Page 134 of Side By Side
“Your shirt is untucked, Dad.” Belle pointed.
“It was untucked when I got here, too. I don’t tuck this shirt in.”
“Well, I should probably be going. I was on my way out, anyway.” Sheryl turned and gave her dad a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll see you tonight. I’ll bring the wine.”
“I’ll pick up the steaks,” he replied.
Sheryl smiled at him, and Belle smiled at both of them because they were clearly either already in love or well on their way, and she was so happy for her dad.
“I’ll see you two later,” Sheryl added as she walked out of the office.
“Yeah. Have a good day,” Belle replied.
“You too, sweetie.”
“Sorry, you had to walk in on that. I really did think you were already out on the ice.”
“It’s okay. Just a shock,” she said. “I’ve never seen you kiss anyone but Mom.”
“I know. Are you okay with it still?”
“Of course, I am. I like Sheryl. She’s good for you. She even makes you lunch.” Belle pointed to the lunch box on his desk.
“Healthy food only…” He shook his head. “I might still go get a burger today.”
“She just wants you to live a long time,” Chandler said. “I try to get this one to eat healthy for the same reason.” She hooked a thumb in Belle’s direction.
“I sometimes listen.” She winked at Chandler. “Hey, Dad?”
“Yeah?”
“Can we talk to you about something?”
“Sure.” He leaned back against his desk.
“Chandler is moving here permanently now – or, at least, until I really screw up and she finally realizes she’s out of my league.”
“Hey,” Chandler said and shoved Belle’s shoulder playfully. “Not funny.”
“Sorry,” Belle replied. “Anyway, she was wondering if she could work here full-time now officially.”
“Work here?”
“Yes,” Chandler confirmed.
“I’d love that, but we can’t afford anyone new right now. We brought on a couple of new people already, and that’s about all–”
“Volunteer basis,” Belle interrupted. “She doesn’t want a paycheck. She wants to help us bring events here.”
“Events?”
“Like the one where she and I met again,” Belle explained. “And maybe bigger stuff later. We don’t have anyone for that. It’s just been you and me trying to do it while we’re doing everything else.”
“You want to do that for us and not make money?”
“I like it here.” Chandler shrugged a shoulder. “Well, I love it here, actually. I love her, too. I love working here with her and skating with her when we can. I reconnected with Belle because of this place, so I feel like I owe it a lot. And I don’t need money. I have more than enough.”
“She’s going to move in with me,” Belle told her father with a smile.