Chapter Eleven – Caroline

“So where do we start?” Caroline asked when she went back inside Will’s office.

“With a thank you,” Will said, handing her a cup of coffee. “It means a lot to me that Carter is going to give us the land.”

“Thanks.” She took the coffee and strolled over to the window. “It means a lot to me too.”

“Are you OK?” Will asked.

She blew the air out of her cheeks. “I’m not sure, I feel as if I’ve been run over by my own tank.”

Will chuckled. “Welcome to the club.” He came to stand next to her. “And it is the best club in town. It just takes some readjustments.”

“Says the voice of experience,” Caroline said.

“Experience, yes. But each day is like a new chance to be happy. You have the one you love by your side, and you know they will be there for you, through thick and thin.”

“Is that a line from one of Carter’s movies?”

“No. But I’m flattered you thought it was,” Will admitted.

“Is he really that famous?” Caroline asked.

“Hell, yeah!” Will said. “Nearly as famous as me!”

Caroline giggled. “I guess you are famous, Will Frasier. But not for your good looks or movies.”

Will sighed. “Maybe one day. Carter might have me as an extra in one of his movies.”

“He isn’t going back to them,” Caroline said.

“Are you sure?” Will asked.

“Certain.”

“It must have been bad, then … whatever happened.”

“It was. At least to Carter, it was.”

“Maybe he needs closure.” Will turned around and looked at the pile of papers on the floor. “And if there is any way I can help with that, let me know.”

“I will,” Caroline replied, then she looked down at the papers on the floor. “OK, where do we start?”

“With a fire,” Will suggested.

“Come on, let’s work together and get it organized, then we can go out and organize the chaos out there.”

“I have missed you, Caroline,” Will said.

“Good thing I came back, then,” Caroline said. But in truth there was no way she would have ever been happy up on top of a mountain. Even with her mate, she needed people, needed to help in some small way.

“It is,” Will said, his voice becoming serious. “I mean it, I don’t think I could have gotten this far without you.”

“I don’t know, you’ve managed the few days I was away.” Caroline began to pick up papers and shuffle through them, sorting them out into appropriate piles.

“I saw Carter’s expression when he heard about the journalist. I want him to know I will not mention his name in any context unless he wants me to. It’s completely up to him. He can either be a silent benefactor, or get the recognition he deserves.”

“For now let’s go with silent benefactor. I think he wants to keep a low profile.” She picked up more papers. “I’m not sure I’m ready to move into a big house.”

“It won’t seem so big once you fill it with children,” Will said. “But don’t have them too soon, I don’t want to lose you.”

“I told Carter he was going to be the house husband,” Caroline said absently, putting pieces of paper in separate piles.

“He must be loaded.” Will passed her more papers.

“He is. He told me neither of us ever has to work. But that isn’t me.”

“Good, because I don’t want to lose you.” Will grinned. “In a purely business way, of course.” There was a knock on the door. “At least not until this is all figured out.”

Will opened the door and a woman walked in. “Will Frasier?” she asked with a big smile on her face. She thrust her hand out enthusiastically. “Teagan Henley.”

Will broke into a big grin. There was something about Teagan that raised the energy level in the room. “Hi, Teagan, I’m so pleased you called about the interview. I’m Will, and this is Caroline.”

“Hi, Teagan,” Caroline said, smiling at the young woman who was dressed in jeans and hiking boots, with a blue T-shirt emblazoned with a dragon. Her hair was pulled back into a sensible ponytail, and she wore minimal makeup, as if it was added as an afterthought.

“Hi.” Teagan took a deep breath. “I get a little hyper when I’m excited.”

“We like excited,” Will said.

“Good. And I can see why. This is an amazing project. When Fiona suggested it I couldn’t wait to take a look.” She grinned at them both and then tempered it, as if her mouth was aching. Bending her head, she took out a notepad and pen from her purse. “OK. Where shall we start?”

“These are the plans.” Caroline came around the side of the desk and pointed to the wall. “This is the center, and this is how we are going to expand.”

Teagan stepped over to the wall and examined them closely. “Do you mind if I take a photo?” She pulled out her smart phone.

“No, go ahead,” Will said.

Teagan took the photo and then said, “The house next door. It belongs to Carter Eden, right? Is that a problem?”

“A problem?” Will asked, shooting Caroline a concerned look that he quickly hid. They were both thinking the same thing, had Fiona blabbed about Carter?

“Yes. You want to extend into his grounds, but I thought the guy had been MIA for years.” She looked to Will, and then to Caroline. “He didn’t die, did he?”

“No. At least not as far as we know,” Will said, overcompensating as he tried to act natural.

“We managed to get in touch with someone who could speak for him. And he agreed to let us have use of the land. In fact, we will be extending further than the plans.”

Teagan’s eyes widened and she smiled broadly. “That is so cool. I am, or was, a huge Carter Eden fan. I used to watch all his movies. I’ll admit I had a bit of a crush on him.” Her smile slipped. “Sorry, too much information.

“No,” Will said quickly. “There are quite a few people around here who feel the same way. Isn’t that right, Caroline?”

“Sure is,” Caroline agreed.

“Are you new at this?” Will asked suddenly, and Teagan’s mouth curved down.

“Is it that obvious?”

“A little. I’ve been interviewed a lot,” Will explained.

“And I stand out as being from amateur hour.” Teagan nodded. “Sorry. This is my first real assignment on my own. I’ve been working in the graphics department, and I feel as if life is passing me by. I wanted to get out and be part of the story, not just look at pictures.”

“I can understand that,” Caroline said.

“I put this forward as a story, and my boss said I could go with it.” She put her notepad back in her purse. “I think he figured I’d fail too. But then he thought you wouldn’t give me the interview in the first place,” Teagan told Will.

“He would be right normally. I don’t do interviews. But Fiona is very persuasive and this is special to me.” He stepped closer to Teagan. “And neither of us is going to accept failure. So get your notepad back out and let’s get on with this.”

“Great!” Teagan exclaimed.

Will looked outside. “Come on, let’s get a real view of what we are trying to achieve. You too, Caroline, the paperwork can wait.”

“You don’t need to ask me twice,” Caroline told Will, placing the papers in her hands back down on the pile. She much preferred being outside, and she wanted to see how much work had been done in her absence.

“I think we should schedule our opening to coincide with Teagan’s article,” Will said.

“You mean move the opening forward?” Caroline asked.

“Why not? You said you liked a challenge.”

“Did I?” Caroline asked.

“Yes, you put it in your resume.” He opened the door. “Not that you had to. I was sold at tank driver.”

Caroline shook her head. “How did you get so successful?”

“Luck,” he said with a grin.

“And there was I thinking it was your boyish charm,” Caroline told him.

“You mean I’m childish?” Will asked.

“Guilty as charged,” Caroline said.

Will burst out laughing as they left the office and went to lend a hand outside.

“Can I quote you?” Teagan asked. “It’s so refreshing to listen to a boss who has such a rapport with his employers. And you were a tank driver?”

“You can and she was,” Will said. “I have nothing to hide here. In fact, I would rather we come across as one big happy family.”

“I can angle it that way,” Teagan stated. “Thanks once again for the opportunity.”

“Don’t mention it, I believe in giving everyone a fair chance.”

“Will realizes everyone has their own unique capabilities, and their own unique issues,” Caroline said, as Will looked embarrassed.

“I believe we are not all the same. And what works for one person, will not work for another. In getting people back into work, we harness the uniqueness and nurture it.”

“Let everyone work to their strengths. I get that,” Teagan said.

The three of them wandered around the site, helping with unloading the topsoil, and then planting seeds. Teagan was very hands-on and fit in perfectly. By the time the journalist left, Caroline and Will were treating her like a friend.

“If ever the whole journalism thing doesn’t work out,” Will began, “come see me. I can find you a job.”

“Thanks,” Teagan said with a grin. “I’ll bear that in mind.”

They stood together and watched her leave, then Caroline sighed. “I don’t suppose the paperwork did itself.”

“Nope. Come on let’s get some fresh coffee on and get started.”

They walked together back up to the office, both of them wrapped in their own thoughts. Caroline didn’t know what Will was thinking, but her own thoughts were straying toward how lucky they were to be a part of a project like this.

They were working to remodel people’s futures, and help them forget their pasts. For Caroline, this was becoming a personal mission.