchandising its own brand. These logos could help jump-start that.”

Cooper is talking like he knows the business, like he cares.

“This is . . . wow, Cooper, this is huge,” Larkin replies.

“Yeah?” Cooper asks.

“Yeah.”

“So, should we show Ford?”

So Ford doesn’t know? That doesn’t seem right. Ford knows everything that’s happening to the business. Are they—holy crap . . . are they going behind his back?

Just then, the air conditioner spikes on again, and I nearly swear out loud at the old janky thing. Even this close, I can’t hear what they’re saying. But I can read body language, and from what I’m seeing, it looks like they’re definitely working together.

From the shifty looks on their faces to the over-the-shoulder glances . . . yeah, Ford is not aware of this meeting, which means . . . Larkin is working behind his back, and with Cooper of all people. The brother Ford didn’t want involved at all.

But why is the question.

Why doesn’t Ford want either of us working with him?

They stand together and awkwardly wave goodbye. Cooper walks toward the harbor while Larkin heads toward the shop’s outdoor counter.

Suspicious behavior.

A nooner meeting behind the sandwich shop, where they probably didn’t want to be seen.

And a quick parting with no handshake or hug.

There is something going on, something they shouldn’t be— “Ahh!” I scream as a spider crawls up my arm. “Get off me, you arachnid!”