The Summer of Sunshine and Margot(23)

“Then feel free to pick out a bottle.”

“That bad a day?”

He reached for a cooling cookie and took a bite. “My business partner and I have a contract with a new hotel on the north end of Malibu. They’ve started construction so now we’re talking about the grounds. They’re extensive, both in the front and back, with several acres heading up into the hills.”

She measured vodka and vermouth, then added ice. “Sounds like a challenge.”

“It is. We’re going to build a walking path through the hills, which is easy enough. It’s the rest of it that’s the problem.”

Sunshine poured the drink into a martini glass, then added three olives on a plastic toothpick and handed him the drink.

He took a sip. “Perfect. Thank you.”

“Pie and martinis. I am a miracle. So what about the rest of the grounds?”

“They won’t make a decision. No, I take that back. We can’t get to the point where they have to make a decision. They want something different. Something special, but so far they hate everything we’ve suggested. I’m to the point of offering dolphins and elephants.”

“I’m not sure they’d get along although they are both intelligent species. They might figure it out.”

She poured herself a glass of ice water, then sat across from him at the island.

“They’re leaning toward breaking up the space into different gardens. They might want a maze of some kind and that’s all we’ve got. At some point they’re going to have to pick a direction or kill us. I’m used to clients needing time and hand-holding but nothing like this.”

“The Huntington gardens are all different. I wonder if that would inspire them or make it worse.”

“I don’t think I could get through a field trip,” he admitted. “Not without bloodshed.”

“Yours or theirs?”

“I have no idea.”

She laughed. “So you connect different gardens with a thing, right? The material used to construct it or the same planters or a type of plant?”

“Exactly. Feel free to suggest something. I’m running out of ideas. Last week they wanted all organic. This week they’re wondering about sand because we’re close to the beach. I could work with sand. Sand is great. Until I got an email this afternoon saying sand was too obvious.”

“Yikes. That’s not easy.”

“We’ll get there. Like I said, I’m used to hand-holding, but sometimes it’s wearing. Now tell me about your day. Why are you stress baking?”

Her shoulders slumped and she sighed heavily. “It’s dumb.”

“No, it’s not. It’s important. Talk.”

“I started my math class today.”

“And?”

“And it was awful. Professor Rejefski is seriously intimidating. The students are all younger than me and I couldn’t follow the lesson.”

“Not any of it?”

“Some. But then it got confusing. I haven’t had to study since high school. I never went to college. I signed up but then I met some guy and I took off. I was always an indifferent student at best and I figured when I applied myself, it would be easy or at least doable. But what if it isn’t? What if I was a C student because I’m just not smart enough? What if this is the best I can ever be?”

He leaned toward her. “Sunshine, it was one day.”

“I know, but—”

“One day. Give yourself a break.”

“I’m afraid I’ve peaked.”

He held in a smile. “Tell me about making pie.”

“What?”

“I’ve heard making the crust is the hard part. Why can’t you just add the ingredients and have piecrust?”

She frowned. “Weird question but sure. It’s not just about ingredients. You have to feel your way. It’s a texture thing and it takes practice.” Her mouth twisted. “Are you using a pie analogy to make me feel better? Pie?”

“Technically piecrust and yes. Look, no one is good at everything the first time. Riding a bike, singing, learning to read, going back to college.”

Sex. The thought came unbidden and he pushed it away. He was enjoying his conversation with Sunshine and he wasn’t going to screw it up by being a guy.

“It’s been one day,” he repeated. “Give yourself a break and some time. How was the professor intimidating?”

“She had a lot of rules. And there was something with blue books I didn’t understand.”

“Rules are good. You know where you stand and what’s expected. You’ll buy blue books at the student store and take your tests in them. She probably said she would collect blank ones from you before the tests, then give you back ones she brought.”

“Why?”

“To prevent cheating. Otherwise people write notes and formulas in the books.”

Sunshine looked shocked. “They do that?” She shook her head. “Of course they do that. I’m so out of touch. Some guy invited me back to his place for a pool party. He’s like eighteen. Why?”

Declan took another drink of his martini. “You’re asking me why an eighteen-year-old guy wants to go out with you? Is that a serious question?”