No More Clauses

Rae rang before Hattie had finished her coffee, brisk and delighted in the particular way that meant good news rather than a crisis.

“Halden’s called first thing,” Rae said. “They want to close the stake by the end of July. Apparently a chef walking out of his own finale pitch for the right reasons, three weeks before it aired, tested rather better with their board than a wedding scandal ever could have. I told them I’d need to check you were still interested, given everything, and I’m ringing to check, because I promised I would rather than assuming.”

“I’m still interested.” Hattie said it without hesitation, and found, saying it, that the answer had none of the old caution wrapped around it. “I want the stake, Rae. I also want the rest of it. I’ve decided I’m no longer operating on the theory that I only get to keep one…